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You are here: Home > News > New Wetlands At Regents Park Will Support A Great Range Of Wildlife

• New wetlands at Regents Park will support a great range of wildlife

• Date:

  22nd October 2008

• Contact:

  Sarah Egerton

• Organisation:

  The Civic Trust

A £60,000 project has created the largest wetlands area in inner London at Green Flag Award winning Regents Park.

Thanks to a joint scheme by Westminster Council and the Royal Parks, part of Regent’s Park has been transformed into reed beds - providing a perfect habitat for birds including reed warblers and kingfishers.

Councillor Steve Summers, Chairman of Westminster City Council’s Go Green Board, said: “Despite being one of the most densely populated areas of the capital, with a daily influx of more than a million people a day, Westminster is proud to be able to boast an impressive range of natural habitats where wildlife is encouraged to flourish.

“Nationally, reed beds support some species which are rare in the UK, such as the bittern, one of Europe’s rarest and most threatened birds, and I’m proud at our involvement in encouraging biodiversity in Westminster.”

To create wetlands, developers had to dig below the water line the reach a level where the soil is saturated, which means water will be left on the surface.

The wetlands area of Regents Park, first created in 2003, has now been extended by a quarter, making it the largest wetlands area in inner London.

The project was part of Westminster’s Biodiversity Action Plan, which recognises the value of biodiversity in Westminster and aims to prevent the decline of – and improve conditions for – species and habitats that are a conservation priority. With over 100 parks and green spaces, covering about a quarter of Westminster, the City Council plays a leading role in assessing the best ways to improve conditions for wildlife in central London in the face of urbanisation and climate change.

Across the UK, 40 per cent of reed beds were lost between 1945 to 1990 and have since become a scarce habitat.