Colne Valley Living Landscape - Tim Hill
The first significant area of countryside to the west of London, the Colne Valley scheme runs from Rickmansworth for 7 miles to Denham and includes land in Hertfordshire, Berkshire and London.
providing a much-needed habitat corridor
London and Hertfordshire and Middlesex Wildlife Trusts
Comprising over 200 miles of river and canal, over 60 lakes, farmland, meadows and woodland, the Colne Valley can be viewed as a Living Landscape providing a much-needed habitat corridor interwoven between towns, villages, roads and rail.
By protecting these Living Landscapes from further fragmentation and re-connecting isolated green spaces, we can enable wildlife to move and thrive in response to pressures from habitat and climate changes.
Virtual tour by Mike McFarlane
What's happening?
The scheme will focus its activities at ten nature reserves and country parks within the Colne Valley that are either owned or managed by one of the four partner organisations.
Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust have secured £150,000 for a three-year community project based in Hillingdon. 'Connecting People with the Colne Valley' kicked off in April 2011 and aims to engage local people with the Colne Valley.
Scheme area: 11,000 hectares
Trust reserves within the scheme
Stocker's Lake (Herts & Middlesex); Old Park Wood (HMWT); Broadwater Lake (HMWT); Denham Country Park (Groundwork Thames Valley); Denham Lock Wood, (London Wildlife Trust); Frays Farm Meadows (LWT); Uxbridge Alderglade (HMWT); Little Britain Lake (London Borough of Hillingdon); Minet Country Park (London Borough of Hillingdon); Fray's Island and Mabey’s Meadow (LWT)
This scheme is helping species including...
Water vole, otter, common toad, grass snake, slow worm, adder, reptiles, soprano pipistrelle, brown long-eared bat, noctule bat, grey heron, skylark, bittern, song thrush, lesser-spotted woodpecker, stag beetle and tower mustard
Current threats to the landscape
Habitat loss and fragmentation, climate change, inappropriate development, invasive non-native species (e.g. mink) and pollution.
This scheme is also...
Helping wildlife adapt to climate change, reducing flood risk, improving access for people, providing recreational opportunities, employment opportunities and environmental education.
Partners
Environment Agency, Colne Valley Partnership, Groundwork
To find out more
Email: info@hmwt.org | Tel: 01727 858901 | Colne Valley Living Landscape
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 Adam Cormack.JPG)