Barnet (Parliament Politics Magazine) – A new project has launched in a Barnet urban nature reserve to protect threatened wildlife, aiming to boost conservation efforts in the popular green space.
To address the climate issue, lessen flooding, and save exposed species territories in a unique civic swamp, Barnet Council, the Canal and River Trust( The Trust), and Kusuma Trust UK have partnered.
At least 1.5 million people use the Welsh Harp( Brent Reservoir), a well- known nature reserve with 253 different raspberry species and a readily accessible green area in North London. Yet climate change, the close proximity of major roads like the M1 and the A406 and expanding urbanisation are putting its foliage and fauna at threat.
The number of Common Tern nesting dyads at the Welsh Harp, a designated point of Special Scientific Interest( SSSI), dropped from 44 in 2000 to just four in 2022, according to exploration. The number of Great Crested Grebe nests dropped from 55 in 1987.
The design mates have hired experts Ebsford Environmental to revitalize major territories as part of a new action dubbed bodies on Water( WoW), which will increase the population of all raspberry species in the Welsh Harp. In order to restore the niche of raspberry species, water channels that have been closed for decades will be shoveled and gutted of poisonous ground.
Invasive species similar to Japanese knotweed and gigantic hogweed will be excluded, so they can no longer pose a detriment to humans and wildlife. New shops will be erected to absorb pollution from major original roads like the A5, M1 and A406. In order to maintain territories, the design will plant wimp beds and add other safeguards to absorb adulterants and stop seepage into the force.
Cllr Schneiderman, Barnet Council Cabinet Member for Environment & Climate Change, said:
“This project will bring the whole community together while supporting Barnet’s broader sustainability goals. We will foster among our residents a deeper connection to nature, building heathier, happier communities in inner-city London.
By restoring habitats and improving biodiversity, we are not only helping wildlife thrive but also making our borough greener and more resilient to climate change. Please do get involved and help make the Welsh Harp a true urban oasis for both people and wildlife.”
The Wings on Water project which began in October 2025 will run 36 months. A £150,000 donation from the charity The Kusuma Trust UK and £150,000 in match money from Barnet Council are used to finance the design. The council’s S106 benefactions will give a £73,000 to help Welsh Harp emendations.
Barnet Council is uniting with The Conservation Levies (TCV) to enhance the niche in other corridors of the point in addition to the WoW design. Throughout the time, a number of levy openings, citizen wisdom events, and wildlife walks are offered to the public.
Every Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., volunteer conservation workshops take place at the Welsh Harp outside the Phoenix Canoe Club, Cool Oak Ln., NW9 7ND.
How will the project measure biodiversity and water quality improvements?
The design will track changes in native and invasive species populations using species counts, niche mapping, and the establishment of biodiversity nascences for target taxa similar as catcalls, shops, and submarine life. Biodiversity indicators and ecological checks will assess ecosystem health and species diversity to quantify earnings over time. Citizen wisdom and levy involvement will condense professional monitoring to extend content and community engagement.
Parameters like nutrient situations (nitrate, phosphorus), dissolved oxygen, deposition cargo, and presence of adulterants will be measured at multiple points across the force and girding washes.
Harmonious sampling and modelling will estimate the effectiveness of wimp bed restoration and pollution- absorbing plantings. Tools similar to hydrological models and nutrient operation software will help quantify water sanctification advancements to help force seepage and support submarine life.
