Local architects and charity release 'innovative' designs for new pavilion on derelict site in Warren Farm Nature Reserve.

At the March 2024 Ealing Council cabinet meeting, plans for the new Warren Farm Nature Reserve and sports pitches was passed with council leader Peter Mason saying that he envisages 'a small pavilion with a nature classroom' including a café shared between Warren Farm and the sports facilities on the Imperial College land.

Local architects and nature enthusiasts Ania and Peter Lill, in response to their love of the wildlife on the site, have created an eco-friendly building design which could sit between the nature reserve and sports pitches, serving as both a rewilding hub and pavilion or changing rooms.

The design also plans to repurpose and make safe some of the derelict buildings as a brownfield nature reserve area.

According to the charity Brent River & Canal Society (BRCS), the abandoned buildings make up less than seven per cent of the overall site but have had 15 years to rewild and are "teeming with life".

Among the rare species found in the buildings is the Thanatus striatus spider, which was a first record for Middlesex.

BRCS believe the buildings are no longer just a problem, but part of the solution to further increase biodiversity in a different way.

An artist impression of the Warren Farm Nature Reserve Rewinding Hub proposals (credit: Lill Architects & Atelier Replica).

"There are very few brownfield nature reserves in the UK and having one in Ealing would certainly put the borough on the map for progressive nature protection," say BRCS.

The charity's has dubbed its designs for the plan, 'Warren Farm Nature Reserve - Rewilding Hub' which proposes to be a "specialist, low-impact, environmentally friendly" building for the community, schools, universities and environmental organisations.

It would provide a nature-conscious space where educational, well-being, nature connection and artistic activities could be held for the use of Warren Farm Nature Reserve and the wider Brent River Park.

BRCS add: "It (the hub) could become Ealing's local educational rewilding hub and London's expert-led rewilding centre of excellence."

"The building concept has been designed with socially responsible principles that reflect the varied communities that would use it, including all ages, genders, backgrounds and abilities.

"If a small building is required, there is an opportunity here to do something truly meaningful and to create an eco-landmark for Ealing."

Warren Farm Nature Reserve campaign organiser Katie Boyles comments: "Warren Farm Nature Reserve has proven itself to be an exceptional green space at a time of unprecedented biodiversity loss. It was almost destroyed, in part, due to a lack of awareness and education gap.

"As Robert Macfarlane said, people can't care about what they don't know about. Vital habitats and vulnerable species across the UK are silently going extinct as you read this.

"Should a small build be required at all, having a shared educational community rewilding hub with changing rooms for example, and rewilded brownfield buffer zone between Warren Farm Nature Reserve and any proposed sports pitches on the neighbouring land, makes perfect ecological sense from both sides of the fence.

"Bats and Barn Owls don't mix with floodlights, and sports players won't want to be inadvertently harming wildlife.

"We are excited to be in the process of obtaining vital Local Nature Reserve designation together here with Ealing Council and we hope what's happening at Warren Farm Nature Reserve inspires other councils to follow this lead. 

"We want to give a big thank you to Ania and Peter Lill of Lill Architects for their love of Warren Farm Nature Reserve that inspired this impressive design concept and to Agnieszka Kwiecien of Atelier Replica for this incredible artistic impression, showing what is possible if we choose to think outside the 'concrete' box."  

An artist impression of the Warren Farm Nature Reserve Rewinding Hub proposals (credit: Lill Architects & Atelier Replica).

Architect Ania Lill adds: "Every plant and animal has just as much right to share their habitat with us as we do with them.

"The Warren Farm Nature Reserve Rewinding Hub project presented us with an opportunity to design a building that balances the needs of the community with the unique natural surroundings - a place that's beneficial to all.

"We are so grateful to all the campaigners, supporters and Ealing Council members for this outcome, especially at a time when the natural environment needs all the help it can get, and young people can feel genuine hope for their future."

The Warren Farm Nature Reserve group are working on the detail of the nature reserve and sports proposal with the council, Natural England, supporters and stakeholders.

BRCS encourages anyone who would like to keep up to date to follow them on social media @WarrenFarmNR and sign-up to become a free member of the Brent River Park Charity.

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