Urban Ecosystems cont’ How green are cities? –Impact of gardens and cemeteries Gardens a place for foreign invasion. Turning green again. –Secondary Succession on wasteland Rural-urban fringes –A fuzzy interface Wildlife corridors –Connecting it all together

Green Cities? CityPopln (2001)% Area gardens% Area open space London Birmingham Liverpool Leeds Manchester

Urban Gardens Gardens, parks etc. are all managed ecosystems. Many reasons for their management Results of management (depending upon the reason for it) vary but have a significant impact. Current issues are – paving, lawns, foreign species & wildlife gardens.

Cemeteries – Not all bad news! By the late 18th century churchyards were full. New cemeteries developed around London and were beautifully designed, landscaped and planted so as to attract rich clients. Today they are important wildlife areas, esp. as not always well maintained. Photo: Abney Park. It opened in 1840 and was laid out with over 2,500 trees rivalling the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew as a spectacle.

Introduction of new Species This can be planned (eg. Garden species imported from abroad). Eg. Japanese Knotweed (now a very invasive pest), or Buddleia. Or unplanned (eg. Seeds brought in on packaging and cargo). Can however, have a big impact upon indigenous species who can be unable to compete with the foreign species.

Oxford Ragwort Imported from Sicily in 1700 by Duchess of Beaufort. Transferred to Oxford Botanic Gardens. ‘Escaped’ in 1720 and grew around Oxford. Railway tracks echo its natural niche. Railways connected Oxford from mid 1800s and facilitated spread of plant nationally.

New species article 5.stmhttp://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/ stm Read article and research one (non) and invasive species in your group. 10 facts / bullets on each.

Walls. Create their own microclimates Different aspect Different substrates Moisture levels vary significantly up the wall Provide places of shelter for insects More?

Rural-Urban Fringe Defined in 1942 by George Wehrwein as “the area of transition between well recognised urban land-uses and the area devoted to agriculture”. Describe what the land uses you would expect to find on both sides of this area.

Rural-Urban Fringe Changes to this area on the rural side include: Tourism and recreational pressures Pollution (including fly-tipping) Development pressures (250,000 houses planned around London over next 25 years). Pressure to release Green-belt land

Rural-Urban Fringe Changes to this area on the Urban side include: garden creation (already discussed) Wildlife corridors –Specific plans to connect wildlife ‘islands’ –Important link between rural and urban areas –May have varied land-uses –Important in rural areas too where faming practices reduce certain wildlife.

Rural-urban fringe case study Read the information about the Lee Valley Country Park. And complete a spider diagram on the following: How has this Country Park and the associated human activity affected the environment along the Rural-Urban Fringe?

Ecological Conservation Area Using the GeoFile sheet research one of the options and make notes. Homework will be to complete the essay and the questions on the GeoFile sheet. With reference to examples, describe and explain how urban areas can be managed to conserve and promote ecological conservation.