Clitherow's Island, Boston Manor, Brentford, Saturday August 17th and Wednesday August 21st

Today marked the launch of our projects in the London Borough of Hounslow, with a morning spent working on Clitherow's Island. The island is situated between the River Brent and the Grand Union Canal, and under the elevated section of the M4 motorway. Although the island is a stone's throw from the Jacobean Boston Manor House, it's a world away, as a result of the dominance (and noise) of the motorway, and the neglect of the island. There is also some confusion as to who is responsible for maintaining the island. As the island is not officially part of Boston Manor Park, Hounslow Council's contractor John Laing does not carry out maintenance, although it is understood to be council land. As such, it seemed like an obvious project site for the Environment Trust to be able to make improvements for people and for wildlife. The island is however, included in the Grand Union and Boston Manor Conservation Area. Another curiosity, is that at one point in about 1800, the island was referred to as 'Botany Bay'. The River Brent at this point was in the May 2011 Boston Manor Park Conservation Management Plan referred to as "overgrown, silted, affected by algae with a mass of floating rubbish and sunken obstructions, contributing to the general unsavoury character of the under-viaduct island."
Based on this appraisal, our mission is to create a circular walking trail around the island, that will attract visitors to explore the many veteran trees and to enjoy the surprising tranquillity of the River Brent.
As noted in 2011, the island is still blighted by a rubbish island, that has built up as a result of all manner of plastic waste being trapped behind a fallen tree. The pile of rubbish in the river is so thick and so well established, that Himalayan and Orange Balsam are able to grow on top of it.
This was certainly a task that was too big to be resolved by a single visit and further sessions will be needed to remove the rubbish and to complete the walking trail. Clitherow's Island is also home to at least two rough sleepers, an issue that the council is aware of.
Unlike our recent visit to the wonderful Jubilee Wood in Chessington, little wildlife was spotted at Clitherow's Island, apart from a couple of invasive Chinese mitten crabs. However, as we were finishing for the day, two kingfishers were seen flying upstream, with one resting for a moment on a branch near the by now infamous rubbish island.
This project was made possible with cooperation from Hounslow Council (John Laing) and the Friends of Boston Manor.
This stretch of the River Brent, should also provide habitat for endangered European eels, over a thousand of which have used the newly installed eel pass at Brentford. Another eel pass up the stepped weir at the far end of the Clitherow's Island, is designed to allow the young eels to continue their journey upstream.

The River Brent where it meets the Grand Union Canal at Boston Manor. 

Martin clears ivy and hawthorn to create the walking trail. 

Patrick gets comfortable, as he removes plastic bottle after plastic bottle from the rubbish island.

Is hard to make a dent in such a massive pile of plastic waste. 

Despite a morning's work, the island still persists for another day.

The view from the metal bridge upstream, from which kingfishers were seen.

Four Sainsbury's trolleys had been dumped in the river by the weir.  

It's now possible to report abandoned trolleys to Trolleywise for collection. Funds raised go to Trees for Cities.

Martin and Patrick K. retrieve the trolleys under the M4.

The team breaks for a welcome cuppa.

The first section of completed path. Taking walkers away from the river bank will prevent further 'poaching' of the bank. 

Twenty bags of rubbish and four shopping trolleys are evidence of a morning's work.

A stand-off with an invasive Chinese mitten crab.

Some of the young eels recorded this summer at Brentford.

The eels are counted, measured and sent on their way upstream.

Visit the ZSL website, Canal and River Trust page or Thames Rivers Trust for more details.

 

Boston Manor House (built 1623) 

The rear of the house photographed in February 2009. 

The scaffolding has since been removed, and the library restored.

The park contains many fine trees, including this magnificent cedar, possibly planted by James Clitherow in 1752.

The Grand Union Canal and Boston Manor Conservation Area with Clitherow's Island visible where the elevated M4 just clips the edge of the canal. The island is designated as a Site of Metropolitan Importance for Nature Conservation.

 Return to Clitherow's Island - Wednesday August 21st 

 

Today was our second visit to Clitherow's Island in one week, and this time we were teaming up with the Richmond Conservation Volunteers (TCV) to continue the task of removing several years of rubbish from the River Brent, and to create a new nature trail.

With the aid of TCV's massive saw, the volunteers made light work of a couple of logs which were blocking the path, and it wasn't long before one of the logs cut was being used as a bench by a young couple.

Other volunteers dedicated themselves to the task of removing the rubbish island, and local volunteer Patrick, brought his canoe to help corral the rubbish for other volunteers to collect from the safety of the river bank. A fine mesh carp net was also deployed to collect fine plastic rubbish, to prevent it ending up in the Thames, and ultimately into the sea.

Also removed from the river, were several pieces of ironwork, including a whole bed with brass knobs on!

Although several more sessions will be needed to complete the whole circular path around the island, much progress was made, and the rubbish island was reduced in size.

Besides the physical pollution of plastic waste in the river, a strong smell of sewage revealed an outlet on the Boston Manor Park side of the river discharging grey water into the river. This is likely to be a mis-connected domestic sewer. This was reported to the Environment Agency. If you see river pollution, report it by calling 0800-80-70-60.

Now that's what I call a saw!

Patrick canoes through the newly cleared channel.

Water appears again from underneath the rubbish island. 

The ACE Café is near Wembley Stadium, about 7 miles upstream. Luckily this cup was intercepted before it ended up in the sea, but surely it didn't need to be in the river in the first place.

This amazing bracket fungus, Laetiporus sulphureus (syn. Grifola sulphurea) commonly known as Chicken-of-the-woods, was spotted on one of the veteran oak trees.

The newly created path highlights two veteran oak trees. 

There's still plenty of rubbish for another clean up.

Another day, another pile of rubbish bags.