Ecological Monitoring Report

Last year the Wormwood Scrubs Charitable Trust commissioned Kate McVay, the RSPB/Idverde ecology officer, to continue Ecological Baseline monitoring work on the Scrubs. Scrubs manager Osama El-Amin has shared with us the final report - it’s too big a file to send to Friends by email so we invite you to click on the button below to read it in full.

Here is an extract from Kate’s summary:

A total of 76 bird species were recorded in 2024/25 including Schedule 1 species: Fieldfare (Turdus pilaris), Hobby (Falco Subbuteo), Red Kite (Milvus milvus), Redwing (Turdus iliacus) and Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus). Species records lent further evidence to the value of the Scrubs as a stop-over site for several migratory species, some of which remain resident during the winter season. Breeding bird surveys recorded 29 species displaying breeding behaviours, with 18 confirmed, 6 probable and 5 possible. A total of 76 individuals across 13 species, mostly warblers, were fixed with unique rings in September. An estimated 3,800 Ring-necked Parakeets (Psittacula krameri) were observed departing the Scrubs Lane woodland roost location, which shifted further north since 2023/2024 surveys.

Four bat species were recorded during manual activity surveys: Common Pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pipistrellus), Nathusius’ Pipistrelle (Pipistrellus nathusii), Soprano Pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pygmaeus) and Noctule (Nyctalus noctula). Behaviours recorded during survey visits were indicative of foraging and commuting. No bats were encountered during typical emergence periods, indicating there was not likely to be an active roost on site.

Two reptile species, Common Lizard (Zootoca vivipara) and Slow-worm (Anguis fragilis), were identified during the refugia survey. A total of 62 reptiles were recorded over the survey period of which 57 were Common Lizard and 5 were Slow-worm. Juveniles were observed for both species, evidence of successful breeding populations on site. Most reptiles were recorded in the western meadow area, but a robust subpopulation of Common Lizards was also documented around the Gaelic football pitches.

Ad-hoc records of Common Frog (Rana temporaria) were obtained during meadow and scrub management sessions during winter months. Further survey work should aim to identify amphibian breeding habitat on site.

Weekly butterfly surveys recorded 1,339 individuals across 22 species including species of conservation concern: Brown Hairstreak (Thecla betulae), Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus) and White-letter Hairstreak (Satyrium w-album). A Brown Hairstreak egg transect revealed 39 eggs along the southern wildlife hedge, demonstrating the value of suckering Blackthorn as egg-laying habitat. A total of 10 common moth species were identified and recorded during moth trapping sessions.

Click the button below to download the full 2024-25 report.