 |
|
 |
| |
|
|
| |
Biodiversity
What is Biodiversity?
Biodiversity is the variety of living things (plants
and animals) and their interaction with the communities
and places (habitats) in which they occur.
Biodiverity is not just about rare or threatened
species and habitats in exotic places but also about
conserving all the animals and plant life that grow
and thrive in our own community.
"Nature's Helpers"
Local organisations have been working
together on
Tower Habitats: A Biodiveristy Action Plan.
It was Launched in March 2003. Tower
Habitats is a community partnership which aims to
establish and coordinate the implementation of the
Biodiversity Action Plan for Tower Hamlets. The action plan has identified 7 characteristic habitats
in Tower Hamlets:
Woodlands, trees, grasslands, meadows, pomds &
lakes and brownfield sites. It also wants us to think
about school grounds, green roofs and private & community
gardens. Below are some of the images from the launch:
|
 Biodiversity
has come to symbolise a strong determination
by government bodies, environmental
organisations and individuals to protect the world's
natural environment.
The UK government is one of the
first in the world to be putting these concepts into
practise by publishing the UK Biodiversity Action
Plan in 1994, in response to the Biodiversity Convention
which came out of the 1992 Rio Earth Summit.
In London, the Mayor has published
a Biodiversity Strategy, setting out how we can help
to conserve Biodiversity in London.
Tower Hamlets has now produced a
Local Biodiversity Action Plan which aims to protect
and enhance Biodiversity in Tower Hamlets. However,
this cannot be done without everyone contributing
their bit to improve the quality of the environment
we live in.
To celebrate the launched of the
draft Action Plan, many, including some schools,
came to the Mile End Park Ecology Centre on the 20th March.
|
|
The
mile End Park now has two ponds, which were
completed in 2002. Wildlife is now thriving
and you can see species in and around the water
such as, coots, damsel flies, dragon flies,
tadpoles, herons, common reeds, water milfold.
fringed water lilly and marsh merigold.
At the launch event, school children were
able to pond dip and see and count the different
pond life.
If you want to find out more about pond dipping
check out:
http://web.ukonline.co.uk/
http://www.wildkids.org.uk/
There are other pond dipping events so look
out for them. Check out the Wetland Center
events list:
http://www.wwt.org.uk/
|
|
 Using a quadrant, they were also surveying
the grassland banks. It is amazing how many
different species you can find in grass, such
as white and red clover, oxe eye daisy, self-heal,
chicory and birds foot trefoil.
|
Find out more at:
www.towerhabitats.org
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
|
|
 |
