Local Wildlife Site

Accessible Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation

St James's Square
Borough: Westminster
Grade: Local
Access: Access at limited times
Area: 0.91 ha

Description

This is a privately managed Square, which is open to the public from Monday to Friday, providing an important relaxation point for office workers. Busy roads surround the square, but a broad belt of shrubbery around the perimeter helps to give a surprisingly peaceful atmosphere within.The square is a Grade II Listed landscape.

Wildlife

The trees are principally non-native species, including several very old London planes, as well as tree-of-heaven, Indian bean-tree, red-flowered hawthorn, ornamental cherry, an old fig and black mulberry. The shrubbery is made up largely of deciduous ornamental species such as lilac, mock orange, Oregon-grape, barberry, ornamental dogwood and dense thickets of bamboo, with some spotted laurel, together providing a fair amount of nesting cover. However there is very little herbaceous vegetation under the shrubs.In the centre of the square there is an intricate mosaic of low shrubs and flower beds, with abundant scented flowers such as lavender, wallflower and rosemary.The lawn is heavily used and consists mainly of rye-grass, with little diversity except for a small area of selfheal near the mulberry tree, and occasional cow parsley, creeping cinquefoil and daisy.The Square supports a surprising variety of breeding birds, including robin, blackbird, blue tit, woodpigeon, magpie, carrion crow, mallard, dunnock, song thrush and wren. Nest boxes have been erected, and were occupied almost immediately upon installation. A bird feeder and water bath are also provided. Grey squirrels are also present.

Facilities

No information available
Self-heal © Mike Waite

Self-heal © Mike Waite

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