TOGETHER, WE DID IT! WarrenFarmNR is now officially declared a statutory Local Nature Reserve!
Skylark on WarrenFarmNR Grassland and Wildflower meadow. Photo credit: @oonagh_london
The blog post that we dreamed of one day writing has landed! We are thrilled to announce that thanks to the incredible amount of support you have shown our Rewilded Grassland and Wildflower Meadow, all 24.8 hectares (61 acres) of Warren Farm Nature Reserve are now protected with Local Nature Reserve (LNR) designation.
What’s brilliant about LNR designations is that they safeguard, manage and enhance biodiversity-rich habitats securing them from development whilst also providing educational, physical and wellbeing health benefits to us humans. LNR is a commitment to nature conservation and for our community to experience and enjoy wildlife on their doorstep.
Our Neutral and Acid Grassland habitat is home to a quarter of London’s breeding Skylark population, a Red Listed ground-nesting bird of conservation concern, and our land supports an abundance of common, rare and vulnerable species of prey, such as Barn Owls, Little Owls and Kestrels, four species of the Hairstreak butterfly (Purple, Brown, White-letter, and Green!) and Copse Bindweed, a plant facing UK extinction that is only found in two London locations – their home here, now protected by law.
Team WarrenFarmNR volunteers and Ealing Council presenting the LNR declaration. (L-R) Brent River Park Treasurer Steven Toft, Chantal Woodun, Rowan Watkins, Peter Edwards, Council Leader Peter Mason, Brent River Park Chair Katie Boyles, Cllr Blerina Hashani, Vicky Brasier, Brent River Park Secretary Kinga Sarvary, Hazel Atashroo, Helen Brasier. Photo credit; Ealing Council
Natural England have been notified of the declaration, and a draft management plan has been prepared by the ace Council Park Ranger Team and supported by our Brent River Park Charity - working with our local naturalists and conservationist friends, to guide the future protection and enhancement of the LNR for wildlife to thrive alongside us.
The declaration comes two years (6th March 2024) after Ealing Council passed its Cabinet resolution to formally designate the whole of Warren Farm as a Local Nature Reserve, and five years after we began our WarrenFarmNR campaign for LNR designation. The efforts to safeguard Warren Farm have spanned more than fifteen years. In many ways it became less a campaign and more a movement, with many people and organisations contributing over time. Each step along the way helped extend the process, allowing the land the time it needed to successfully rewild. It has been a long journey to reach this point, but the final decision to designate our entire site as an official LNR now ensures WarrenFarmNR wildlife can flourish and that we can all experience and learn from nature close to home. Make no mistake about it, this is an historic moment.
We commend Ealing Council for joining us in recognising our rewilded meadow habitat’s immense ecological value. With less than 2% of Wildflower Meadow habitats left in the UK, their action of giving us LNR designation marks a significant step in Ealing and London’s environmental conservation. Although the journey has not been a straight path with bumps along the way, we thank the Council for listening to the strength of support for our campaign and for ultimately making a decision that protects our beloved Warren Farm Nature Reserve for future generations.
Council map showing the red boundary line of the approved WarrenFarmNR LNR designation.
It goes without saying, our Warren Farm Nature Reserve Team want to extend a huge heartfelt THANK YOU to YOU, our 26,000 plus petition signatories, our volunteers, our local experts, the notable wildlife charities and conservationists who kindly gave us statements of support, to the supporting political parties and the many national and local groups that have been with us since the beginning. You signed and shared our petition, you turned up to our family-friendly protest carrying banners, you shared your wildlife photos with us, you joined our walks and talks, you cared… together you helped us give a voice to the voiceless, and now when we hear our Skylarks sing the fear of losing them has been replaced with the joy of knowing their home is safe.
WarrenFarmNR Team and supporters enjoy a nature walk on a sunny day.
‘Warren Farm Nature Reserve’ has officially landed. More info and celebratory events to come! #WatchThisGreenSpace Thank you so much from our team and singing Skylarks,
Team WarrenFarmNR and Brent River Park Charity
JOIN - BrentRiverPark.org Become a FREE member of the Brent River Park Charity today, explore and learn more about the green and blue spaces you love, on your doorstep.
VISIT - WarrenFarmNatureReserve.co.uk
DONATE - On our charity website or via our JustGiving page
P.S - And it doesn’t stop there! Ealing Council back in April 2022 approved WarrenFarmNR’s surrounding four Brent River Park Meadows (Jubilee Meadow, Blackberry Corner, Trumpers Field and Fox Meadow) to also receive LNR designation which is in progress. Connected Meadow habitats creating more vital wildlife corridors!