Leading environmental campaigners including RSPB, Kabir Kaul and Chris Packham give backing to Warren Farm Nature Reserve campaign
A Skylark (Alauda arvensis) on Warren Farm Nature Reserve, a red-listed species
In the last couple of days Ealing Council published its plan to develop a sports facility covering more than half of Warren Farm. We put out a tweet on this ‘dewilding’ council proposal which to date has been viewed over 215,000 times and, somewhat unsurprisingly, has received a huge amount of negative press with a number of environmental campaigners voicing their support for our campaign to turn the entire site into a Local Nature Reserve.
The London head of the UK’s largest conservation charity, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) has spoken of the importance of Warren Farm Nature Reserve in Southall as a breeding space for rare birds.
In a statement of support, Andrew Peel says that endangered Skylarks are down to just 50 breeding pairs in London as of last year, meaning that Warren Farm’s 12 pairs account for a quarter of London’s entire Skylark population.
As Mr Peel explains:
“As an Ealing resident, I know that Warren Farm is an important green space, both for nature, and as a space for renewing local people’s physical and mental health. The mixture of habitats (grassland, brownfield, scrub, mature trees etc) support a variety of wildlife, including a crucially important breeding population of Skylarks (down to just 50 pairs in London), and other declining species such as Linnets and Kestrels. It is also important for seasonal visitors such as Stonechats, and as a refuelling point for migrants such as Wheatear and Whinchat.”
He also emphasises the site’s importance for recreation and wellbeing:
“Warren Farm is equally important as a place for local people to walk / dog walk / rest, and play. There is an increasingly large body of scientific research showing that regular access to green spaces is vital in creating and maintaining people’s physical and mental health. In the words of the African proverb ‘Health is made at home, hospitals are for repairs’. Accessible green spaces are also vital for children’s development and play, affording great scope for interaction and imagination, as well as promoting their independence.”
It is a fact that Ealing Council’s proposal to develop a sports facility on Warren Farm presents a serious threat to the borough’s only Skylark population. The plan, which would see more than half of our rewilded green space developed, is due to be discussed by the council’s cabinet on the 25th January 2023.
RSPB Central London, RSPB Richmond & Twickenham
RSPB Richmond and Twickenham said;
“Warren Farm is a very special place for wildlife. Members of our group regularly visit the site to see & hear the breeding Skylarks, such an important area for them as a quarter of London’s breeding Skylarks nest there. Add to that the Linnets & Kestrels that are both in decline & also nest there. We have seen Wheatears & Whinchats on their migration route stopping off at Warren Farm to refuel.
It is also an important area for the brown Argus butterfly too. It is an absolute travesty that Ealing Council are planning to redevelop Warren Farm which is such an important biodiverse area with various habitats. It’s also an important area for local people to walk, knowing that it’s been proven that accessible green spaces are so beneficial for people’s mental & physical Heath & well-being.”
The map below, taken from Ealing Council’s cabinet report, shows the proposed development.
Map showing the proposed development on Warren Farm, removing over half of the already rewilded wildflower meadow.
Dr Sean McCormack founder of the Ealing Wildlife Group says:
“I’m very disappointed that our leaders are pushing on with plans to destroy half of one our most biodiverse habitats in the borough, home to many rare species and the only site in Ealing where Skylarks can breed, a red listed bird of highest conservation concern. Having contributed to Ealing’s Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) which vows to protect and enhance habitat for this rare bird it’s shocking to hear that it’s apparently either Skylarks or sports facilities for children. This is disingenuous and misleading. We can have both. It’s also extremely concerning to see a real misuse of the term ‘rewilding’ when the plans involve the opposite, de-wilding. Warren Farm has already rewilded. It’s ecocide to undo that process...Warren Farm is not the place for sports facilities.”
