Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park (Advisor: Tom)
Tom’s summer at QEOP was packed with discoveries and outreach. June and July saw the identification of two new orchid species, Common Spotted and Broad-Leaved Helleborin, alongside the rare Deptford Pink, a Schedule 8 protected plant. Butterfly and bee surveys revealed a thriving ecosystem, with Purple Hairstreak butterflies and 76 bee species recorded.
Tom’s work gained media attention, with interviews featured on BBC Radio, the BBC website, Waitrose magazine, and Pro Landscape Magazine. He also shared biodiversity gardening tips with residents at Chobham Manor and contributed to a UCL sustainability walkabout.
In August, pond surveys revealed abundant damselfly nymphs, and meadow assessments showed some areas reaching 60% wildflower coverage, edging closer to the 70% target by 2030. Notably, the first Wheatear was recorded on Hopkins Field, and a feral pigeon was even taxied to a rehab centre, highlighting the team’s dedication to every creature.