Biodiversity

Biodiversity means the variety of life – the countless species of plants and animals on earth and the range of habitats where they live. It also includes the genetic variation within species. Biodiversity includes elephants, sparrows and bluebells; woodlands, rivers and grassland.

It may be hard to believe that Tower Hamlets, an inner London borough, has much wildlife but, if we look more closely, there is much to see. Our parks, squares and burial grounds, waterways, brownfield sites, gardens, and even the buildings themselves all provide homes for a variety of wildlife. This includes nationally rare and protected species such as bats and the black redstart. To find out more about the borough’s wildlife, see the Tower Habitats website.

Why is biodiversity important?

Biodiversity is important in itself. Many people believe we have a moral obligation to conserve the earth’s animals and plants, and the habitats where they live. But biodiversity is also vitally important to people in many ways.

Many people enjoy contact with wildlife and natural places. A mass of evidence in recent years has shown that nature is good for human health – physical, psychological and spiritual.

Natural spaces, even in cities, provide many important social and economic benefits, and these are likely to become more important as our climate changes. Trees provide cool shade in summer. Green spaces absorb rainfall, helping to prevent flooding. Wild plants and animals can be sources of medicines and other essentials for human life. For all these reasons and more, over 150 nations signed up to protecting biodiversity at the Rio Earth Summit in 1992.

What are we doing to conserve biodiversity?

Increased development in the borough poses both problems and opportunities for wildlife. You can download the borough’s Local Biodiversity Action Plan (pdf 1.44mb) which outlines the council’s aims and objectives for biodiversity. Biodiversity conservation and enhancement in Tower Hamlets is delivered by Tower Habitats, the Tower Hamlets Biodiversity Partnership. You can download the Biodiversity Action Plan Annual Report for 2009-11 (pdf 3.1mb) to find out what we've been doing. Anyone can get involved in biodiversity enhancement and conservation activities. See the Tower Habitats website to find out more.

Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation

Places in Tower Hamlets which are valuable for wildlife and provide local people with access to nature have been identified as Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINCs). These receive protection from development under policies in the Council's Local Development Framework (LDF), and are shown on the LDF Proposals Map. SINCs in Tower Hamlets were reviewed in 2011. You can download a list (pdf, 20kb) and map (pdf, 560kb) of SINCs and the citations (pdf, 100kb) which describe why each site is important, as well as a report on the 2011 review (pdf, 1.8mb).

Tower Hamlets Wildlife Survey

Please contribute to our survey of wildlife in the borough by telling us where you've seen hedgehogs, stag beetles, sparrows, bats or frogs. To find out more, please go to Tower Hamlets Wildlife Survey.

Tower Hamlets Wildlife Gardening Pack and wildflower seeds

As part of the implementation of the LBAP, the Council in partnership with the London Wildlife Trust has produced the Wildlife Gardening Pack (pdf, 2.7mb). We also have packets of wildflower seeds to attract butterflies and bees. To obtain a hardcopy of the booklet and/or a free packet of seeds, please visit any Idea store or library, local city farm, Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park or email towerhabitats@towerhamlets.gov.uk or call 020 7364 2631.

For further information, please contact:

Biodiversity Officer
Sustainable Development Team
London Borough of Tower Hamlets
Mulberry Place (Anchorage House)
PO Box 55739
5 Clove Crescent
London E14 1BY

Tel: 020 7364 7478
Email: john.archer@towerhamlets.gov.uk