This summer Sean Cassidy took a closer look at Urban Biodiversity. The site he concentrated on was Jarrow Wharf and the results were very surprising.

Sean continues: “Over the summer we spotted a total of 248 species, including 97 types of wildflower and 63 species of invertebrate. The wildlife thrives because of the way the site is managed – with some areas left undisturbed and others regularly changed, this creates conditions for a wide variety of species.

Compared to some our quarries the figures are incredibly good. This matters because of changes in the new Environment Bill and the pressure to deliver Biodiversity Net gain.  We can now demonstrate we have 2.45 Ha of an ‘Open Mosaic Habitat’ on previously developed land, which is listed as a priority in the UK’s National Biodiversity Action Plan.  Great result but the true heroes are the Bumblebees and Common Blue Butterfly which have pollinated all the wildflowers!”