Nature under our noses The myth that London is a wildlife desert, especially in the centre, has been comprehensively debunked by one individual’s study of a small urban park in Peckham. Over a six-year period, from 2011 to 2017, Penny Metal has spent thousands of hours - and taken thousands of photos - of the insects in Warwick Gardens. She found an astonishing 555 different species of insects and spiders in the park including regional rarities and one species new to the country. There really is nature under our noses, even in the capital. Warwick Gardens would usually be considered an insignificant park just a couple of miles south of Elephant & Castle. It’s a 1.52ha (3.8 acre) area between a railway line and private gardens in the heart of Peckham, in walking distance of Peckham Rye station. Warwick Gardens, Lyndhurst Way, Peckham, London SE15 5AQ There’s a playground for young children, a space for natural play, a ball court for football and basketball, table t