ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses, from the perspective of an ecolo-gist, some of the more prevalent human activities that have city-wide impacts for ecosystems and biodiversity: bird feeding, wildlife gardening and recreation. It explores aspects of urban landscapes that are often under-valued and taken for granted: ecosystem goods and services. The chapter discusses the way that people's preferences and values affect ecosystem services and biodiversity. It focuses on landforms that are of particular relevance to children: gardens, trees and birds. Wildlife gardening or ecological gardening involves gardening practices that both minimise negative impacts and enhance habitat quality through creating a diversity of resources. Given the huge scale of bird feeding across urban areas, it is important to understand the benefits but also potential detrimental effects for wildlife populations. The chapter concludes by comparing landscape design strategies and consider their value in the context of children's needs.
