Urban wildlife

Abstract

While urban areas have been created through human activity, they nevertheless possess many essentially natural features and reflect natural processes. The network of open spaces, such as parks, gardens, wastelands, relict countryside and river valleys permeates the built environment, providing homes, refuges and feeding places for wildlife. Introductory comments on the urban environment are followed by observations on the natural history of characteristic mammals, reptiles, amphibians, birds and invertebrates. Advice on how to encourage wildlife is given, and there are notes on dealing with injured animals and on wildlife and the UK law.