Meet Mark

Back to project homepage

A Q& A with marvellous Mark, our resident Cockney Sparrow expert

Give us your own take on the Cockney Sparrow Project. What do you hope it will achieve?

We’re hoping to make the most of the enthusiasm and interest shown by Peabody residents and tenants over these first few months in several ways. Firstly, engaging people (of all ages and from all walks of life) with wildlife, and especially birds, both on and off the estates – first and foremost, it’s about giving people the opportunity to enjoy birds and wildlife on their doorsteps.

Secondly, we hope to make a really positive impact on the estates themselves – i.e., making them more wildlife-friendly in a variety of ways: planting mini-wildflower meadows and native shrubs, making and putting up bird and bat boxes, creating bird-feeding stations, and lots more. We’ll be doing what we can for sparrows of course, and we may even encourage them back….

What do you enjoy most about your role as Cockney Sparrow project officer? What have been some of the highlights so far?

I’m lucky in that I enjoy all aspects of my job. I can rabbit on about birds and wildlife forever, and I’m especially passionate about how the urban environment affects them. There are some really simple things we can all do to give a wide variety of wonderful species a helping hand, and the inner city is full of great opportunities. The highlight so far is the enthusiasm from tenants and residents. There’s a lot of people out there with a lot to contribute – but it’s all about being given that opportunity.

London is a city that combines the hustle and bustle of the high street with the surprising peacefulness of parks and hidden green spaces. Tell us about some of your favourite London spaces.

My favourite London spaces are in Hackney, my adopted borough of 15 years. Although deep in the heart of inner London, Hackney has a great variety of green spaces. Abney Park Cemetery is a hidden jewel tucked behind the bustling streets of Stoke Newington, and is an incredible, enchanted woodland that attracts a wide variety of birdlife, from breeding tawny owls to tiny firecrests.

Springfield Park is another borough secret – on the slope of the Lea Valley, it overlooks the marshes and Epping Forest, and is sympathetically managed to encourage birds and wildlife. And the East Reservoir Community Garden of course – our HQ in Hackney, with woodland trails, feeding stations, and a beautiful view over the reservoirs and beyond to the gherkin and Canary Wharf. I could go on and on….

And your favourite bird watching haunts in London (and elsewhere in the UK)?

Most of my urban bird-watching is done within Hackney, although there are many other choices a little further afield – Walthamstow Reservoirs and Marshes are other favourites of mine. Outside of the city, well I’m lucky enough to be from Flamborough Head in Yorkshire - a well-known Bird Observatory and home to hundreds of thousands of breeding seabirds – so I tend to go back as often as I can….

Otherwise you’ll find me anywhere on the coast, especially on headlands and islands; I just returned from Portland Bill in Dorset, and I’m about to stay on St. Agnes, Isles of Scilly.

Have you ever seen that most elusive of creatures on the wildlife spotter's list, a badger?

Lucky for me, yes. As a kid in Yorkshire, my Dad used to take me to the local woodlands, armed with treacle sandwiches and a torch. We’d put the sandwiches at the bottom of the tree, climb up it, and wait for it to get dark – worked every time!

What are some of the challenges that birds -- along with other wildlife -- face in London, and how can we make a difference?

The main challenge is loss of habitat. Conserving what we have on a large scale (green spaces, wetlands, woodlands etc.) in London has to be a priority – whatever we have left needs robust protection. But isolated sites are of limited value in the grand scheme of things – the idea that wildlife can be ‘boxed up’ on reserves just doesn’t work, and it’s all about looking at conservation as a part of all our lives and neighbourhoods.

In London, and especially on housing estates, there’s so much we can do; planting native hedges and shrubs (and protecting those we already have), reseeding unused amenity grassland and lawns with colourful wildflower meadows, making sure birds like house sparrows and swifts have the nooks and crannies they need under our houses’ eaves to raise their families in, putting up bird and bat boxes….

There’s plenty we can do, and you don’t need fancy qualifications or pots of cash to make the difference.

What do you do when you're not bird watching?

Ask my girlfriend and she’ll tell you I do nothing else (except sleep)….. but I’m involved in various community projects and conservation concerns, and I play music with my band when I get the chance.

I'm a Londoner and I'm keen to start birding! What do I need to achieve take-off? Can you recommend any useful online resources/books?

Easy! Three things – a bird guide, a pair of binoculars, and enthusiasm. Start with the birds we see in our parks and gardens, and take your time. Some of Britain’s most fantastic birds can be found here – from the multi-coloured, sociable goldfinch to the dramatic high-speed peregrine falcon.

The web is a great resource for information, and there are several excellent London-wide organisations - London Wildlife Trust and London Natural History Society are the best starting points.

Hooking up with others is a great way to improve your skills and share the enjoyment, so have a look for a local group – there are plenty out there, across all boroughs.

How do I get involved?

Cockney sparrows need you! Have a look at our volunteering pages and find out how you can help.

Mark Pearson is London Wildlife Trust’s Cockney Sparrow Project Officer