# Welcome to Brunswick Square Gardens

## Wildlife

Many squares were originally on the edge of town when first created and there were conscious efforts to allow a view out to open countryside or at least to encourage the illusion of nature and rural associations enhancing urban life - the concept then known as *rus in urbe* (countryside in town). Nowadays we might refer to 'a green oasis' or 'green lung'. A space where nature is managed but not over-formally controlled in the middle of city streets is highly valued by residents, city workers and visitors alike.

Magpie

Brunswick Square and its twin Mecklenburgh Square (not open to the public) were created on land sold off by the Foundling Hospital in the early 19th century, when the Governors needed money. The squares were designed to maintain the airy countryside feel of the areas next to the hospital for the health of the children.

Today Brunswick Square is a garden for the public to enjoy in different ways and not a nature reserve, but its perimeter borders, closing out much of the traffic, and its large mature trees create a green and leafy open space, especially in summer.

There are bat boxes and bird boxes in many of the trees. Areas of the garden, such as the border with Coram's Fields, are managed for wildlife. Foxes can be seen from time to time.

Great tit

Wren

Birds visiting the square are monitored and include:

* **Blackbird** *Turdus merula*

* **Blue tit** *Cyanistes caeruleus*

* **Carrion crow** *Corvus corone corone*

* **Feral pigeon** *Columba livia* (domest.)

* **Goldcrest** *Regulus regulus*

* **Great tit** *Parus major*

* **Jay** *Garrulus glandarius*

* **Woodpigeon** *Columba palumbus*

* **Magpie** *Pica pica*

* **Starling** *Sturnus vulgaris*

* **Robin** *Erithacus rubecula*

* **Mallard** *Anas platyrhynchos*

* **Wren** *Troglodytes troglodytes*

* **Song thrush** *Turdus philomelos*

* **Common gull** *Larus canus*

* **Black-headed gull** *Larus ridibundus*

* **Dunnock** *Prunella modularis*

* **Sparrow hawk** *Accipiter nisus*

* **Blackcap** *Sylvia atricapilla*

## Trees

The Brunswick Plane, a London plane (*Platanus x acerifolia*), is thought to be over 200 years old and is perhaps one of the original trees planted when the square was created in the 1790s. The second-oldest London plane tree, it is one of London's ten great trees.

Two other planes, which have more deeply cut leaves, are smaller and have swollen burry old boles. They are oriental planes (*Platanus orientalis*, a parent of the hybrid London plane).

A maidenhair tree or gingko (*Gingko biloba*), which turns yellow in late autumn, stands next to a copper beech.

The three small trees in the central bed are snakebark maples (*Acer sp*.). A wych elm (*Ulmus glabra*) stands near the east path.

There are Tibetan cherry trees with dark red bark in the semi-circular bed at the main entrance.

Gingko leaf

## Sculptures

Notice the statue of Thomas Coram, the instigator of the former Foundling Hospital, just outside the gate. A little lost mitten sculpture by Tracy Emin is on the railings by the statue, reflecting the tokens that mothers left with their children when they handed them over to the care of the Foundling Hospital (many tokens can be seen inside the Foundling Museum).

Statue of Thomas Coram

The Brunswick Plane

You will find more information on the history of the square, and on its famous former residents, on the boards by the other two entrances.