About Wildweb
Wildweb aims to encourage people to make the most of London's wild places - exploring them online first, then getting out and experiencing them first hand.
You can use Wildweb to search for information on nature sites across London. Covering many of the capital's 1,400 Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation, Wildweb includes each site's special features, travel information, and interactive maps, with detailed information for those interested in biodiversity and wild landscapes. The information will be useful for schools, environmental groups, local boroughs, planning professionals, Londoners interested in the natural world, and visitors to the capital.
Wildweb will start with London's most important wildlife sites and grow to include all 1,400 of the capital's Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation. The information on Wildweb will be reviewed regularly, as part of the programme of reports on London's wildlife sites done for the Mayor's annual Open Space and Habitat survey.
Why not download our leaflet encouraging people to explore the wildest spots in town, or a poster to display on your wall or in your school etc. Contact us if you would like us to post you some leaflets or A3 posters.
Explore the wildest spots in town leaflet PDF (528k)
Explore the wildest spots in town leaflet RTF (11k)
About London's wildlife sites
London has many wildlife sites and over 1,400 have now been classified as Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation, ranging from famous landmarks such as Hampstead Heath, the Thames, and Richmond Park to much smaller sites, such as small parks, commons and churchyards - often on your doorstep.
There are three types of these sites:
Sites of Metropolitan Importance ('Met Sites'): There are about 140 Met sites, London's best examples of wildlife habitats. They often contain many rare species. They have been selected as the most important sites in the city by the Mayor of London and his staff at the Greater London Authority.
Wildweb has information on all London's Met sites, which include the Thames, the canals, the London section of Epping Forest, Hampstead Heath, Richmond Park, Fryent Country Park and Camley Street Natural Park in Kings Cross. These sites have been given the highest priority for protection from loss or damage.
Sites of Borough Importance: There are about 780 of these sites, which are important wildlife habitats for their boroughs. Wildweb has information on all Borough Sites. They include Primrose Hill, Clapham Common, Peckham Rye, Victoria Park, St Pancras and Islington Cemetery, and the Brent River Park.
Sites of Local Importance: About 460 of these sites exist, which are the pocket parks, commons, community gardens and other often smaller wildlife sites that are dotted across London. They ensure that everyone has easy access to nature near their home, and protecting them is the responsibility of London's boroughs. Each borough's planning department can give exact details of protected wildlife sites. Wildweb will include these sites as it grows.
More information about how Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation are identified, see the Biodiversity section of the Greater London Authority website.
Wildlife images supplied by Warren Photographic, FLPA and Andy Fisher.
