CRANE PARK ISLAND, London Wildlife Trust (LWT)

The Crane Park Island local nature reserve is a peaceful haven and home for wildlife, situated on the River Crane on the borders of Whitton and Twickenham. Once part of the old Hounslow Gunpowder Mills, the island is now a rich mosaic of woodland, scrub, meadow, reedbed and river bank. These habitats are home to a diversity of wildlife, from darting dragonflies to secretive foxes, stately herons to noisy marsh frogs. Even the rare water vole makes its home in the earth banks of the river and reedbed. The reserve is open all year round and has a well laid wheelchair path. Schools and educational visits are welcome and there are a wide variety of events throughout the year for people of all ages. The shot tower, pictured here, is now used as a visitor centre, providing information and historical background for visitors to the site. The tower is open on the last Sunday of each month from 1:30 pm until 4 pm. There is always room for more volunteers to help keep the tower open at other times of the month. If twelve volunteers came forward, it would mean only volunteering twice in one year!

Are you between 16 and 25 and interested in the environment? The Crane Park Island Youth Project runs events and activities specifically for you, more information here.

London Wildlife Trust at Crane Park Island urgently needs your help!

Conservation work days.
London Wildlife Trust holds a conservation or practical work day on the last Sunday of every month. This is a great chance to meet like-minded people and help out with the management of this important and lovely nature reserve. No special skills are needed and there are always tasks to suit all levels of fitness and ability. From scrub clearance to nest box maintenance, reed bed management to tree care, this is an ideal opportunity to get outdoors and really make a difference to your local environment. The work days start at 10:30 am and 1:30 pm, enabling people to volunteer for a time that suits them, an hour or two or all day. Families are welcome and this is a great opportunity to teach children about nature in a local setting with knowledgeable people. No experience is needed for volunteering and all tools are provided.

If you would like to take part in the practical tasks, simply turn up on the day or ring 020 8894 3397 and leave a message if you have any questions. You may find the page on Volunteering useful if you are new to practical work days.

Volunteering in the shot tower.
If you would like to volunteer in the shot tower, please ring 07702 669 888 and leave a message.

The Crane Valley Project was set up to restore habitats and improve accessibility along the River Crane - a west London river which rises in Harrow as the Yeading Brook and flows through Hillingdon (becoming the Crane), Ealing, Hounslow and Twickenham where it reaches the Thames Stretches of the Yeading Brook and River Crane are already enjoyed by people and are teeming with colourful dragonflies and plants such as the vibrant purple loosestrife. But much of the river can’t be seen, let alone appreciated. Many of its bordering green places are strewn with rubbish and are graffitied and unwelcoming. The Crane Valley Project (set up by a partnership of London Wildlife Trust, London boroughs, public, voluntary and private stakeholders) has had initial funding by Heritage Lottery Fund and has a commitment to enhancing the quality of the fantastic green places that border the river. Following a recent visitor survey, the Crane Valley Project is now hoping to hear from anyone who has ever volunteered in Crane Park. If that includes you, please complete this downloadable questionnaire and email to cranevalleyproject@wildlondon.org.uk – your views and input are crucial to the success of the project.