Plans for a regional park spanning the borough and beyond are taking a big step forward, thanks to a big financial boost from the National Lottery.

A grant of £999,595 was awarded to Ealing Council from the National Lottery Heritage Fund last week as part of the Nature Towns and Cities programme aimed at helping people to enjoy nature and green spaces, close to home.

The park would span the borough from Warren Farm in the south up to Horsenden Hill in the north, connecting previously isolated green spaces in a 5-mile trail.

Funding will be used to develop plans for the park, including:

• designing a 5 mile walking and cycling trail
• a survey to see how the park can help improve their health
• protecting and enhancing wetlands, wildlife, trees and green spaces
• working with the community to plan the park

The council will be working closely with local people to make sure they have their say on what they want to see in the park.

Workshops inviting young people and under-represented groups are already planned. Council leader Peter Mason said: “We’re incredibly excited to have been able to secure just under a million pounds from the Heritage Lottery Fund to fund our activity to create a great, big regional park for west London, not only for our 7 towns here in the borough, but also for our neighbouring boroughs to ensure everyone has access to green, open space, and wildlife.”

Four areas with different characters

In May this year, proposals for the park were revealed at a meeting of the council’s cabinet.

The regional park could contain several key areas, each with a different character:

• Horsenden Hill – this could see improvements to existing visitor attractions, including bigger play areas, new walking trails, and support to develop the food-growing hub at Horsenden Farm
• Pear Tree Park – the ongoing transformation of the former golf course into a public park could see wetland features for wildlife, along with improved sports facilities and natural play spaces
• Churchfields – this could see the development of an outdoor venue to hold cultural events, larger green spaces, and improved connections to Hanwell and the wider park
• Warren Farm – this could mix the best of both worlds, with new sports facilities on the one hand, including cricket and football pitches, alongside rewilded meadow landscapes to allow nature conservation

‘Amazing opportunities’

Councillor Blerina Hashani, the council’s cabinet member for thriving communities, added: “We are thrilled to have been successful in our bid to the Nature Towns and Cities programme. Our vision for the regional park is very exciting. Not only will it create amazing opportunities for play, socialising and enjoying cultural activities; but it could also boost people’s mental and physical wellbeing by getting out and about to enjoy our wonderful green spaces. And it will also play a key part in tackling climate change, through rewilding, creating wetlands and supporting wildlife.”

The initial idea for creating the regional park received public support in a consultation held in 2023. In a further consultation held earlier this year, 82% of respondents said that supporting nature was either important or moderately important to them.