Dear Warren Farm Nature Reserve supporter,
It has been an epic month here at Warren Farm Nature Reserve. Thanks to your ongoing support we continue to seek Local Nature Reserve (LNR) designation for our rewilded urban meadow and my goodness, has a lot happened since our last update! Let’s start from the top.
TOGETHER WE DID IT! We have gone over 10,000 signatures! That’s 10,000 voices calling for the protection of our wildflower meadow. It is a fantastic achievement and really shows the public strength of feeling, support and hope to safeguard our vital green space from development at a time of Climate Crisis. But it doesn’t stop here. With the tremendous cross-party political support we’re receiving, we will be putting our petition to the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, asking him to back our campaign. So please do continue to sign and share our petition here, every voice makes a difference. Let’s keep going!
In other big developments, Ealing Council leader Julian Bell, to whom the petition was addressed, has been replaced by a new leader, Peter Mason. We congratulated Peter on his new position and he was quick to invite us on a walk around Warren Farm NR to discuss its future. Ealing Council has the power to grant LNR designation for Warren Farm NR. Peter Mason has publicly stated that he would like to see the wild character of Warren Farm protected, which is great, and for the site to serve as sports facilities.
We are standing by our campaign and the Brent River & Canal Society vision, requesting that our wildflower meadows are not reverted to closely mown pitches. The biodiversity loss if this were to happen would be catastrophic, not just for Ealing and London, but for the UK as a whole. Our meadow has rewilded over 10 years. There are less than 2% of wildflower meadows left across the whole of the UK of which Warren Farm NR is one.
This is just the beginning of a new chapter. There are many steps yet to go, but we are delighted conversations with Ealing Council have begun. It is only through discussion that change becomes possible.
Finally, in other big news, the Brent River Park (BRP), of which Warren Farm NR is a part, celebrated its 46th Anniversary on July 29th. This large, multi-habitat park was the idea of Luke FitzHerbert, who founded the Brent River & Canal Society in 1973. The BRCS is now behind the Warren Farm NR campaign. It is because of big thinkers and campaigners like Luke, that we find ourselves in a position to continue his legacy today - to care and protect the green spaces we love. You can find out more about the BRPs incredible journey by reading our latest blog post here.
We will continue to keep you updated on our progress, none of which would be possible without your support! Wishing you a nature and wildlife-filled summer break ahead,
Team #WarrenFarmNR
www.WarrenFarmNatureReserve.co.uk
Pls note - donations made through the Change.org petition do not go to Warren Farm Nature Reserve or the BRCS. However, donations do allow Change.org to find like-minded people to support the petition, thereby allowing the petition to reach more supporters of nature. Thank you.