The Warren Farm Nature Reserve (WFNR) petition has reached 25,000 signatures in a bid to save local wildlife.

Popular YouTube channel, 8 Out Of 10 Bats, recently featured WFNR to its 28,000 subscribers, helping to boost awareness of the petition.

Kabir Kaul, WFNR campaigner and Special Advisor to the Brent River & Canal Society (BRCS) appeared in episode of five of 8 Out Of 10 Bats.

Kaul said: "Ealing Council plan to build sports pitches here, effectively dewilding the entire meadow.

"Because of the disastrous plans of the council, the future of wildlife here hangs very delicately in the balance, and if the plans were to go ahead, I don't think future generations would forgive them for it." 

BRCS Trustee and WFNR Campaign Organiser Katie Boyles featured in Kabir's report, saying: "A quarter of London's skylark population nest here, and part of that is because of the sheer expanse of the site, so there are no trees or hedges or fencing for predators to perch on."

"The wildflower meadow we have here is basically a free restaurant with an amazing menu and if I was a Skylark, I would live here too!" 

Skylarks are rare ground-nesting birds who nest on the ground of Warren Farm (credit: Andrey Gulivanov/ Unsplash).

The Eurasian skylark is a passerine bird in the lark family, with a quarter of London's breeding population living in Warren Farm.

Boyles added: "Let's say when we get Local Nature Reserve designation, that will give a certain protected future for all of the wildlife that lives here, for our Barn Owls, our Hedgehogs, our Skylarks, our rare plants, for the wildlife and the community that has fallen in love with this place." 

"Ealing was once known as the Queen of the Suburbs, let's make sure she doesn't lose one of the most important jewels in her crown."

BRCS Trustee Steven Toft also responded to the 8 Out of 10 Bats report, saying: "The Warren Farm Nature Reserve Campaign and the Brent River & Canal Society are extremely grateful to our Special Adviser Kabir Kaul, Chris Packham and the entire 8 Out Of 10 Bats team for featuring our campaign.

"Spreading awareness of our meadow's high ecological value gives our community, and the wildlife under threat, a much needed voice at a time of climate crisis and in one of the most nature depleted countries in the world."   

To find out more about the WFNR and their petition, click here.

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