North West Wetlands project due to start next month

We are excited to announce a major new £500k restoration of the north western corner of the north marsh at Brent Reservoir starting next month.

Following a proposal by Cool Oak in 2022, Canal and River Trust will overhaul silted-up canals originally made in the 1980s, clear selected areas of wet woodland, revive the reed bed, create a shingle scrape, add a boardwalk to a new birdwatching screen, and install extra tern and grebe rafts plus sand martin and kingfisher banks. The area will be fenced off to deter vandalism and funding is baked in for future annual maintenance.

The site is approximately the size of two football pitches and effectively runs from the north marsh viewing platform along the bottom of the embankment (below the path to the dump), as far as the bowling green. The footprint is outside the area earmarked for the controversial Silk Stream Bridge. It is proof that the will is there for restoring the neglected backlands of the north marsh, and will add pressure on Barnet and Barratt to re-think the bridge project which - if built - will damage the north eastern side of the marsh.

The work is being undertaken by Ebsford Environmental, experienced contractors in wetland creation, and overseen by CRT ecologist Ben McMillan. Cool Oak is very proud to have kickstarted this wetland revival.