With a wealth of parks and other green spaces in the borough, Redbridge is an important hot spot for wildlife. 
As an outer London borough, Redbridge has sites that are characteristic of open countryside, such as Fairlop Waters, Roding Valley Park and Hainault Forest Country Park. In addition, Redbridge has parks and recreation grounds more typical of urban areas e.g. Valentines Park and Westwood Recreation Ground.  All types of green space are important for wildlife and many different habitats can be found in the borough. Take a look at your local as woodland, hedgerows, grassland, streams, lakes and ponds!

The Nature Conservation Team aims to protect and enhance the biodiversity within the borough.  We do this by:

• directly managing the Hainault Lodge Local Nature Reserve.
• managing the wildflower meadows in Roding Valley Park.
• providing management advice and educational services to parks, schools and those who wish to garden with wildlife in mind.
• project managing Claybury Woods and the Heritage Lottery funded Capital Woodlands programme.
• project managing the environmental enhancement work at Roding Valley Park (behind Ray Park) which is GAF funded.
• providing an advisory service to the London Borough of Redbridge's planning department.
• raising awareness through newsletters (nature notes), press releases, events and the delivery of the Redbridge Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP). 

Much of our conservation work in the borough contributes to the London Biodiversity Action Plan.  Complimentary to that, Redbridge has its own Redbridge Biodiversity Action Plan that so far has included action plans for allotments, private Gardens, school grounds, bats, water voles and house sparrows. The Redbridge Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) came about after 3 years of community consultation and development thanks to the EU funded SUN (Sustainable Urban Networks) project.

Everybody can help wildlife and can be involved with nature conservation. Whether by gardening in a wildlife-friendly way, participating in our practical tasks or recording what plants and animals you see in your environment. You could take part in the Redbridge BAP by becoming involved in a particular action which you feel passionately about, possibly even helping to set-up a new action for a habitat or species that is missing in the current list.

For further advice and information on how you can help wildlife in Redbridge, please contact the Nature Conservation Team or join us at one of our events.

If you would like to receive regular updates on nature conservation including events, please complete the online mailing form.

Useful links

• English Nature
  Statutory body for nature conservation.
• Essex Wildlife Trust
  Wildlife charity for Essex.  
• London Biodiversity Partnership
  Umbrella organisation for biodiversity work in London.
• London Wildlife Trust
  Nature Conservation Charity.
• Royal Society for the Protection of Birds(RSPB)
  The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds works for a healthy environment rich in birds and wildlife.
• Soil Association
  Promotes organic food production, farming and sustainable forestry and provides latest news on growing techniques and issues.

Publications

• Biodiversity Action Plan (PDF 6Mb)
  This strategy sets out ways in which we will be working towards the protection and conservation of Redbridge's biodiversity over the next two years.
• Nature Conservation Newsletter Edition 11
  Find out about what's been happening to wildlife in the borough since August.
• Nature Conservation, Trees and Landscapes SPD (June 2006)
  The council's list of supplementary planning documents which have been adopted in June 2006.
• Biodiversity Duty Guidance Notes (Section 40 of the Natural Environment and Rural communities Act)
  Published by the Department  for the Environment, Food and Rural Affaires (DEFRA). This duty affects all public and local authorities.
• GLA Protected Species Listing
  A list of protected species with corresponding legislation and international conventions/directives. This document is produced for the London region as part of the Greater London Authority.