Imagine red kites soaring above. Buzzards circle. Kestrels hover. This is Pevensey Road Nature Reserve.
Pevensey Road Nature Reserve is a local treasure. It spans 10.2 hectares in Hanworth. Hanworth is in the London Borough of Hounslow. The reserve forms part of the Crane Corridor Site. It is of Metropolitan Importance for Nature Conservation.
Hounslow Council owns and manages Pevensey Road Nature Reserve. The site surrounds the South West Middlesex Crematorium on three sides. You will find entrances on Pevensey Road and Hounslow Road. Another entrance on Hounslow Road leads to a separate area. This area has impenetrable scrub. A footpath here follows the River Crane.
Pevensey Road Nature Reserve boasts diverse landscapes. Meadows stretch out before you. Woodlands offer shade. Wetlands teem with life. The River Crane adds to the beauty.
Since 2013, The Conservation Volunteers have managed this reserve. They run weekly Green Gym sessions. Locals join in practical conservation work. Together, they benefit the wildlife.
In 2019, a new wooden bridge was built. It crosses the River Crane. The bridge links Pevensey Road Nature Reserve to Little Park. This provides access to even more nature.
This reserve has a rich history. A farm once stood here until the early 20th century. Old maps show orchards in the surrounding fields. A sewage works was built in the 1940s. It was quickly abandoned. The area became a public space and nature reserve. The many apple and pear trees hint at a formal orchard.
Pevensey Road Nature Reserve is home to veteran trees. You can spot black poplar and alder trees. Twenty young fruit trees were planted in 2017 and 2018. These include the rare Hounslow Wonder.
Species-rich wildflower meadows thrive. Damp woodlands offer shelter. The reserve provides a home to much wildlife. Lucky visitors might see a kingfisher in the woodland. Meadows and scrub support invertebrates. Stag beetles and green hairstreak butterflies live here.
The Green Gym rangers manage the site. They prune young trees. They restore veteran trees. The group is trained in grafting. They use local varieties like Hounslow Wonder.
Pevensey Road Nature Reserve stands as a testament. It shows how community involvement can protect our green spaces. Take a moment to appreciate this urban oasis.