Ealing Council has officially announced that it plans to rewild the entirety of Warren Farm in fresh plans welcomed by local campaign groups.

The new plans will bring 'the best of both worlds' says the council, with the 20-hectare site becoming a local nature reserve, while a new sports ground will be built on additional land next to it.

Councillors are due to formally discuss the plans at Ealing Council's cabinet meeting next Wednesday, 6 March.

The meeting would see the council take forward an agreement with Imperial College, subject to surveys and contracts, to take control of a piece of land just to the north of Warren Farm, for the new sports pitches.

The whole rewilded Warren Farm site, as it currently stands, will then be designated as a nature reserve by the council.

Map of the proposed Warren Farm from Ealing Council's cabinet report February 2024 (credit: Ealing Council).

Council leader Peter Mason said: "Ever since the start of our plans to deliver both sports and rewilding at Warren Farm, we've worked to try and secure the best of both worlds.

"So, we're over the moon to have agreed with Imperial College that the new sports pitches can go on their land to the north of Warren Farm.

"It means that all of the existing green space that people know as Warren Farm today, can continue to be rewilded.

"It means we can finally move forward to getting rid of the old, dilapidated buildings and get on with delivering a community sports facility that Southall and Hanwell can be proud of.

"We will continue to want to work in partnership with local residents and campaigners to deliver a bold, community led plan to safeguard Warren Farm's open and biodiverse future."

Sharing similar sentiments to Cllr Mason, Cllr Deirdre Costigan, the council's cabinet member for climate action, said: "Rewilding and greening parts of the borough are a key part of our climate emergency strategy and Warren Farm's combination of green space, trees and wildlife habitats is ideal to help us to achieve our bold vision of net zero carbon emissions by 2030."

Cllr Polly Knewstub, the council's cabinet member for thriving communities, added: "Once the borough's largest sports ground, Warren Farm was left unused for 14 years while its future was discussed, and the green areas were reclaimed by nature.

"It was overdue a plan to make the most of what this land offers us, and this new deal with Imperial College gives us the chance to do just that."

Ealing Council's revised proposal for Warren Farm Nature Reserve has been welcomed by the Warren Farm Nature Reserve campaign group (WFNR) and the Brent River & Canal Society (BRCS) charity.

Plans published by Ealing Council in January 2023 placed sports pitches on the rewilded area and would have caused the destruction of over half of Warren Farm NR's wildflower and grassland meadow.

According to ecological experts, the proposal would have led to loss of vital habitat for a quarter of London's breeding Skylark population as well as rare and endangered plant species.

These plans triggered public backlash resulting in WFNR to start a petition to stop the council's initial plans which saw more than 25,000 signatures.

Ealing Council will rewild the whole of Warren Farm (credit: Facundo Arrizabalaga/MyLondon).

In a statement, BRCS trustee and WFNR campaigner Katie Boyles said: "We are delighted that Ealing Council has agreed to designate Warren Farm as a Local Nature Reserve.

"Credit to the council for taking stock and reversing plans that would have been hugely environmentally damaging.  

"There is of course much work to be done, details to secure and discussions to be had.

"What's fantastic is that we can now work together on this landmark decision with our supporters, community, and ecological experts to ensure the safeguarding of Ealing's rare and beloved species.

"For our Copse Bindweed, Skylarks, Barn Owls, Butterflies and so much more, this marks a significant step in London's environmental conservation.  

Boyles added: "This is a unique opportunity to set a precedent for other councils up and down the country. This doesn't just stop with WFNR.

"We can be ground-breaking in our approach to protect and enhance biodiversity for the benefit of future generations who will be living with the consequences of the actions we take today.  

"We extend a massive heartfelt thank you to our dedicated supporters for moving the dial in favour of nature here and whose unwavering commitment and care for our wildlife continues to play a pivotal role in making this further progress possible.

"We would not have made it this far without each and every one of you. If our Skylarks could thank you themselves, they would. Watch this green space." 

We want to provide Ealing with more and more clickbait-free local news. To do that, we need a loyal newsletter following. Help us survive and sign up for our free weekly newsletter by clicking the link HERE.