NHM rebuts claims that wildlife garden is under threat
Conflict over plans to create access to new Jurassic area
Concerns have been raised that the Natural History Museum’s (NHM) plans to connect its outdoor spaces could result in the loss of habitat from the wildlife garden.
The London museum plans include creating a new Jurassic area as well as increasing space dedicated to its wildlife garden and ecology.
But the Prospect union claimed the plans threaten 50% of the garden’s wildlife.
“The wildlife garden was established by a team of scientists and ecologists 20 years ago to illustrate the diversity of lowland habitat in the UK, many of which people – especially city dwellers – will never have seen,” said Prospect negotiator Mike Weiler. “The NHM’s new plans seem to be about efficiently channeling large numbers of people through the [wildlife] garden…rather than enhancing it or encouraging any interaction.”
But the NHM has rebutted these claims. A spokesman for the museum said that half of the original area might be lost, but “the area currently dedicated to wildlife will increase to three times its original size, with as little destruction as possible to existing flora and fauna”.
The architect-led plans shared with Prospect by a representative of the NHM show a metre-wide driveway arcing through the middle of the garden, where the central pond currently houses wetlands and other threatened habitats.
The NHM spokesman said that the museum is “in consultation with scientists and architectural consultants about the ecological impact” of its plans.
A statement from the NHM in July says: “Feedback from museum staff and local residents has been positive, and we are consulting museum scientists and biodiversity experts so that the current wildlife and its habitat is disrupted as little as possible.”
The NHM plans to devote the east side to Jurassic exhibits, including Dippy, the famous cast of a diplodocus dinosaur skeleton, when it return from its UK tour, while retaining the Wildlife Garden to the west side. It said this, respects Alfred Waterhouse’s original architecture adorned with carvings of prehistoric, extinct creatures to the east, and living species to the west.
The museum’s spokesman said that the west side would remain “focussed on sustainability and ecology, with a learning element at its core”.
Prospect have called for the NHM “to utilise the existing bricked pathways that run around the perimeter [of the wildlife garden] to minimise disruption”. It has also proposed a raised walkway, which could attract greater visitor numbers without disrupting the garden.
A recent style staff meeting at the museum showed high levels of opposition to the current plans and Prospect is now seeking urgent talks ahead of the NHM seeking planning permission. The plans will go before Kensington and Chelsea’s planning board later this year.
The NHM will mount a display about the proposed plans at the end of September for members of the public to share feedback.
The London museum plans include creating a new Jurassic area as well as increasing space dedicated to its wildlife garden and ecology.
But the Prospect union claimed the plans threaten 50% of the garden’s wildlife.
“The wildlife garden was established by a team of scientists and ecologists 20 years ago to illustrate the diversity of lowland habitat in the UK, many of which people – especially city dwellers – will never have seen,” said Prospect negotiator Mike Weiler. “The NHM’s new plans seem to be about efficiently channeling large numbers of people through the [wildlife] garden…rather than enhancing it or encouraging any interaction.”
But the NHM has rebutted these claims. A spokesman for the museum said that half of the original area might be lost, but “the area currently dedicated to wildlife will increase to three times its original size, with as little destruction as possible to existing flora and fauna”.
The architect-led plans shared with Prospect by a representative of the NHM show a metre-wide driveway arcing through the middle of the garden, where the central pond currently houses wetlands and other threatened habitats.
The NHM spokesman said that the museum is “in consultation with scientists and architectural consultants about the ecological impact” of its plans.
A statement from the NHM in July says: “Feedback from museum staff and local residents has been positive, and we are consulting museum scientists and biodiversity experts so that the current wildlife and its habitat is disrupted as little as possible.”
The NHM plans to devote the east side to Jurassic exhibits, including Dippy, the famous cast of a diplodocus dinosaur skeleton, when it return from its UK tour, while retaining the Wildlife Garden to the west side. It said this, respects Alfred Waterhouse’s original architecture adorned with carvings of prehistoric, extinct creatures to the east, and living species to the west.
The museum’s spokesman said that the west side would remain “focussed on sustainability and ecology, with a learning element at its core”.
Prospect have called for the NHM “to utilise the existing bricked pathways that run around the perimeter [of the wildlife garden] to minimise disruption”. It has also proposed a raised walkway, which could attract greater visitor numbers without disrupting the garden.
A recent style staff meeting at the museum showed high levels of opposition to the current plans and Prospect is now seeking urgent talks ahead of the NHM seeking planning permission. The plans will go before Kensington and Chelsea’s planning board later this year.
The NHM will mount a display about the proposed plans at the end of September for members of the public to share feedback.