Bella the Hawk soars into action on Lewisham High Street

With £24m invested in transforming Lewisham High Street, Library and Market, maintaining a clean and welcoming town centre is more important than ever. Pigeon overpopulation poses risks to public health, damages property and disrupts ecosystems. Feeding them worsens these issues, encouraging them to linger and attracting other pests.

Hawking offers a natural, humane solution. Bella’s presence alone encourages pigeons to move on, with no harm done. She comes from GB Hawking, a family-run falconry business based in Kent, which has worked with sports stadiums, railway stations, schools and offices – among other places.

Managing pigeons is just one part of keeping Lewisham clean. Residents and businesses also play a vital role by disposing of rubbish correctly, using the litter bins, reporting graffiti or damage via the Love Clean Streets app and avoiding feeding pigeons. If absolutely necessary, enforcement measures such as fines or formal action may be considered.

Find more information on how we're transforming Lewisham town centre.