Councillor Peter Mason, leader of Ealing Council visited Warren Farm this week (21 March) to discuss the future of the much-loved open space and how local people are being given a say in its future.
Councillor Mason said: “Back in May 2021, I met with local people from the Warren Farm Nature Reserve Campaign, and the Brent River & Canal Society about finding a compromise between delivering sports facilities for residents and protecting Warren Farm’s nature, biodiversity and its important role as a green space for local people.
“Warren Farm is Ealing’s largest outdoor sports ground but it’s been out of use for more than 10 years, and the changing rooms and the pavilions, as you can see behind me, are dilapidated.
“But during the lockdown periods of the last two years, Warren Farm has become a really important place for people in Southall and Hanwell as somewhere to walk, jog, meet up and nature has taken the opportunity to rewild the meadows here.
“Today we are confirming that our long-term ambition for Warren Farm is to get the best of both. We want to develop plans for this space for people both to enjoy nature and preserve its wild character, and provide sports facilities for local people.
“Parts of this space has multiple owners – the council, Imperial College and Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, who jointly own the equestrian land to the East, as well as the Earl of Jersey. Imperial College shares our ambition for a local nature reserve and we are engaging with the other land owners and stakeholders now to look at how we can take this forward collaboratively.
“This will allow us to deliver a much larger ambition for one of London’s largest rewilded projects. Importantly, we want your views on Warren Farm. How you use the space, what you like about it, and what you do not like.
“What would you like to see improved and what sort of sports provision you think Southall and Hanwell need. To get those views, we are launching a big conversation and you can take part by going to the council’s website.
“Once we’ve heard what you want, we’ll develop plans for this space and bring together key people and organisations to look at them and find a way forward so that Warren Farm is the kind of open, wild, accessible, energetic, enjoyable, sustainable place you all deserve.”
Visit the online survey for the chance to give your views.
