The Gloucester Square Garden Committee are determined to maximise the environmental contribution of our 1.6 acres of protected green space in Central London. This page helps explain some of our initiatives.

Birds, Bats and Owls

The Garden’s efforts to support birds involves reducing disruptive lighting, increasing the provision of food and water, and increasing the insect population.

Lighting

Whilst some may question the impact of a few extra lights in London, there is a marked difference between streetlights, car lights, and lit up buildings versus spotlights shining up at trees and into the night sky.

Up-lighting large trees with spotlights has been condemned by a number of organisations, not least Wild West End, for the detrimental impact they have on nesting birds, owls, and bats. It is for this reason that in 2022 the Garden Committee removed (isolated) the malfunctioning inground spotlights installed near the 5 Plane Trees (c.2013).

Instead, the Garden Committee has pursued low powered lights around the central fountain, and in the beds specifically targeting shrubs that are unlikely to be used by nesting birds. This should prevent  

Food and Water

The Garden is slowly transitioning towards more shrubs and trees that will support birds through the production of berries, etc. During that transition the Committee will continue to replenish roughly half a dozen bird feeders around the Garden.

The provision of water for birds in Central London is especially important due to the Urban Heat Island Effect, discussed later on this page. Unlike so many gardens with dry / dirty bird baths, the birds baths in Gloucester Square have all been designed to be regularly replenished. The central fountain is supplied by a hidden reservoir replenished weekly. Low level bird baths scattered around the Garden are replenished by the Garden’s irrigation system. In 2025 we will be installing some more ornate bird baths, made from cross sections of our felled catalpa, to further extend the bird bath provision.

Butterflies and Polinators

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Other Wildlife

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Urban Heat Island Effect