Regent’s Park is one of London’s best-loved parks, and with good reason. Though few realise it, the park is home to a surprisingly diverse array of animal life. If you’re looking for a peaceful area to stroll or a place to commune with nature, here’s what you can expect to find in Regent’s Park.
At least 200 different bird species have been seen in Regent’s Park, with an average of 114 species sighted per year. Considering it’s in the middle of London, this is even more remarkable. Within the park’s boundaries are various landscape features, including sports fields, manicured lawns, rough grassland, a canal with embankments, shrubberies, a small enclosed woodland, and a large lake with several reed beds and islands. These habitats provide essential resources for the 47 bird species that permanently inhabit the park, plus those that migrate here.
Mature trees provide appropriate nesting conditions for birds such as the Kestrel, the Tawny Owl, and the Green Woodpecker. The tits, Robins, Blackbirds, and other small species of birds thrive under dense underbrush.
The Regent’s Park is also home to Hedgehogs, making it one of the few places in central London where it is possible to see one of these elusive creatures. Other small mammals that may be found in the park are Brown Rats, Wood Mice, Foxes, House Mice, Bats and Grey Squirrels.
As a result of the park’s grassland, forest, and wetland habitats, 21 species of butterfly and over 230 species of moth have made Regent’s Park their permanent home. The Marbled White and the White Letter Hairstreak are two of the most exotic species of butterfly found in the region.
Dining near Regent’s Park is another excellent option to see the park’s wildlife. Nearby, you’ll find a wide variety of restaurants and cafés serving both traditional fare and exotic fare from across the world.
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