Scientists from the University of Sheffield's School of Architecture and Landscape have published research suggesting that UK parks and gardens could become refuges for species threatened by climate change, with public support stronger than expected.
The study surveyed more than 250 UK residents about their attitudes to non-native plants and exotic animals in urban green spaces. The research, published in the journal Sustainability, explored whether parks could act as "stepping stones" in a network of new habitats across northern Europe as global temperatures rise.
What the survey found
More than half of respondents said they would welcome Hermann's tortoises and Northern carmine bee-eaters in their local parks. A Mediterranean-style planting scheme won approval from 60 to 70 per cent of those surveyed. When asked about zebras, more than 40 per cent of participants said they were broadly open to the idea — a finding the researchers described as surprising.
Not all proposed newcomers proved popular. Venomous European asp snakes and spotted hyenas received a considerably cooler reception, with nearly three quarters of respondents saying no or expressing uncertainty.
The climate change context
Professor Ross Cameron, Professor of Horticulture at the University of Sheffield who led the research, said: "We expected people to be fairly resistant to the idea of exotic, non-native animals in their local park. But people seem to understand that the natural world is under pressure and that we may need to do things differently."
As global temperatures continue to rise, many species will be unable to survive in their current habitats and will not migrate fast enough to find cooler ground without human intervention. London's climate is already projected to resemble present-day Barcelona by 2050, according to the research.
Professor Cameron added: "British parks and gardens have been hosting plants from around the world for centuries. What we're suggesting is that we start being much more deliberate about it, choosing species not just for their looks, but for the role they could play in sustaining ecosystems that might otherwise disappear."
Next steps
The researchers acknowledge that apex predators and dangerous species present practical and political challenges. They propose that any programme of introductions should proceed gradually, starting with smaller and more benign animals.
The study calls for a broader national conversation about what British green spaces are for and what role they could play in protecting global biodiversity as the planet continues to warm.
