Nature Campaigners Welcome New Warren Farm Strategy
Sports facilities would now be built on adjacent site
The whole of Warren Farm could now become a Nature Reserve
February 28, 2024
There has been a positive response from local nature campaign groups to a new strategy for Warren Farm announced by Ealing Council.
An agreement has been reached with Imperial College that sports facilities can be built on an adjacent plot of land that it owns, opening the door to the existing site being converted in its entirety to a Nature Reserve (NR). This would mean that the part of the site that has returned to nature over the last 15 years would not be built on.
Originally, the council was proposing to rewild the Imperial College site to compensate for the rewilded area of wildflower and grassland meadow that would have been lost to sports provision. According to ecological experts, the proposal would have led to loss of vital habitat for a quarter of London’s breeding Skylark population as well as rare and endangered plant species. A petition with over 25,000 signatures was gathered opposing these plans and a large-scale protest was held outside the Town Hall.
This new proposal has been welcomed by the Warren Farm Nature Reserve campaign group and the Brent River & Canal Society (BRCS) charity. It will be discussed at next week’s council cabinet meeting on 6 March and campaign groups hope that the council will obtain Local Nature Reserve (LNR) designation for a number of connected meadow habitats in the Brent River Park, with rewilded Warren Farm NR at its centre.
In a statement, Brent River & Canal Society trustee and Warren Farm NR campaigner Katie Boyles said, “We are delighted that Ealing Council has agreed to designate Warren Farm as a Local Nature Reserve. Credit to the council for taking stock and reversing plans that would have been hugely environmentally damaging.
“There is of course much work to be done, details to secure and discussions to be had. What’s fantastic is that we can now work together on this landmark decision with our supporters, community, and ecological experts to ensure the safeguarding of Ealing’s rare and beloved species. For our Copse Bindweed, Skylarks, Barn Owls, Butterflies and so much more, this marks a significant step in London’s environmental conservation.
“This is a unique opportunity to set a precedent for other councils up and down the country. This doesn’t just stop with Warren Farm NR. We can be ground-breaking in our approach to protect and enhance biodiversity for the benefit of future generations who will be living with the consequences of the actions we take today.
“We extend a massive heartfelt thank you to our dedicated supporters for moving the dial in favour of nature here and whose unwavering commitment and care for our wildlife continues to play a pivotal role in making this further progress possible. We would not have made it this far without each and every one of you. If our Skylarks could thank you themselves, they would. Watch this green space.”
New planned layout of Warren Farm and sports facilities
Council leader Peter Mason said, “Ever since the start of our plans to deliver both sports and rewilding at Warren Farm, we’ve worked to try and secure the best of both worlds.
“So, we’re over the moon to have agreed with Imperial College that the new sports pitches can go on their land to the north of Warren Farm. It means that all of the land that people know as Warren Farm today, can continue to be rewilded.
“It means we can finally move forward to getting rid of the old, dilapidated buildings and get on with delivering a community sports facility that Southall and Hanwell can be proud of.
“We will continue to want to work in partnership with local residents and campaigners to deliver a bold, community led plan to safeguard Warren Farm’s open and biodiverse future.”
Cllrs Mason, Costigan and Newstubb on a recent visit to Warren Farm. Picture: YouTube
There may however be obstacles ahead for the new plan as the Imperial College land is a long-standing Site of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINC) within the Brent River Park and that any development there needs to be fully compliant with Ealing Council’s own policies and with London-wide policies for such sites. Any development will also be conditional on the outcome of the ecological surveys and assessments being undertaken.
BRCS Chair, Phil Belman noted, “BRCS has been consistent in pointing out the national, regional and local policies the Council should be following. The BRCS Vision for Warren Farm remains the same. This is further progress which we warmly welcome. We look forward to the removal of the unsafe derelict buildings and the return of hardstanding to meadow.”
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