Three species of bee, a cuckoo wasp, and the ringlet butterfly have been discovered for the first time at the Olympic Park - leaving even the resident ecologist 'surprised'.
Queen Elizabeth Oympic Park this week unveiled its latest Biodiversity Action Plan.
It revealed that, in an area that prior to the London 2012 Games was mostly industrial wasteland with contaminated soil and polluted waterways, flora and fauna have sprung to life.
The park is now a haven for rare species, and a recent biologicial survey involving experts and members of the public uncovered even more remarkable finds.
Three new kinds of bee were spotted - coastal leafcutter, sickle-jawed blood bee, and large sharp-tailed bee - meaning 67 species of the flower-hoppers have now been recorded at the site.
A species of hyper-parasitic wasp, Hedychrum rutilans, also made its first appearance.
Surveyors catalogued the ringlet butterfly too, bringing the number of species of butterfly at the park to 23.
Tom Bellamy, the park's ecologist, said: “I have been really surprised at the biodiversity that’s been achieved here in such a short time – especially considering how polluted a lot of the ground here was before the London 2012 Games.
"We have kingfishers, otters, eels and it’s incredible that nationally scarce species of bees have been found here.
“Part of my job is to establish breeding populations for a wide variety of select species that we want to breed on the park. I’m proud of what’s been achieved so far but there is always more we can do.”
Other notable species making a home at the 102-hectare park include kestrels, martins, the rare black mining bee and large scabious bee, and the soft wing flower beetle, which is under threat across Europe.
A pair of kingfishers, suspected to be breeding, are among 82 species of birds seen at the park - with a whopping 42 species recorded in the space of a single day.
Shazia Hussain, CEO of the London Legacy Development Corporation, the organisation that was tasked with regenerating the area, added: “Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park was envisioned as more than just a legacy of the 2012 Games - it was designed as a blueprint for how urban regeneration can create healthy, liveable, and sustainable communities where people and nature thrive side by side.
"These extraordinary discoveries of new species are a powerful reminder of what’s possible through the successful integration of green infrastructure.
"As the park continues to evolve, we remain deeply committed to preserving and enhancing its biodiversity, ensuring it remains a vital sanctuary for both wildlife and people for generations to come.”
The park's Biodiversity Action Plan can be read in full here.
