Gunnersbury Triangle Nature Reserve hosting noctural wildlife walk
Gunnersbury Triangle Nature Reserve, opposite Chiswick Park tube station, is a natural oasis in the heart of Chiswick. On March 31st it is celebrating Earth Hour 2012 with “Creatures of the Night” – a night time nature walk around the reserve and presentation about nocturnal wildlife. The event runs from 8.30-9.30pm and is suitable for all ages.
Once a disused railway yard, Gunnersbury Triangle was saved from development in a successful campaign by local volunteers. It made planning history when it became protected as a nature reserve in 1987. Managed by London Wildlife Trust, the Triangle is home to a huge variety of wildlife including nocturnal animals such as amphibians, hedgehogs, bats and moths.
Earth Hour is an annual, global event organised by the World Wildlife Fund which aims to get people to switch off their lights for an hour on 31st March. This symbolic act aims to get governments across the world to take action on climate change.
Gunnersbury Triangle is supporting Earth Hour because switching off unnecessary lights helps both our climate and our wildlife. Light pollution is thought to be a factor in the decline of owl, moth, bat and toad numbers. These nocturnal creatures rely on the darkness to either hunt or provide protection from predators. Artificial light in natural environments can disrupt their life cycles and make them vulnerable to being eaten.
March 24, 2012