Dear Warren Farm Nature Reserve supporter,

We have some big updates to share with you today, so please put that kettle on, sit in a sunny autumnal spot and let’s catch-up!

Together with Conservationist and Wildlife Writer, Kabir Kaul and CPRE London’s Head of Green Space Campaigns, Alice Roberts we made a very special delivery to London Assembly Member, Caroline Pidgeon. Caroline very kindly agreed to help deliver our 10,800 signature petition to the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan asking if he will support our campaign for Warren Farm and surrounding Brent River Park Meadows to be given statutory Local Nature Reserve designation.

Not wishing to use paper unnecessarily, we presented the petition on a memory stick, held in the beak of ‘Warren’ (surname Farm) the barn owl! The Barn Owl Trust is supporting our campaign and the barn owl, a Schedule 1 species, is one of many rare, vulnerable and endangered species recorded thriving on our urban meadow.

The Mayor of London has responded:

“…The Warren Farm Nature Reserve Group clearly have a stake in discussions about the site’s future, and in the context of my London Environment Strategy and London Plan it would be right for any decisions to fully consider its nature conservation value and role in London’s wider network of important greenspaces for people and wildlife…”  

We are encouraged that the Mayor acknowledges the environmental importance of Warren Farm NR and that we have a stake in discussions about its wild future with Ealing Council, however the Mayor has stopped short of giving our campaign his full support. As you might expect, we are disappointed by this, but if anything, it makes us even more determined because we know it is highly unlikely that London will meet its climate emergency goals if our species-rich meadow were to be developed. The Mayor’s comments are an acknowledgement of this reality.

Our discussions with Ealing Council have been positive and we would like to continue what has so far been constructive conversation. However, the climate crisis will not wait. The time is now for #WarrenFarmNR

Kabir Kaul sums up our feelings perfectly:

“…I hope that from our discussions with Ealing Council, we can achieve a future for Warren Farm, where it is not threatened by development, and it's many species, some regionally rare, can flourish alongside people. I thank the 10,800 supporters, who signed our petition, for helping us reach this stage. It has certainly made us more determined to give Warren Farm’s wildlife a voice, and the status it deserves.”

To read this latest campaign update in full, please click here

THANK YOU for your continued support, it really means a lot to us and our wildlife. Wishing you a sunny (and chilly!) autumnal week 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.