Baroness Jenny Jones has added her voice to the campaign to turn Warren Farm into a nature reserve after meeting with the Warren Farm Nature Reserve Group and other campaigners.

Baroness Jones, who is a Green Party member in the House of Lords, met with activists on Wednesday 1st February to be shown around the site and learn about the various wildlife that inhabits Warren Farm, including the endangered skylarks.

After visiting the site and speaking with those trying to protect it, Jones pledged her support to protecting Warren Farm from Ealing Council, who last week voted to build a sports facility on the land.

She said:  "It was a pleasure to visit Warren Farm in Ealing, and add my voice to the thousands of others that are demanding this precious green space be left for nature.  

"The 61 acres of meadows are a vital urban sanctuary for rare and endangered animal, bird and plant species including 12 of London's 50 breeding pairs of Skylarks.

"This delicate ecosystem will be destroyed by Ealing Council's plans to develop a sports complex on the site which, they say, will 'benefit deprived communities'.  

"But deprived communities need green space, as do Skylarks, owls and rare plants. It shows that Ealing Labour have no idea about the environment, ecology or nature.

"Thankfully the local community are up in arms, with nearly 18,000 signing a petition to make Warren Farm a Nature Reserve in its entirety.  

 "This is a fight we have to win. If we can't save these remaining green corners of our cities, then both planet and people are in big trouble." 

Dr. Mark A. Spencer, one of the world's leading forensic biologists, has identified Priority Species at the rewilded meadow, including the Copse Binweed, and Warren Farm is the only site in Greater London where it can be found.

He said: "Ealing Council appear to be indifferent to nature, out of touch with their electorate and pursuing a goal that only they want, despite their manifesto pledges.

"How often is it that we're lucky enough to have this sort of opportunity for nature in London?  

"These plans will mean the extinction of Copse Bindweed in Greater London. This is a plant vulnerable to extinction in the UK and a GLA 'Priority Species' of conservation concern.' 

"The GLA's policy says that development proposals must adequately consider the impacts of any development on Priority Species and provide net gains for biodiversity.

"All public bodies, including Ealing Council, are required to take account of Priority Species under the Biodiversity Duty placed on them by the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006.  

"You are not supposed to sweep London's biodiversity under the carpet, it's an integral part of this city." 

Katie Boyles, Trustee of the Brent River & Canal Society and Warren Farm Nature Reserve campaign organiser added: "It was brilliant to be given the opportunity to discuss with Baroness Jenny Jones in person, the incredible rewilding that has taken place over the last 14 years on Warren Farm and why our petition, which is approaching 18,000 supporters, want to see it safeguarded for nature.

"Baroness Jones shared some great insights with us as our campaign continues to grow at a pace, attracting a number of high-profile wildlife organisations, charities and individuals who can see our meadow's amazing benefits for both wildlife and local community - in a way Ealing Council are currently severely failing to acknowledge.

"It is simply not okay to destroy a priority habitat proven to be species-rich, home to an array of wildlife, some of which are facing extinction hanging on by a thread here.

"'De-wilding' is not an option for Warren Farm that more than qualifies for Local Nature Reserve designation in its entirety."