Amazing local Young Naturalists Daniel Brasier and Rowan Watkins, both in Year 9 at Elthorne Park High School and who at the end of last year held a walk with local councillors as part of their Duke of Edinburgh award and School Eco Club activities here say:
Daniel Braiser: “Warren Farm Nature Reserve is a unique meadow site in the London borough of Ealing that has attracted a rare breeding population of Skylarks. When I visit Warren Farm it is good for my mood and mental health. I have grown up with the rewilded Warren Farm and it is really sad that nature and the Skylarks are now under threat. I am a member of the Central London RSPB group and told them about the fantastic bird species at Warren Farm including Barn Owls, Little Owls and Skylarks. I felt it is vital for the world's leading nature organization to be involved in the campaign to save Warren Farm for people and nature. When I asked for a supporter statement the group was happy to write one.”
Rowan Watkins: “It is so amazing to have skylarks within walking distance in Ealing. The song reminds me of the beautiful fields around my grandparents’ house and is my definition of a countryside summer. It would be an enormous blow to lose them, not only for me and many others but also for their overall London population.”
A Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) on Warren Farm Nature Reserve, an amber-listed species
Brilliant Wildlife Writer, Conservationist and Warren Farm Nature Reserve team member, Kabir Kaul and renowned Wildlife TV Presenter and Conservationist Chris Packham voiced their support to the campaign on Twitter. Chris Packham on Twitter said:
“The excellent @Kaulofthewilduk is on this case, it’s close to his heart and a valuable part of his and many others community. The site is home to a spectacular array of bird species, like Red Kites, Barn and Short-eared Owls, Starlings, Wheatears, Linnets, Mistle Thrushes. RT”
Kabir Kaul on Twitter said:
“An outrageous decision by @_petermason and Ealing Council. Under these plans, half of Warren Farm will be replaced with sports pitches, driving Skylarks to extinction in Ealing. We want this meadow to stay rewilded, not dewilded”
Katie Boyles, Trustee of the Brent River & Canal Society (BRCS) and Warren Farm Nature Reserve campaign organiser, says of our growing support:
“It’s fantastic that so many environmental campaigners are supporting us, we are very grateful. The fact that Warren Farm hosts a quarter of London’s Skylark breeding pairs should be seen as a biodiversity badge of honour by Ealing Council. Instead, it is putting forward a development proposal that will destroy their habitat and see our only Skylarks disappear from the Borough of Ealing if given the go ahead on Weds 25th January. As the council’s own Biodiversity Action Plan states, nowhere else in the borough has the wide open space and abundance of food to enable our skylarks to nest and breed. Future generations deserve to grow-up hearing this bird’s iconic song and to benefit from this already rewilded, unique green space on their doorstep. We strongly advise the council to adhere to the results of their own Public Consultation and give all of Warren Farm, Nature Reserve designation. To do otherwise would show the council to be selectively democratic and environmentally backwards. It’s not too late to do the right thing.”
A male Linnet (Linaria cannabina) on Warren Farm Nature Reserve, a red-listed species
The Brent River & Canal Society (BRCS) and Warren Farm Nature Reserve group will continue to campaign for Local Nature Reserve designation for the entirety of our rewilded meadow. We please urge YOU to use your voice to speak out against the Local Plan consultation process to oppose the development of a sports facility on Warren Farm on the following grounds:
Significant loss of biodiversity (as acknowledged in the Local Plan’s Site Selection Report)
Loss of publicly accessible green space (as acknowledged in the Local Plan’s Site Selection Report)
Loss of habitats for endangered species
Loss of the borough’s only breeding Skylarks (as acknowledged in the council’s Biodiversity Action Plan)
The development would be at odds with Ealing Council’s own Climate and Ecological Strategyand would be counter-productive given the current Climate Emergency and the council’s biodiversity commitments.
Residents have until 8th February 2023 to make comments on the Local Plan. You can respond by email at localplan@ealing.gov.uk.
The Warren Farm Nature Reserve petition also remains open.
Thank you for giving a voice to our wildlife!
#WarrenFarmNR Group
www.WarrenFarmNatureReserve.co.uk
Twitter & Instagram: @WarrenFarmNR
Facebook Group: Warren Farm Nature Reserve