Remember dipping for tadpoles as a child? Using a bucket and a net to look at all those wriggly, slimy bodies up close. In a built-up city like London, experiences like those, requiring access to wild natural spaces, can be few and far between.
Now, thanks to Friends of Clapham Common and Wild Clapham, a huge area of Clapham Common will be converted into a brand new wetland habitat. The project will not only boost biodiversity, but will also provide a space for children to get up close and personal with nature and learn more about their local flora and fauna.
Having been given the go-ahead by Lambeth Council, the project will convert 1,000 square metres of the Common into a wetland habitat with reed beds and open water. The aim is to entice local critters back to the area, providing the ideal home for frogs, toads, newts, dragonflies and damselflies. The plans even include underground shelters for animals and insects to hibernate in the cold winter months.
The work will be spearheaded by Joel Ashcroft, a wildlife expert in wetland creation and will include a purpose built viewing platform. Featuring detachable railings, the platform will give kids the chance to dip for tadpoles and see creepy crawlies in their natural habitat.
Chair of Wild Clapham, Gareth James, said: ‘Having a wetland within walking distance for local schools will be a major asset in helping children to engage with wildlife through the seasons and will play a key role in understanding the value of ecology and biodiversity’.
Work on the wetlands got underway this week and will be finished in spring 2025. Just in time for tadpole season!
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