Teaming up with the Friends of the River Crane (FORCE) and The Conservation Volunteers, today's Environment Trust task took place just inside Hounslow at the Pevensey Road Nature Reserve. On the banks of the River Crane, a series of new ponds have been created to provide additional habitat for plants and animals to colonise. The site is rather unloved and suffers from invasion by invasive species, such as Himalayan balsam and giant hogweed, and is badly littered with rubbish. Today's event, the first by local volunteer groups, was hopefully the start of sustained management of this important wildlife corridor linking Hounslow Heath and Crane Park. Tasks today included planting up the pond and woodland edges with native wildflowers, laying a woodchip path and picking up litter. Another issue on the site is the use of the area by young lads on dirt bikes. It's understood that the area has been used for this purpose since the 1930s. Naturally, there are differences of opinion about the issue among local residents.
The River Crane gently rolls through Pevensey Road Nature Reserve, Hounslow
The planting team heads off through the mud ...
... and gets planting in one of the newly created ponds alongside the River Crane.
A wonderful wetland awaits colonisation by plants and animals, such as water voles.
The new ponds will serve as a refuge for wildlife from pollution events in the River Crane.
But, management will be necessary to ensure the area doesn't become dominated by Himalayan balsam (seedlings emerging), and giant hogweed, which is out of control upstream.
Giant hogweed photographed upstream near Cranford Park in May 2012.
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