Part of a composite Metropolitan site with Green Park and Buckingham Place Gardens, together these form a very large area of open space in central London. Although best known as calm and leafy places to escape the frantic hustle and bustle of the West End, the habitats in these parks also support a surprising diversity of birds and other wildlife.One of the longest established Royal Parks, St James’s is an inspiring landscape set against a backdrop of imposing yet undeniably magnificent architecture. At one end is Horse Guards Parade with Whitehall beyond, while at the other is the focal point of our monarchy, Buckingham Palace. Since the 17th century the park has held an association with keeping and breeding exotic birds. Perhaps because of this there is also a strong tradition of feeding the birds, centred of course on the captive wildfowl, but extending also to an exceedingly tame local community of wild songbirds.Owned and managed by The Royal Parks, St James’s Park won a Green Flag Award again in 20089. South Westminster Healthy Walks project uses this site a Walking the Way to Health (WHI) scheme; see link for details.
Local Wildlife Site
Accessible Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation
St James's Park, Green Park and Buckingham Palace Gardens
Borough: Westminster
Grade: Metropolitan
Access: Free public access (part of site)
Area: 57.36 ha
Description
Wildlife
Important habitats include some fine old parkland trees as well as the ornamental lake. A fair-sized reedbed has recently been created close to the restaurant on the northeast bank of the lake. The variety of trees is impressive, with horse-chestnuts, walnuts and mulberries besides the ubiquitous London planes and limes. Large expanses of ornamental shrubbery offer good cover to nesting birds. Although mostly amenity turf, colourful wildflowers lurking in undisturbed corners include various buttercups and springbeauty.The park is home to a surprisingly large number of birds, including long-tailed, blue and great tits, robin, blackbird, dunnock, wren, song thrush, great spotted woodpecker and tawny owl. There is also the famous captive collection of wildfowl from around the world, including the native ducks shelduck, wigeon, gadwall, teal, pintail, shoveler and goldeneye. These are joined by a proportion of wild breeding species, including mallard, pochard and tufted duck, as well as coot, moorhen and mute swan. Even more wild birds spend the winter here. St James's Park is also very good for bat watching, with common and soprano pipistrelles seen regularly. A Nathusius' pipistrelle was also seen once, which is incredibly rare in Central London.Facilities
Information (on signs); cafesrestaurants; toilets.
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