Lib Dems disappointed that Ealing might be backtracking on Warren Farm Nature Reserve

Liberal Democrat Leader of the Opposition Councillor Gary Malcolm asked a number of questions concerning Warren Farm at Cabinet today. Ealing Council seems to be possibly now designating only 20 hectares from the entire 25 hectare site as a Local Nature Reserve.

The original position was agreed twice in recent times, first at the Cabinet meetings on 6th March 2024 and later on 16th July 2025, where they stated that they will be designating the entire 25 hectare site as a Local Nature Reserve.

The decision taken today can be seen in item 9 ("Council Plan Performance Report Q1 2025/26"), page 11, 6th bullet point: https://ealing.moderngov.co.uk/documents/s21538/Council%20Plan%20Performance%20Re
port%20Q1%202025-26.pdf 

When the Council Leader spoke on the topic he stated it is “a typo”. He said he would not correct the report which he could have done easily. This seems to indicate that the Labour-run Ealing Council wants to have a smaller Local Nature Reserve.

The likely effects of reducing the Warren Farm Nature Reserve include: 

• A smaller or non-existent buffer zone, the gap between the planned sports facilities on Imperial College land and where the nature lives on Warren Farm.
• When you put sport pitches or buildings right up against a meadow, the wildlife doesn't just stop neatly at the fence - it retreats. The noise, lights etc make the edge of the meadow unsafe for birds and animals. As a result, the wildlife-rich meadow effectively shrinks - often by 50 to 100 metres. 
• Skylarks need wide open areas to breed, nest and feed. Any land reduction on the site would put them under threat again. 
• Barn owls and bats will be disturbed by floodlights. 

Councillor Gary Malcolm, Leader of the Opposition said: "Liberal Democrats working with campaigners for Warren Farm Nature Reserve had a clear guarantee TWICE from Ealing Council that the Local Nature Reserve would be 25 hectares in size. It seems that they are possibly trying to sneak through a change without anyone noticing. If it is a typo they could agree to change it in the meeting, BUT THEY DID NOT. A change of plan for Warren Farm would mean that many types of flora and fauna like the Skylarks and the plant Copse Bindweed will be harmed. The Council needs to stick to what it agreed to in July this year or I would expect many of the 26,000 people who signed the Warren Farm Nature Reserve petition, those who came to the protest (21 st February 2023) and big named environmentalists will have
something more to say about it.”