Celetrating thirty years as a favourite local nature reserve

Thirty three years ago Chiswick Road resident Anne Mayo noticed that trees in the triangular plot of land between the railway tracks were being chopped down. Anne is a dedicated conservationist so she went to find out what was going on and discovered to her horror that the land was going to be developed for industrial purposes. So she put notices on trees in the High Road asking people who were concerned to attend a meeting to help fight the development. The meeting was packed out and the campaign to save the Triangle got underway. The rest is history.

On Sunday The London Wildlife Trust, who manage the site now, threw a party to celebrate 30 years of successful management of what has become The Gunnersbury Triangle Nature Reserve. The lovely sunny day was in stark contrast to the weather on the 6 th August 1985 when the first visitors were welcomed to the reserve and it poured with rain.

One of the founders of the campaign, Jan Hewlett reflected on the day that the first visitors were welcomed visitors to the nature reserve, one very rainy afternoon on 6th August 1985 - which couldn't have been more different from the glorious sunshine on Sunday.

(l-r) Jan Hewlett,  Gordon Scorer LWT's new CEO, Councillor Katherine Dunne, Anne Mayo,, Steve Curran Leader of Hounslow Council, Penny Flood and Anna Jackson

She said: “From the start establishing the woodland as a community nature reserve was through a partnership with Hounslow Council and the London Wildlife Trust. In the 1980s we were indebted to the Late Councillor Alf King, then Leader of the Council so it’s particularly fitting to welcome the present Leader of the Council, Councillor Steve Curran, to this afternoon's celebration. It is also good to see Anne Mayo, who started the campaign to 'Save the Triangle' way back in 1982 and several others from the original campaigning team, as well as Gordon Scorer, the new CEO of London Wildlife Trust, and MP Ruth Cadbury.

“Chiswick has changed a lot since those early days. It is amazing to think how much protecting the woodland here has influenced the type of development taking place in the surrounding neighbourhood. Although this is something we could not have envisaged in 1983, it has turned out that, as well as all its other charms and biological value, the view of a natural woodland has great economic value - hence this has become a marketing feature both for the office development in Chiswick Business Park and residential developments along Bollo Lane. We'd rather the buildings had not been so tall, but are delighted that some of the new residents take an interest in the Triangle”

(l-r) Gordon Scorer LWT's new CEO, Steve Curran, Leader of Hounslow Council , Ruth Cadbury MP and Councillor Corinna Smart

She went on to thank conservation officer, Netty Ribeaux,  for her excellent work in maintaining the nature reserve - both protecting the wildlife and making sure the paths are clear so people can enjoy it .Netty is now taking a break on maternity leave, and the site will be managed by Mike Fray.

A special cake had been baked for the occasion and as it was cut there was a toast to the next 30 years.

August 7, 2015