The Metropolis

Scorpions and ninja turtles: five surprising revelations from the BBC's Unnatural History of London

Mike Pollitt | Tuesday 19 June, 2012 16:45

Last night the BBC screened a documentary about nature in London. Here are some of the things it taught us:

1. Here be scorpions

A colony of European yellow-tailed scorpions (Euscorpius flavicaudis) have lived at Sheerness in Kent since 1860, but the documentary suggests that these cuddly little fellas can now be seen down by London’s docks. They are 2 inches long, nocturnal, ambush predators who eat spiders and woodlice. And relax – their sting, while venomous, is reckoned no worse than a wasp’s.

2. Hedgehogs like coffee

Hedgehogs are an animal in trouble (stop using slug pellets, people!). They are also caffeine fiends. I didn’t know they liked the syrupy remains of coffee at the bottom of discarded cups. Some hedgehogs have shoved their snout too far inside the cup, got trapped, and died. That’s how much they want the delicious golden nectar, and it’s a feeling we can all relate to I am sure.

3. There’s a reason you never see a baby pigeon

Well you don’t, do you? They remain in their nests tucked away in the sides and tops of office blocks until they are fully grown. Also of note: pigeons breed all year round, which helps to explain their success. The pigeon part of the film was rubbish though. “Pigeons in Kensington are posher than those in Peckham” oh shut up.

4. Cute little duckings get eaten by Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles

The ponds and waterways of London are apparently full of terrapins, many of which can be traced back to the Turtle craze of the early nineties. In a case of life imitating art (yes, ART), some young terrapins escaped from their owners and set up home for themselves. And terrapins eat ducklings. Is it not a wonder, how even the most innocent childhood craze can have consequences which could never be foreseen?

5. Remember your geography

I thought the script a little clunky, a little “this is London’s wildlife as you’ve NEVER seen it before.” But there was one nice line at the start, which helped contextualise what we’ve changed about the landscape, and what we haven’t.

“Despite all the changes, London is still a handful of gently rolling hills that fall away to a flood plain…with a river running through it.”

It’s a modern city, but that description remains accurate. And that’s something to be glad about.

Watch the full episode on iPlayer here (available until 25/06/12).
Extra info and short clips here

See also:
Five lessons for London from Clapton Park’s verdant ‘poppy’ estate
Interviewed: @FaBPeregrines on the wild hunters stalking the city skies
Forget the scaremongering, here’s some practical advice for dealing with urban foxes
Five great London journeys into the sunset

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