Conservation & Environment

A designated Site of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINC), The Friends of Yeading Walk champions this green space in supporting wildlife and biodiversity. On the right bank of the river, over a third of the park remains undeveloped and undisturbed – left ‘Wild for Nature’.

This park is a peaceful, shaded space for the community’s enjoyment and a refuge for birds, badgers, foxes, bats, insects and river life. The programme of the Friends of Yeading Walk respects wildlife and access for park visitors, and will enhance the environment for both. We promote environmental awareness and good stewardship through volunteering, corporate engagement, events and information.

Protecting Yeading Brook

The stream is part of the ‘Yeading Brook Unbound Project’, a significant effort to improve the quality of the water to allow river life to thrive.

‘Day-lighting’ the stream to let more direct sunlight reach the water by cutting back riverbank self-seeded saplings, cherry laurel, etc. which shade the stream

Aquatic planting to improve water quality and create a richer stream habitat

Regular ‘Clean the Stream’ events to keep the river free of rubbish

Wildlife Support

Bird boxes along the Nature Walk offer shelter for nesting birds

The ‘Merlin’ App has recorded over 50 species of birds in the park

Wood piles and ‘dead hedges’ made of hard wood pruning provide hiding places for insects

Leaving areas of bramble, nettles, grass etc. growing in sunshine to provide places for butterflies to lay eggs and cover for small mammals

‘No Mow’ areas of long grass create habitat for insects (allowing grass to grow long, avoiding regular cutting)

Active planting programme improves the soil, supports pollinators and creates insect habitat

Conserving and Replacing Trees

Ongoing tree replacement to increase native trees, support biodiversity and provide habitat and food for wildlife. New trees planted in the park by the FoYW over the past five years include hazels, silver birches, ‘golden’ alders, ornamental pears, lime, beech, hornbeam, acer, bird cherry, crab apples and sweet chestnut

Planting trees which absorb atmospheric carbon and pollutants is one of the most positive actions to combat climate change, as well as providing shade and wildlife benefits

Newly planted trees are watered regularly from the stream for 2 – 3 years and mulched for winter protection

Offcuts from damaged trees are retained in the park where possible. Fallen trees and branches degrade naturally, support helpful fungal growth and provide homes for insects
Caring for the Community Orchard provides fruit to share with our park neighbours
Liaison with Harrow Parks tree specialists to monitor and manage the health and safety of the trees in the park

Planting for Biodiversity

The FoYW have raised funds and created new planting schemes at each of the park entrances to welcome our visitors. A variety of planted areas have been created to provide nectar for a range of pollinators and welcome our visitors to the park

The ‘Right Plant, Right Place’ approach guides our choice of plants from the recent ‘Hot ‘n Sunny’ entrance bed at Suffolk Road to softer, shade-loving combinations at Rayners Lane and Lincoln Road entrances. During the Covid lockdown in March 2020, the Northumberland Road ‘Rainbow Garden’ was created, entirely with plants donated by park visitors. It represents a testimony to the generosity and imagination of our community

Plants are watered only during protracted high temperatures. Most planting held up well during the recent hot summers

Our annual ‘Leaf Sweeping’ drive fills the compost bins and creates lots of leaf mould, which is spread on the planted areas in autumn to improve the quality and health of the soil

Eradicating invasive plants, such as Japanese knotweed and horsetail weed.

Harrow Council contractors are eradicating Japanese Knotweed (shown left) by spraying plants in the growing season

How you can help!

Project Saturday volunteering, park gardening activities, leaf sweeping, litter picking – what a difference just an hour of your time makes!
Become a ‘Dedicated Gardener’ and help care for one of our planted areas
Organise a ‘Corporate Volunteering Day’ in the park with your employer
REDUCE your use of plastics, take your cans, bottles home from the park for recycling
Support wildlife and nature conservation organisations, donations are tax deductible!
Lobby the UK Government to meet the UK’s Climate Change targets
PROTECT YOUR PLANET, get involved in Nature Conservation

Interesting Resources:

Wildlife Trust News | The Wildlife Trusts

RSPB: Nature news

Trees for Cities Trees for Cities | Trees for Cities

Greenpeace Greenpeace UK

National Trust Protecting our environment and climate | National Trust

Worldwide Fund for Nature World Wide Fund for Nature | WWF

Carbon Brief https://www.carbonbrief.org/ Regular updates, news about climate change