Transcript
Dr Lena Kowalski, Associate Professor of Urban Ecology at the University of Manchester. Good afternoon everyone. Over the last decade or so, a quiet revolution has been taking place in how we think about green spaces in our towns and cities. Rather than treating every blade of grass as something that must be controlled, more and more local authorities and community groups are experimenting with approaches that let nature take a greater role in shaping urban environments. First, it is important to understand the scale of the problem we are trying to address. Decades of intensive urban development, combined with the widespread use of herbicides and the removal of hedgerows and trees, have led to a sharp decline in urban biodiversity. Many once-common species of insects, birds and wild flowers have disappeared from our streets and parks, leaving behind simplified ecosystems that support far fewer forms of life than they once did. In addition, the concept of urban rewilding has emerged as a practical and increasingly popular response. Instead of planting ornamental flower beds that require constant maintenance, the emphasis is now on creating conditions in which native plants and animals can re-establish themselves with minimal ongoing human interference. However, this shift requires us to question some deeply ingrained habits and aesthetic preferences. One of the most obvious examples is the long-standing practice of frequent and regular mowing of verges, parks and school grounds, which prevents many plants from flowering and removes vital habitat for ground-nesting insects. Moving on to the specific ecological gains that have been observed, allowing grass to grow longer and permitting wild flowers to bloom provides a continuous and more diverse supply of nectar and pollen throughout the growing season. This in turn supports a much greater diversity of pollinators, including species that were previously scarce in built-up areas. Furthermore, isolated patches of habitat are of limited long-term value on their own. By deliberately linking them together through wildlife corridors along rivers, disused railway lines, cycle paths and roadside verges, we enable animals to move safely between sites, find mates and colonise new areas. What's more, the deliberate reintroduction of carefully chosen native species that have been lost from a particular area can accelerate the recovery process dramatically. When the right plants are returned to a site, they often create the conditions for other organisms to return as well. In other words, successful rewilding is not about abandoning management altogether but about redirecting it towards outcomes that benefit both wildlife and people. Finally, the advantages of these projects extend well beyond the purely biological. People who have regular access to high-quality, more natural green spaces consistently report higher levels of overall wellbeing and noticeably lower levels of everyday stress. Children in particular appear to benefit from opportunities for unstructured play in richer environments. What I find particularly fascinating is the growing body of rigorous scientific research demonstrating measurable improvements in mental health among residents living close to rewilded urban areas. These benefits seem to stem from the visual complexity of natural landscapes and increased opportunities for physical activity and social interaction. In conclusion, urban rewilding offers one of the most genuinely hopeful pathways available to us today. It can help reverse biodiversity loss, make cities more resilient to climate change by reducing the urban heat island effect, and improve quality of life for millions of urban dwellers at the same time. The main obstacles we now face are not primarily scientific but social and political. Thank you very much for your attention.