27 Feb 2009
The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) has today published details of the 45 hectares of wildlife habitats which will be created within the Olympic Park to encourage and enhance biodiversity and help create diverse parklands andconservation areas.
The targets set out in the ODA’s ‘
Biodiversity Action Plan’ include a commitment to create new habitats for otters, amphibians, invertebrates and other rare wildlife, and construct a total of 525 bird boxes and 150 bat boxes in venues, buildings and bridges.
David Higgins, ODA Chief Executive said: “The Olympic Park will form part of a network of interconnected green spaces with the waterways running through the centre as an ecological corridor.
“We will be creating new habitats and enhancing the biodiversity of the area while also increasing the local community’s access to natural green spaces and wildlife.”
Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said: 'The creation of green oases in the Olympic Park will be a fantastic legacy for Londoners to enjoy for many years to come. These areas are being carefully designed to provide ideal wildlife havens so that flora and fauna can thrive.'
Helen Phillips, Chief Executive of Natural England, said: "The importance of allowing people to have access to wildlife and green spaces on their doorsteps cannot be understated. The Olympic Park has the potential to set new standards for the ways in which urban design can embrace the natural world and it is highly encouraging to see the progress being made through the creation of these new habitat areas."
The 45 hectares will include:
- 1.8 hectares of reedbeds suitable for roosting and breeding birds, otters and vole
- 3 hectares of species-rich grassland suitable for invertebrates, Flower beetles, ground bugs and bees
- 5 hectares of brownfield habitats including log walls, stone-filled baskets and native tall herbs suitable for lizards, birds, moths and linnets
- 10 hectares of broadleaved woodland and hedgerows
- 0.9 hectares of wet woodland – a rare habitat type for amphibians, snakes and birds
- 4,000 m2 of ‘living roof’ space for birds and rare insects
- 4 new ponds, at least 50m2 in size - two of which will be designed for breeding amphibian
- 4 sites for common lizards with quiet, sunny, south-facing slopes near woodland or rich grasslands
- 4 wetland and grassland habitats that can act as egg-laying sites for grass snakes
The ODA will also help regenerate the waterway habitats with a programme of invasive species control, bank remodelling and creation of aquatic vegetation and bankside habitats. This will include the creation of nesting banks for kingfishers, wetland habitats for grey herons and two artificial otter holts.
The ODA started a process in 2007 of protecting and safeguarding habitats before construction work began on the Olympic Park site, which included translocating 4000 newts and hundreds of toads.
The habitats are being designed to ensure that they are not impacted by the thousands of people who will visit the Olympic Park during the Games.
Notes to editors:- ends -
For further information please contact the Olympic Delivery Authority Press Office on +44 (0)20 3 2012 700.
The construction of the venues and infrastructure of the London 2012 Games is funded by the National Lottery through the Olympic Lottery Distributor, The Department for Culture, Media and Sport, the Mayor of London and the London Development Agency.
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