Nature
The ongoing development of the waterfront and creation of new public spaces and high-end office space signals the arrival of more people in the area.
With the changing landscape comes a need to ensure that the space is protected for the local wildlife to flourish and new species to be encouraged into the area.
The area already has a wildlife celebrity in the form of the elsuive ‘Holbeck Otter’, which on rare occassions has been found lounging along the banks of the waterfront. The regeneration of Granary Wharf incorporates an otter pipe to allow these secretive creatures to pass between the river and canal undisturbed.
The birds in the urban village are a communal bunch of swifts and house sparrows, although kestrals have been spotted swooping over Temple Works. As the new residents of the urban village start to adorn their balconies and roof top gardens with plants, vegetables and shrubbery, the insects that sustain the birds will find new homes of their own.
Some of the most beautiful and important creatures are starting to disappear from our urban landscapes. The butterfly and bee are mother nature’s dedicated work-force, pollinating our fruit, vegetables and flowers cropping each year.
In 2009 Holbeck Urban Village launched a wildlife design competition inspriring artists, designers, architects and creative thinkers from around the globe to sharpen their pencils and create the follies of the future, enticing wildlife and bio-diveristy back into the urban village.
For more information about the Wildlife Design Competition click here
To view the winning design and other entries on our Flickr gallery click here
The Holbeck Urban Village team are currently seeking a developer to create the winning scheme safe-guarding the future of wildlife in the area. If this sounds like you contact us on the form below!
