Profiling the UK - the Minet Country Park

General description

Minet Country Park is set within the context of urban West London in the multicultural Southall and Hayes. Previously the site was a derelict wasteland but in May 2002 A Rocha UK, in partnership with the London Borough of Hillingdon, started work on transforming the 36 hectare site into a country park. With the restoration work now complete the site contains wetland, riparian, grassland and scrub woodland habitats that support a variety of flora and fauna. The land use within the park is split between conservation areas, amenity parkland, a cycle track and playground facilities.

Importance for conservation

The site is a Grade 1 Site of Nature Conservation Importance for the Borough. Four Nationally Scarce species of water beetle have been discovered and a wide range of other fauna has been identified, including 11 dragonfly, 22 butterfly and over 100 bird species. Of the bird species on the site 35 are breeding including Skylarks and Reed Buntings. Wintering Snipe and Jack Snipe are examples of other species of conservation interest that are present. Given the highly built up surroundings of the area, the park provides a vital biodiversity haven and is a crucial link in creating a network of wildlife corridors within urban London.

Conservation concerns

Minet Country Park is a multiuse landscape and has to strike a balance between its various functions as a conservation site, amenity greenspace and sports facility. A particular concern is preventing damage to sensitive wildlife areas, which occurs through the trampling of wild flowers and the disturbance of breeding birds by unaware users who stray from the paths. Littering of the park is also an ongoing issue that requires continued management to prevent it causing degradation to the wildlife of Minet.

Achievements to date

Transforming the area from a contaminated derelict scrubland in 2002 to a Country Park by 2004 has been a huge achievement set against some considerable opposition. Since the opening of the park A Rocha has been running environmental education classes in local schools, reaching over 3000 children in 2004-05. The site has hosted festival events of up to 500 people encouraging the community to learn about wildlife. A Rocha has formed and put into practice a 5 year management plan, the environmental benefits of which were already being seen in 2005 with increased diversity and numbers of species being recorded. Bird ringing and other species monitoring programmes are also now well established within the Minet site.

Visions for the future

A Rocha hopes to continue and strengthen the involvement of the local community in their use of and caring for the park. The environmental education programme will build on its existing work with the addition of a floating classroom. This renovated barge will navigate up and down the Grand Union Canal beside the Minet site teaching children about the habitats that it passes along the way. A Rocha shall be continuing its species monitoring and habitat restoration work to improve the wildlife value of the Minet Country Park.