Is it too early to ring in the start of spring? Having bought in some daffodils last week I think not, it's mild enough out there to pen a blog post about the pleasures of getting into London’s nature scene. No, no, don’t yawn, don’t get up from your computer/put your smart phone down and walk away, this won’t be dull – honestly. Still here? Good. When you live in a city as built up as London, it’s only natural that you’re going to feel a little claustrophobic from time to time, which is only going to increase your desire to jump on the ‘let’s leave London’ bandwagon that seems to be gathering momentum. Having conducted zero research on the subject - therefore rendering the fact I’m about to give, useless - 100% of people leaving London cite lack of nature as the reason. Look around you, not so hard to believe is it? But, had those decamping turncoats checked out the marvellous list of nature-inspired things to do below, they might still be around, living it up with otters, feeding donkeys and walking - just walking - for fun, of all reasons!
London Wetland Centre
Given the fact that otters are one of the greatest creatures on earth we find it baffling that there aren’t queues to see the little posse living at the London Wetland Centre in Barnes. You can almost guarantee sightings by turning up at feeding time. There’s nothing like an otter sighting to shake off the urban funk.
Railway Fields Nature Reserve
Railway goods yards are only good for two things: Storing goods and being turned into tranquil conservation spaces that offer an escape from the built up realities of Green Lanes. The Railway Fields Nature Reserve falls into the latter camp. Located in the heart of Haringey, this unlikely space is full of lush vegetation, butterflies and the faultless aesthetics of overgrown abandoned railway tracks. Take a walk on the wild side…
Mudchute City Farm
While reports of this place having a giant slide, which delivers you into a huge pool of mud, have been proved false, Mudchute City Farm is still a whole lot of fun for all the family. For those who aren’t quite so keen to leave behind the sprawling concrete mass, you can feed the donkeys and hang out with the pigs, alpacas, geese, goats and ducks at the 32-acre farm that has a great view of the Canary Wharf skyline looming over it.
Camley Street Natural Park
An urban nature reserve in the heart of Kings Cross, the Camley Street Natural Park is the place to come for kingfishers, wild fungus, geese and bats. Part meadow part woodland, it makes use of the banks of the Regents Canal to provide an escape from the city.
Centre for Wildlife Gardening
So you want to be a city gardener? Well, walk this way to Peckham’s Centre for Wildlife Gardening. An established green space hidden away on a residential road, this old council depot was set up to inspire London’s urban gardeners. Visit for practical advice on city gardens and to see the range of mini-habitats established in this peculiarly bucolic space in urban South London. You might spot anything from the urban fox to the stag beetle.
