Save Warren Farm

HISTORY OF THE 9 YEAR FIGHT TO PROTECT WARREN FARM

2012 - 2018 – SAVE WARRWN FARM TEAM
“Save warren farm” represents a large group of individuals working together to save Warren Farm as a community Sports Centre. They were campaigning against Ealing Council's decision to give 61 Acres of open space away for nothing to a allow a corporate company to build its corporate HQ. Whilst millions were be

ing spent on a colossal spread of buildings, the money was predominantly to fund the bespoke buildings for the tenants sole use. It was proposed that 70% of the community space was to be taken from local residents who would then be only allowed to access to 30% of what is left, and this will be at the discretion, and payment of the tenant for the next 200 years. The tenant wanted to fence off this public Metropolitan open land and have no obligation to continue to allow local recreational use. Furthermore the tenant plans included a 10-12month landfill process delivering “landfill waste” in 1 truck movement every 4 mins on and off site. Followed by the development of the site of approx 1 year, and a further year long process to establish the pitches. They called for support to insist that local council and government uphold its protected status as Metropolitan Open land and ensure its open status is adhered to and maintained for the benefit of everyone, not closed off from the public for 200 years and gifted to a corporate organisation. It was clear it was vital that they respect the future needs of an increasing local population to have access to open green spaces in London, and that Warren Farm is kept as an open space sports centre and natural resource for the community as a whole now and in the next 200 years. The Save Warren Farm team brought 2 judicial reviews on 4 legal points to the Royal Courts of Justice, financed by aggrieved residents. Contrary to popular misconception, only 4 legal points were raised, out of the many outstanding legal issues with the Council’s decision to grant planning permission.

2018 - HANWELL COMMUNITY NATURE RESERVE GROUP
This group was created by a member of the original Save Warren Farm Team, who was determined to keep the campaign alive, by proposing the idea that the land should become a Community Nature Reserve. A campaign was run that raised considerable awareness and kept the new vision alive in the minds of local residents who continued to support Warren Farm remaining open public land. Notable supporters, Yoko Ono, and Susanne Vega, Lyn Franks helped to spread the vision, keeping it in the forefront of local politics.

2019 – HANWELL NATURE
The world’s environmental imperative demands an entirely different consideration, and a new legal approach, and so Hanwell Nature was formed to address those needs. www.hanwellnature.com took up the the Environmental argument so urgently required at a time of ‘climate emergency’ calling for the protection of Warren Farm now that it had so gloriously re-wilded, and is home to many rare and endangered species. HANWELL NATURE is a collaborative community environmental team, with nationally-recognised experts in their fields. Together, they responded to the current and future environmental needs of Warren Farm. They surveyed Warren Farm and collated evidence, using reference material at the Herbarium Kew Gardens and in correspondence with the London Natural History Society. The results clearly showed that there were many rare and protected species of plants and wildlife flourishing there, some facing UK extinction. These include birds and mammals of conservational importance that are Schedule 1 andRed-Listed (of highest conservation concern in the UK) such as barn owls, starlings, linnets, mistle thrushes, woodpeckers, bats, skylarks and many more. A wide variety of invertebrates and over 250 plants have been recorded on the land, including vulnerable and rare species facing UK extinction. Hanwell Nature collated conclusive evidence that proved this bucolic site is species-rich and of high ecological importance to London. There is absolutely no comparable replacement for this massive ecological loss, and should the Council’s plans to allow its destruction continue, it would threaten the Mayor’s plans to protect biodiversity in the Capital. Warren Farm had been reclaimed by nature, so what was needed was to due consideration of a ‘new deal’, putting nature’s needs first over corporate requirements.

3rd AND SUCCESSFUL JUDICIAL REVIEW ISSUED IN 2019
A founder of Hanwell Nature took the last ditch brave step to issue a further judicial proceedings against Ealing Council, when everyone said it was a “done deal” and falsely purporting that every legal avenue had been explored. Having looked at the planning permission it was clear that there was indeed further legal issues that should and must be challenged. The Claimant who remains anonymous by way of court order protecting their identity, due to threats against their well being and home, was successful. Warren Farm remains safe for now. Hanwell Nature continues with their vision to turn Warren Farm into a vital Nature Reserve. You can currently support the protection of Warren Farm and stand against environmental vandalism. For more information visit www.hanwellnature.com and join the mailing list for further updates, and information on how you can become a volunteer, or a friend of Warren Farm, help add to the growing register of plants and wildlife, join a guided ecology walk on Warren Farm and support the call for it to become Ealing Largest Nature Reserve

You can currently support the protection of Warren Farm and stand against environmental vandalism by:

Following them HANWELL NATURE ON FACEBOOK. on https://www.facebook.com/Hanwell-Nature-101164944942966/


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UPDATE: The legal action was successful, and Warren Farm has been saved for now. Hanwell Nature.com continue to advocate for Ealing Council to create a legacy Nature Reserve on this stunning meadow for future generations to come.