EWG@ Costons Lane, how it started!
We took an old disused and flood-prone allotment site & turned it into a nature reserve & education centre!
Green space is under continued threat from developers all over the borough. Transforming under-utilised space into an educational nature reserve provides a vital space for children and adults to learn about and appreciate nature. It also helps save it from development.
Why a nature reserve?
There are so many health benefits for humans being out in nature. It can boost mood, calm anxiety, lower blood pressure, ease stress, reduce risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. In addition, it has many mental health benefits such as improved memory, increased attention span & social cohesion.
A nature reserve will be a place where people can get outside and exercise and volunteer in the community. It’s a great way to develop and nurture an appreciation of nature and wildlife. A central location where we can teach future generations about conserving and protecting the environment. For instance, people can learn about the life cycle of a pond, why insects are so important for the ecosystem, how to identify birds and attract them into their own gardens, and how to protect declining species like hedgehogs.
What’s happening?
Ealing Wildlife Group (EWG) is taking the old disused allotment site at Costons Lane and turning it into a nature reserve & education centre.
Thanks to our incredible volunteers we have already:
- Cleared rubble and bracken
- Planted native & ornamental flowers to help pollinators
- Installed a storage area for our equipment including bird feeders and houses, bat and bug homes, hedgehog homes, habitat features for frogs, toads, newts and reptiles such as slow worms – this will also be used as a teaching facility
We also have plans to do loads more work including:
- Install log piles for rare stag beetles
- Reinstate the pond and provide trails around the site. We’ll encourage native plants and manage for native wildlife
- Install hides so people can come and observe the wildlife, take photos and learn about the wonders of the natural world
- Encourage citizen science by hosting bioblitzes, enabling the community to help us record species for organisations like Greenspace Information for Greater London, Bat Conservation Trust, London Wildlife Trust, RSPB
- Host schools and scouts groups & have community open days
How can I get involved?
Covid-19 has slowed us down but we’re definitely picking up speed now! If you are interested in keeping up to date or getting involved there are a few things you can do:
Continue the Journey!
