A series of Wild Discovery Days are running in Ealing in the coming weeks – designed to show off the brilliant birds, animals and insects the borough has on your doorstep.
The week-long series of fun activities have been organised by the Ealing Wildlife Group (EWG) in partnership with Ealing Council and runs from 20 July.
The events are a great opportunity for local people of all ages to get involved with everything from birdwatching and pond dipping to bat walks.
Ealing’s Wild Discovery Days are part of the Mayor of London’s National Park City Festival, which invites people to discover London’s amazing outdoors with hundreds of free events across the city.
Wildlife on your doorstep
The timetable of events takes place between 20 and 29 July:
You can find full details of all the events at the National Park City Festival website.
Sean McCormack, founder of Ealing Wildlife Group said: “Our Discover Wildlife Days are the perfect place for local people to enjoy, be inspired and to learn about the birds, animals and insects that are to be found in the local area on their doorstep. I encourage everyone to come along to some of these events next week, experience some great wildlife and to celebrate London’s National Park City Festival.
“We’ve discovered some pretty astonishing species living in our midst – peregrine falcons and red kites, hedgehogs, badgers, muntjac deer, slow worms and dragonflies, barn owls and bats.
“The Ealing Wildlife Group has had lots of new members to discover what the borough has to offer in terms of nature and wildlife so whether you are a beginner or an expert, you are welcome to get involved.”
The council has been working with the EWG to help manage local grassy areas across the borough, transforming them from neatly clipped lawns to beautiful wildflower and grass meadows.
It sees the council’s ranger undertaking new mowing regimes to include rough grassland margins and fields to maximise the habitat potential for a range of species including Skylarks and Barn Owls. The EWG have been on hand to advise and are helping create different types of meadow habitat and that will benefit greater biodiversity.
Sean said: “It has done absolute wonders for biodiversity in Ealing and its also brought happiness and enjoyment to residents – human and animal alike.
“Through reports and photos sent in to Ealing Wildlife Group we’ve seen a real boost to wildlife diversity and numbers. Some quite surprising species too like little owls, unusual butterflies, birds, bats, amphibians.”
Councillor Mik Sabiers, cabinet member for environment and highways added: “These Wild Discovery Days are the perfect opportunities for families to enjoy and discover wildlife together. It’s brilliant to be able to support the National Park City Festival, which is marking London’s new status as a National Park City.
“We remain committed to helping biodiversity flourish in the borough and the hard work of our rangers managing grassland in a way that encourages wildflowers, insects birds and animals is a really positive step towards this.
“Whether you live in, work or are just visiting Ealing I’d encourage everyone to be on the lookout for the borough’s wonderful wildlife.”
For further information about the EWG, visit its facebook page.
