Help us tackle littering and improve habitats at the Brent Reservoir
Our crowdfunding campaign aims to raise money needed to improve wildlife habitats at one of the Capital’s most important urban wildlife spaces, the Brent Reservoir, also known as the Welsh Harp.
Crowdfunding for habitat improvements
The habitat improvements will include the removal of tonnes of litter that have been washed into the reservoir, and we're planning to do the clean-up alongside statutory works that are being undertaken this winter to the reservoir’s sluices, which require the reservoir to be temporarily drained.
Our ecologist Laura Mullholland explains: "The statutory works that we’re doing this winter require the Brent Reservoir to be fully drained. We’re expecting to see a lot of litter in the bottom of the reservoir, so this is a great opportunity to work with Brent and Barnet councils, and other stakeholders, to help clear as much of the rubbish and plastic pollution as possible.
"The scale of the work that we’re hoping to carry out is way more than the funds we have available, so the crowdfunding target of £15,000 will vastly increase the support we’re able to provide to staff and volunteers – including the cost of taking the litter collected away from site to be recycled where possible."
More than just a reservoir
As well as being a place for sailing, watersports and walking, the reservoir is protected as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) for the rich diversity of wildlife found on site, including water birds and 16 protected plant species.
Laura continues: "Sadly, local wildlife is fighting a constant battle against plastic pollution and fly-tipping. Over the years our reservoir has filled with rubbish, threatening the health of water birds and all the wildlife that makes its home here. But now we have a unique opportunity, while the reservoir is drained for maintenance work, to clear up the reservoir for both nature and people."
Repairs during winter
The statutory works to the reservoir are supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery. They include repairs to the chains and rods that operate the reservoir’s sluices and repainting the Valve House Tower from where the sluice gates which control the water levels in the reservoir are operated. The works are taking place over the winter to avoid disturbing the water birds during the Spring breeding season.
As the reservoir is being temporarily drained of water, we will use specialist contractors to rescue the fish living there. Laura comments: "We expect to rescue thousands of fish from Brent Reservoir and take them to nearby canal locations to be re-homed. The types of fish living in the reservoir include roach, perch, stickleback, carp, pike and bream. In the Spring, when the reservoir has re-filled with water, we plan to re-stock it with suitable native fish species.
"Whilst the reservoir is drained we are going to take the opportunity carry out a series of improvements to enhance the SSSI. As well as using specialist contractors to remove debris, we will install ten new tern rafts to provide island habitats for Common terns, one of the species of water bird that lives on the reservoir."
Reservoir improvement works began last week with reed bed enhancements, ahead of plans to drain the reservoir at the end of October. The Reservoir will remain open to the public throughout the works but visitors are not permitted to walk on the reservoir’s drained area and mud.
