A rich variety of wildlife is now thriving in east London’s Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, where researchers have recorded an increasing number of bee, bird, wasp, and lichen species.

Once a derelict industrial site plagued by contaminated soil, polluted waterways, and illegal dumping, the area has undergone a remarkable transformation since being redeveloped for the 2012 Olympic Games.

The most recent findings came from a “bio-blitz” — an intensive biodiversity survey — carried out by experts from the London Natural History Society, University College London (UCL), and Hackney Council.

Ecologist Tom Bellamy said: “I have been really surprised at the biodiversity that’s been achieved here in such a short time – especially considering how polluted a lot of the ground here was before the London 2012 Games.”

Among the discoveries were three bee species now living in the park: the coastal leafcutter, the sickle-jawed blood bee, and the large sharp-tailed bee. Researchers also identified a hyper-parasitic wasp species, a cuckoo wasp, 23 types of butterfly, 42 species of birds, and 23 lichen varieties.

Other notable wildlife recorded in the park includes otters, eels, kestrels, house martins, and sand martins. The nationally scarce black mining bee and large scabious mining bee were also found, along with the soft-winged flower beetle — a species considered threatened across Europe.

Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park ecologist Mr Bellamy said: “We have kingfishers, otters, eels and it’s incredible that nationally scarce species of bees have been found here.

“Part of my job is to establish breeding populations for a wide variety of select species that we want to breed on the park.

“I’m proud of what’s been achieved so far but there is always more we can do.”

 

 

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