About us

Hackney Wildlife was established with the following principle aims:

• To record, monitor, and survey the borough's flora and fauna in partnership with other local naturalists and organisations
• To encourage the borough's residents to enjoy and record Hackney's wildlife, and to provide a free conduit for data collection and distribution
• To promote the borough's biodiversity and habitats through a variety of means, including surveying, public events and activities, data collection and active representation
• To provide free advice to anyone actively seeking to maintain or improve Hackney's habitats and biodiversity
• To independently advise on, and where necessary oppose, developments and management regimes in the borough
• To engage and develop links with Hackney's rich and varied communities, in order to promote appreciation and 'ownership' of nature in Hackney

Note that, as a small, voluntary group run in our spare time, we strive to do what we can, but time and resources naturally limit the amount of work we can do. We are not a 'campaigning' organisation as such, but provide robust ecological data and independent advice to individuals, groups and others where required.

Hackney Wildlife conducts voluntary surveys on behalf of and in partnership with many local and national conservation organisations, including the British Trust for Ornithology, the Mammals Trust, Butterfly Conservation, Bat Conservation Trust, RSPB, London Wildlife Trust, London Natural History Society, Hackney Biodiversity Partnership and London Bird Club. We supply our data and expertees free of charge in order to best promote the wonderful biodiversity of Hackney.

We also run a free programme of events and activities, independently and also in partnership with local parks user groups, Abney Park Trust, local conservation groups, London Borough of Hackney, London Wildlife Trust, primary schools and community groups. This involves everything from guided bird walks, to illustrated talks, moth-trapping sessions and bat-monitoring evenings - see the news and events pages for upcoming activities.

Hackney Wildlife was founded by Mark Pearson, who co-ordinates all the above and also manages the website. Mark is ably assisted by a generous and highly-skilled team of local ecologists and naturalists who also give their time and skills voluntarily.

Mark is a qualified freelance ecologist who has been a Hackney resident for more than a decade, during which time he has studied the borough's wildlife extensively. He has many years experience in the field of ecological surveying on behalf of organisations including the RSPB, BTO, Scottish Natural Heritage and various other organisations, and has an HND in Ornithology & Countryside Management.

Currently based at the East Reservoir Environmental Classroom, Mark is a Community Project Officer for London Wildlife Trust.

Mark's studies have taken him to places as diverse as India, Scandinavia, Africa, the Middle East and North America, while remaining committed to conservation and ecological research at a local level.

He is the Middlesex Bird Recorder for the London Bird Club (the Ornithological Section of the London Natural History Society), the BTO Atlas Recorder and WeBS recorder for Stoke Newington / North Hackney, and sits on various other conservation groups including e.g. the London House Sparrow Species Action Plan and the Hackney Biodiversity Partnership. He regularly contributes ornithological articles and photographs to local and national publications and regularly promotes local wildlife on television and radio. He is also a successful songwriter and musician.

Ian Barratt

Ian has built and designed this website and looks after the technical and publishing aspects of the group. He works as a freelance web designer from Lightjuice Web Design.