Friends of Headstone Manor Park: Crane Valley Partnership Projects

Friends of Headstone Manor Park

The Friends of Headstone Manor Park were set up in 2016 by a group of local residents who were interested in improving the biodiversity and engagement in Headstone Manor Park, Harrow. Within that time, they have achieved a number of successful projects including creating wildflower gardens, hedgerows, installing loggeries for insects and amphibians, tending the fruit trees in the orchard for annual fruit picking days, holding workshops and events, enhancing the wetland areas, and water monitoring. Headstone Manor Park is designated as a Site of Borough Importance for Nature Conservation.

Currently, the group are focusing on flood control management, maintaining the two flood storage areas which were created in 2021 to prevent flooding downstream. Specifically, they are working with Harrow Council to clear a blocked drain in one of the basins. They are also working on the reintroduction of water voles at Headstone Manor Park and are currently monitoring a mink raft. The Friends of Headstone Manor Park are also keen to create more wildflower areas and have been planting bulbs to several sections of the banks to the Yeading Brook as well as helping the Museum volunteers to tend the Headstone Manor Museum gardens.

The group work with a number of different environmental and community groups. For example, local school children with disabilities have adopted a section of the car park, planting native shrubs and whips to help secure the area. In addition, cattle have been brought on site for conservation grazing.

The group used the Crane Valley Community Fund for events such as nature walks and arts & crafts workshops for families. The aim of these are to connect people with nature and unify park users. The funds were used to purchase equipment and publicise the events. In the last round of the 2024/25 Community Fund, the Friends of Headstone Manor Park received more funding to continue these workshops, engaging families from both local and wider areas. Their aim is to engage around 800 people throughout the year (beating their 2024 record of 600) with their various events including their popular bat walks. Some of the funded activities included bug and bird box making workshops for families, origami workshops, nature walks, plant pot decorating and other craft activities. The group also purchased species ID sheets, branded tablecloths, cases and batteries for their bat detectors, rechargeable torches, and a digital microscope as well as materials for their workshops. Their workshops have been very successful, with most of them having sold out after a few days’ notice. Both the parents and children who attended the bug hotel workshop were very enthusiastic about the events, with parents stating that they are a great way to educate children about nature in creative and engaging ways.

The group had no issues with applying to the fund.

Further Headstone Manor Park projects

Headstone Manor Parks’ Flood Alleviation Scheme also feature in wider projects of the Crane Valley Partnership’s Smarter Water Catchment programme. One of which is the Yeading Brook Unbound project, which seeks to deliver habitat enhancements to the western arm of the Yeading Brook river, from Headstone Manor to Roxbourne Park. The project, which began in October 2022, involves re-naturalising parts of the river by creating more natural banks, tackling invasive species, opening up overshadowed areas of the river, and planting native species. For more information on this project, see: Yeading Brook Unbound – Crane Valley Partnership

The Zoological Society of London (ZSL) also did a study on Headstone Manor’s wetlands, examining water quality and biodiversity, with help from the Friends of Headstone Manor Park. Water and sediment sampling took place over three phases

Phase one – 2022 to 2023 – Evidencing the Impact of Constructed Wetlands. Read the report here: FINAL Evidencing the Impact of Constructed Wetlands.pdf

Phase two – 2023 to 2024 – Piloting a citizen science method for monitoring the function of a constructed wetland. Read the report here: PDF FINAL Pilot Wetland Invert Monitoring.pdf

Phase three 2024 to 2025 – Wetland Monitoring (Report due to be issued May 2025)