Welcome to the Neighbourhood

Cities are like living organisms. When balanced, they keep their inhabitants—humans, animals, and plants—happy. Out of balance, they suffer, impacting all who live there.

Today's challenges put cities under a lot of pressure. What are the consequences of rapid urbanisation for biodiversity, cities' ecosystems, and people's health? And how can we keep cities healthy? The prevailing opinion is that cities belong to the people and that "nature" is the place for animals. However, animals have adjusted to city life over time. Blackbirds sing louder and earlier in the morning to brave rush hour; urban foxes have grown shorter snouts for they no longer use them to catch mice but tear open plastic packaging. White-footed mice in New York can now digest fast food instead of whole grains. Hedgehogs or sand lizards have disappeared from the agricultural landscape, and have found their home in the diverse mosaic of private gardens.

Intriguing behavioural animal stories, sublime city shots, and the exciting projects of proficient scientists will reveal amazing connections in an entertaining way and give us a new look at life in our cities.