Tortoises in the park and zebras at the garden gate? Scientists say climate change could make it happen

Zebras grazing in a UK park might sound like the stuff of a high-budget Hollywood blockbuster, but new research suggests it could one day be vital in the fight against climate change, and that the British public might not mind as much as you’d think.

Scientists from the University of Sheffield’s School of Architecture and Landscape surveyed UK residents about their attitudes to non-native plants and exotic animals in urban green spaces, as part of a wider study into how parks and gardens could help protect species threatened by overheating in their native habitats.

More than half of respondents said they would be happy to see Hermann’s tortoises and Northern carmine bee-eaters introduced into their local parks. A Mediterranean-style planting scheme won approval from 60-70 per cent of those surveyed. And when asked about zebras, more than 40 per cent of participants said they were broadly open to the idea, a finding the researchers themselves described as surprising. 

Professor Ross Cameron, Professor of Horticulture at the University of Sheffield who led the research, said: “We expected people to be fairly resistant to the idea of exotic, non-native animals in their local park. But people seem to understand that the natural world is under pressure and that we may need to do things differently.”

However, the research, published in the journal Sustainability, is more than a quirky thought experiment. The scientists argue that as global temperatures continue to rise, many species will simply be unable to survive in the regions they currently inhabit. Without human help, they will not be able to migrate fast enough to find cooler ground. Parks and gardens in the UK, the research highlights, could act as the first ‘stepping stones’ in a network of new habitats stretching across northern Europe.

Professor Cameron added: “It is not as far-fetched as it might seem. London’s climate is already projected to resemble present-day Barcelona by 2050. Plants that currently need careful protection from frost in British gardens could eventually thrive outdoors all year-round.

“British parks and gardens have been hosting plants from around the world for centuries. What we’re suggesting is that we start being much more deliberate about it, choosing species not just for their looks, but for the role they could play in sustaining ecosystems that might otherwise disappear.”

Not every proposed newcomer proved popular. Venomous European asp snakes and spotted hyenas received a considerably cooler reception, with nearly three quarters of respondents saying no, or expressing uncertainty. The researchers acknowledge that apex predators and dangerous species present particular challenges, both practically and politically, and propose that any programme of introductions should proceed gradually, starting with smaller and more benign animals.

“We’re not suggesting that anyone will be encountering hyenas on their morning run any time soon,” said Professor Cameron. “But tortoises, bee-eaters, interesting Mediterranean plants - these are things that people seem genuinely enthusiastic about. And they could make a real difference.”

The study, in which more than 250 UK residents were surveyed, calls for a broader national conversation about what British green spaces are for, and what role they could play in protecting global biodiversity as the planet continues to warm.

This project underscores the University of Sheffield’s ambition to transform ideas into impact — a true embodiment of independent thinking and shared ambition.