Cattle have been released onto a south west London rewilding site as a new mural was unveiled to mark David Bowie’s first performance as Ziggy Stardust.
The events, which took place in Tolworth on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, celebrated two distinct moments—one environmental and one cultural—in the same corner of Kingston.
Three Sussex cattle were released at Tolworth Court Farm Fields, a 42-hectare public nature reserve that is part of the Wild Tolworth rewilding project and the first large-scale scheme of its kind in London.
The cattle were released from a holding pen by Mete Çoban, Deputy Mayor of London for Environment and Energy.
He said: "The Wild Tolworth team have done a great job rewilding this site, creating new habitats and increasing the plant biodiversity.
"This restoration complements the important work we are doing to improve green and blue spaces across the city as we build a better, greener London for everyone.”
This marks the return of grazing animals to the site after more than 50 years.
Their natural behaviours—grazing, browsing, and trampling—are expected to help diversify habitats, promote plant and insect life, and capture carbon in the soil.
Elliot Newton, director of rewilding at Citizen Zoo, said: "Wild Tolworth can change what we believe a suburban landscape is capable of.
"It can challenge assumptions about how much nature can return and become part of our daily life, as wetlands settle in, cattle graze and browse, and wildlife starts to thrive within sight of people’s front doors, showing you don’t need to travel far to experience nature-rich places.
"This isn’t only about creating a richer home for wildlife.
"It’s about building resilience to a changing climate, reconnecting people with the living world, and creating something local communities can feel proud of every time they pass by.”
The Wild Tolworth project is a collaboration between Kingston Council, Citizen Zoo, and The Community Brain, with the land owned by Kingston Council.
The project also includes restored wetlands designed to support bird and amphibian life while reducing flood risk by storing water.
A new accessible boardwalk now allows visitors to explore the wetland area safely.
On the same morning, The Community Brain unveiled a new mural at Tolworth Roundabout.
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It commemorates David Bowie’s first performance as Ziggy Stardust, which took place at the Toby Jug pub in Tolworth on February 10, 1972.
A local primary school choir from Our Lady Immaculate performed Ziggy Stardust era songs including “Starman” and “Space Oddity.”
The mural is part of wider public art and environmental improvements in Tolworth, including a wayfinding mural to guide visitors from the roundabout to Tolworth Court Farm Fields.
Dr Robin Hutchinson, director of The Community Brain, said: "Tolworth has seen a number of amazing initiatives over the last few years and rewilding Tolworth Court Farm Fields to create Wild Tolworth is the latest demonstration of what can be done when organisations work in partnership and alongside local communities.
"What was just a dream five years ago is now becoming a reality with the new wetlands already demonstrating their massive impact and now cattle coming onto the site.”
Councillor Ian Manders, portfolio holder for climate action, biodiversity, and planning policy at Kingston Council, praised the scheme’s progress.
He said: "It’s great to see how far the Wild Tolworth project has come over the last year.
"It’s a true testament to the power of a partnership to improve an important local habitat and support biodiversity.
"I have been delighted to see how local people have supported all this work—it goes to show that we all want more of the natural world in our neighbourhood.”
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