A Wild World: Underground Life

Yesterday's London Times

Wildlife on the Tube: it’s not just on the Northern Line at night. It’s everywhere. Throughout the Underground, flora and fauna show up intentionally - and unintentionally - in the most surprising places. In this episode, we will:

• explore the gardens maintained voluntarily by TfL employees
• discuss the history of the London Underground In Bloom competition
• learn about a subspecies of mosquito that dwells in the Underground tunnels
• meet pigeons who seem to intentionally and intelligently use the Tube to navigate the city
• examine the tough lives of Underground mice, whose reality is a stark contrast to their cozy portrayal in popular culture

In addition, we will:

• ponder how the city would be different if the Tube had never come to fruition
• ask tough questions about the safety of air quality on the Tube
• compare and contrast the impact of public and private transportation methods on the environment in general
• look at steps taken by TfL and the City of London to make the Tube safer for employees, patrons, and the environment

The impact of the Underground on the city of London is indisputable. But how deeply does the system impact the ecosystem of the city as a whole? Join us for a journey into the natural world that adapts, survives, and sometimes even thrives within this human made modern marvel that is the London Underground.

See our SHOW NOTES for photos, videos, links, sources, and more.