Pevensey Road Nature Reserve and Little Park

Can you hear the whispers of the past mingling with the rustle of leaves? Pevensey Road Nature Reserve and Little Park hum with a quiet history. This tranquil haven, nestled near Feltham in Hounslow, wraps around the South West Middlesex Crematorium. It’s a place where nature and memory intertwine. Pevensey Road Nature Reserve and Little Park invite you to explore its diverse landscapes. Wildflower meadows burst with color, a damp woodland offers cool shade, and veteran apple and pear trees stand as silent witnesses to the passage of time. Some of these trees are likely seedlings, their origins lost in the mists of time. In 2017 and 2018, the community breathed new life into Pevensey Road Nature Reserve and Little Park. Twenty young fruit trees were planted, including the rare Hounslow Wonder. Imagine the sweet taste of its fruit, a unique flavor whispering tales of local heritage. The history of this orchard remains a puzzle. A farm occupied this land until the early 20th century, with orchards dotting the surrounding fields. In the 1940s, a sewage works was briefly established but soon abandoned. This left the area to transform into the public space and nature reserve we see today. The abundance of apple and pear trees hints at a formal orchard once thriving here, although the exact details of its planting remain elusive. Pevensey Road Nature Reserve and Little Park teem with life. Red kites, buzzards, and kestrels soar overhead. Lucky visitors might glimpse a kingfisher darting through the woodland. The meadows and scrub provide shelter for a variety of invertebrates, including stag beetles and green hairstreak butterflies. Black poplars and veteran alder trees add to the rich tapestry of flora. The Conservation Volunteers have played a vital role in the reserve’s preservation since 2013, nurturing its growth through their Green Gym sessions. In 2018 and 2019, they partnered with Green Gym rangers, pruning young trees and restoring veteran ones. They even learned the art of grafting, using local varieties like the Hounslow Wonder, Feltham Beauty, and Scarlet Pearmain. A new wooden bridge, erected in 2019, gracefully spans the River Crane, connecting Pevensey Road Nature Reserve and Little Park to the adjacent Little Park. It’s a symbol of connection, linking not just two green spaces, but also the past with the present. As you wander through Pevensey Road Nature Reserve and Little Park, remember the layers of history beneath your feet, the echoes of the past resonating in the gentle breeze.