Greater than 6,000 individuals have backed a marketing campaign to guard a much-loved meadow and its habitats by granting it Native Nature Reserve (LNR) standing.
A petition circulating on-line requires pressing motion to cease Warren Farm Nature Reserve and its surrounding areas by the River Brent being misplaced to future growth.
The 61-acre inexperienced area in Norwood Inexperienced was earmarked for a brand new coaching floor for Queen’s Park Rangers Soccer Membership, however after a near-decade-long battle with native opposition teams, the plan fell by means of final 12 months.
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Campaigners say over time after the sphere stopped getting used for sports activities, the meadow has turn out to be a “distinctive city grassland” with uncommon and endangered species such because the Skylark making it their dwelling.
They are saying it is dwelling to a number of animals and crops together with yarrow pugs, yellow-necked mice, little owls, barn owls, wrynecks, historical oak bushes, uncommon clovers, slow-worms, toads and bats.
The bid to grant Warren Farm statutory LNR designation, which is within the energy of native authorities, was the proposal of the Brent River & Canal Society (BRCS).
An entire host of species now stay on the reserve. Picture: Brent River & Canal Society
Its members imagine the encompassing inexperienced areas round Warren Farm, together with the Jubilee Meadow, Trumper’s Area, Blackberry Nook and Fox Meadow, needs to be introduced collectively to type a big LNR with Warren Farm on the centre.
In its first week of the marketing campaign going stay in January, the petition gained 3,000 signatures, which has doubled to six,014 supporters up to now (February 22).
Marketing campaign organiser and BRCS trustee Katie Boyles stated: “The Wildlife Belief has referred to as on the federal government to create ‘Wildbelt’ land throughout city areas of Britain – land particularly designated for nature restoration.
“We don’t have to look far in Ealing as a result of we are able to just do this at Warren Farm. With solely two per cent of wildflower meadows left within the UK, it’s essential that these meadow habitats are safeguarded from future growth.”
“The Covid disaster has proven us the significance of entry to nature, bettering our well being and well-being. We’re additionally going through a local weather emergency and with the UK being ranked as one of the crucial nature-depleted international locations on this planet, there has by no means been a extra essential time to guard websites akin to Warren Farm.”
Because the launch, the trigger has additionally secured additional assist from the Ramblers Affiliation West London Group which has almost 500 members, primarily made up of Ealing residents who stroll by means of these “valuable city meadows.”
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One of many uncommon species of owls that may be noticed at Warren Farm
BRCS trustee Phil Belman added: “Our skilled surveys have supplied overwhelming proof to justify the Statutory Native Nature Reserve designation.”
“BRCS gives our assist, expertise and experience to help council officers to realize this imaginative and prescient and we stand able to work in partnership with Ealing Council and all others who signal as much as it.”
It’s understood Ealing Council voted greater than a decade in the past to hunt LNR standing for the encompassing meadows however has but to finish the work. The marketing campaign needs to increase this dedication to the broader space together with Warren Farm’s deserted sports activities discipline.
However regardless of QPR’s ambition falling wanting bringing the sphere again into use, Ealing Council chief Julian Bell stated the authority has not deserted plans to put in a sports activities floor.
Talking after the QPR announcement in Could 2020, cllr Bell stated: “Warren Farm has all the time been a taking part in discipline and our ambition to develop firstclass sporting amenities for the borough’s younger individuals stays unchanged. We will probably be how this may be funded as soon as the Covid-19 emergency is over.”
To view the petition click on right here.
