Bid to get bats and cockney sparrows back to East London

10 August 2009

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A REFUGE for wildlife has been set up to save London’s endangered wildlife including the ‘cockney’ sparrow in the concrete housing estates of the East End.

All sorts of creatures are in danger of losing their habitat by the urban sprawl, including tiny bats (pictured) and other rate flying creatures.

So volunteers from the RSPB set up Operation Sparrow on Whitechapel’s John Fisher housing estate yesterday (Sunday), where kids got involved on the lookout for endangered species.

They also got busy planting grasses and flowers to attract protein-rich aphids, caterpillars and weevils that baby sparrows love to feed on.

The London Wildlife Trust also ran workshops with the Peabody housing trust on how to make rooting boxes to attract a range of species including bats, swifts and house martins as well as sparrows back to East London.

The kids were also treated to an organic barbecue, bush crafts sessions and a chance to see some tiny bats.