Online consultation for the rewilding project "Nature recovery and flood resilience at the Yeading Brook"

Have your say on an exciting rewilding project in Hillingdon!

This is a suitability project, that aims to study options for reconnecting Gutteridge Wood, Ten Acre Wood, and the floodplain meadows and pastures between and around these nature reserves.

Gutteridge Wood and Ten Acre Wood are two nature reserves that belong to the London Borough of Hillingdon but have been managed by LWT for more than 40 years. This project would build on the hard work and effort that our wonderful volunteers have been investing in during all these years.

The whole area -beyond these nature reserves- has pockets of high-value habitat, but much of the site is managed uniformly as grassland leys. The Yeading Brook within Gutteridge Wood is heavily shaded and supports little in-stream vegetation, or invertebrate diversity, so restoring the natural course through open land will redress this. Varying the mosaic of reedbed, wetland, wet woodland, and meadow across the area will improve the diversity and abundance of wildlife, reduce flooding, and reduce the risk of wildfires sweeping across large homogenous areas of meadows, as happened in July 2022.

This is a great opportunity that will see wildlife flourish, and provide the local people and users with beautiful, wild natural spaces to visit.

As part of this suitability project, to study the potential to rewild the area, we must work with and listen to what the local people and users have to say. We want to hear your thoughts about what is problematic and your vision for the area. This is your chance to contribute to the preservation and enhancement of your local natural environment.

During the consultation, we will introduce this project and gather feedback from participants. We value your input and want to ensure that the designs take into consideration the community's needs and desires. Together, we can create a thriving rewilded area that benefits both wildlife and residents.

Don't miss this opportunity to have your voice heard and make a difference in your local area.

Initial thoughts on improving nature around Gutteridge and Ten Acre Woods