Forests
In several cities, city forests are found covering both larger and smaller areas. Forests are a good starting point for areas with high biodiversity as they often have large trees, which can be very old. Especially if the forest has been there for a long time. Moreover, forests are often quite varied as a habitat.
Unfortunately, city forests are often excessively managed as their primary purpose is to provide a recreational breathing space for the city’s population. The common Danish city forest is a beautiful tall beech wood, which during the spring bears many anemones on the forest floor. But from a biodiversity perspective, it is a desert as there is barely any variation in such a forest.
Furthermore, the tradition in Denmark to not preserve large old trees means that many species, which live in old wood, no longer can be found in our cities. The contrary has happened in England, where the focus has been on preserving old trees and therefore a species like the stag beetle still lives in the centre of London.