Introduction: an overview of landscape ecology in cities

This chapter presents a case study of the River Crane, a small tributary of the River Thames, with a catchment that covers around 125 km² of urban and suburban west London. The case study has been produced by Friends of the River Crane Environment (FORCE). FORCE is an environmental and community charity formed in 2003, run entirely by volunteers. The chapter charts the history of human interaction with the River Crane in London, considers its current status as green corridor for wildlife and people, and sets out future opportunities for these interlinked green spaces, known since the 1920s as the West London Green Chain. The chapter takes a reflective look at the environmental and societal values that may be attributed to the river, and seeks to chart the key milestones in the human appreciation of its value over time. The chapter sets out a vision for how the value of the river corridor may be optimised over the next decade.