1In today's lecture we examine how ecologists are rethinking the role of green space within modern cities.
2Parks were traditionally designed as isolated islands of nature, valued mainly for recreation rather than ecology.
3Contrary to that approach, current thinking favours connected corridors that allow species to move across urban landscapes.
4The theory initially came from studies of rainforest fragments, though urban applications were only tested much later.
5What I want to emphasize here is that connectivity matters more than the sheer size of individual parks.
6Let me give you a concrete example: a railway verge planted with wildflowers can link two distant woodland remnants.
7Early corridor projects were judged by planting counts, but ecologists soon demanded evidence of actual animal movement.
8Radio tracking of hedgehogs in one European city revealed that narrow corridors were used surprisingly often.
9It was not the width of the corridor but the quality of its vegetation that predicted successful crossings.
10Critics point out that corridors can also spread disease and invasive species, an objection planners rarely acknowledge.
11Moving on to policy, several cities now require new developments to maintain or restore ecological connections.
12The overall message is hopeful: modest, well placed planting can yield disproportionate benefits for urban wildlife.