How much green space is there in this borough? Quite a lot. There's Wormwood Scrubs, Bishop's Park, Hurlingham Gardens, South Park and little bits like Brook Green and Eel Brook Common. It is home to at least 112 species of bird. Wormwood Scrubs and Ravenscourt Park have small nature reserves, and Groundwork West London is bringing back gardening to the Edward Woods Estate. The new Fulham Broadway development includes roosting boxes for bats and we have recently taken over management of a pond and wildlife garden nearby at West Brompton Station.

As an example of our rich heritage in this Borough, Wormwood Scrubs has an impressive list of plant and animal species and is frequently a stopover point for rarer migrant birds, such as whinchat, redstart and even wryneck. This is particularly interesting as it coexists with a busy railway depot and sports and recreation facilities. Spaces like this provide the meeting place between wildlife and people and an optimum balance must be sought taking into account the needs of both.

More locally, neighbourhood open spaces should be encouraged as community resources, particularly taking into account the needs of the disabled, children and the elderly. These spaces should be the 'property' and 'responsibility' of the local community, reflecting the culture of local people. Local people can ideally assist in designing them. Open spaces can also give platforms to ethnic minorities to share their culture with the community or offer a stage for arts and drama events. Allotments, e.g. Fulham Palace allotments, should also be jealously protected, as they provide vital links between the urban and rural environments.

Even though there might be pressure to sell off open spaces, directing funds towards maintenance and upgrading parks should always be community-led. We strongly support the creation of small local open spaces and their use for community-led activities or quiet places for contemplation.

View the Wildlife Talk
(1.5MB QuickTime Movie)

View the Green Spaces Presentation
(1.9MB QuickTime Movie)

Download the Biodiversity Action Plan