https://www.cooloakgroup.com/ourcampaigns daily 0.75 2025-09-03 https://www.cooloakgroup.com/ourcampaigns/the-north-western-wetlands monthly 0.5 2025-07-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61af7d90f4845a5813d27a5b/f9fdfd87-03dd-4f5e-ad6c-6f05735db0b6/north-marsh-wetland-2021-1200x675.jpeg Campaigns - The north western wetlands - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.cooloakgroup.com/ourcampaigns/new-breeding-rafts-for-the-common-tern monthly 0.5 2025-07-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61af7d90f4845a5813d27a5b/f0518e5e-c4c7-4c61-98e7-95fdfabd08af/pexels-jen%C3%85%C2%91-medgyesi-13002909.jpg Campaigns - New breeding rafts for the common tern - Make it stand out Photo: Jeno Medgyesi https://www.cooloakgroup.com/ourcampaigns/the-restoration-of-the-east-marsh monthly 0.5 2025-07-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61af7d90f4845a5813d27a5b/1753803554295-YJGIO4XOM6H6B1OZKS44/oil+in+reeds+2025.jpg Campaigns - The restoration of the east marsh - Make it stand out Oily runoff from nearby motorway disfigures the east marsh reed beds https://www.cooloakgroup.com/ourcampaigns/sewage-trash-and-the-environment-agency monthly 0.5 2022-01-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61af7d90f4845a5813d27a5b/cd14952c-55de-4ccf-8e4a-3e1f69374904/IMG_2192.jpeg Campaigns - Sewage, trash and the Environment Agency - Make it stand out River Brent trash screen, December 2021 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61af7d90f4845a5813d27a5b/788bdc6e-8cfb-4330-b8b2-da7192be3671/IMG_2097.jpeg Campaigns - Sewage, trash and the Environment Agency - Make it stand out Silk Stream, downstream of auto-trash screen, December 2021 https://www.cooloakgroup.com/ourcampaigns/silk-stream-bridge monthly 0.5 2025-09-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61af7d90f4845a5813d27a5b/fd1c6a5f-1d63-4252-a8db-20cecaaa8b7a/ma-ssb-cgi-bridge-view.jpg Campaigns - The brutal reality of the Silk Stream Bridge - Make it stand out Artist’s impression by bridge architects, Makower Architects https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61af7d90f4845a5813d27a5b/25b2fdf1-5e67-4f27-aaa7-d0a6e138dcbc/False+Representation+North+Marsh.png Campaigns - The brutal reality of the Silk Stream Bridge - Make it stand out Drawing of new footbridge from planning documents https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61af7d90f4845a5813d27a5b/ba85bf4c-2d98-4465-9367-96153f432c35/New+Bridge+Artist+Impression.jpg Campaigns - The brutal reality of the Silk Stream Bridge - Make it stand out Aerial impression from the planning documents https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61af7d90f4845a5813d27a5b/4f45aa74-8972-4263-8fcd-ecd2c96914c2/Aerial+Photo+3.JPG Campaigns - The brutal reality of the Silk Stream Bridge - Make it stand out Aerial photo taken shortly after SSSI wetlands were created in 1985 . The corner of the warehouse in previous image is just visible at the top of the image. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61af7d90f4845a5813d27a5b/5c234453-04f2-4035-992b-0116a87e0d8f/North+Marsh+Before+and+After+Pics+1985+copy+%281%29.jpeg Campaigns - The brutal reality of the Silk Stream Bridge - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61af7d90f4845a5813d27a5b/b7d0d6ab-2775-45b5-be94-64c85879615c/Original+SSSI+Wetland+with+New+Bridge.JPG Campaigns - The brutal reality of the Silk Stream Bridge - Make it stand out Superimposition of new footbridge across actual shape of SSSI north marsh wetlands. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61af7d90f4845a5813d27a5b/6dac5294-7464-47a6-8af5-dad5db9b4c71/P1070670.JPG Campaigns - The brutal reality of the Silk Stream Bridge - Make it stand out Abandoned north marsh wetlands, May 2021 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61af7d90f4845a5813d27a5b/ae65e2fb-22af-40f7-a2db-81b4c578dfe2/P1070672.JPG Campaigns - The brutal reality of the Silk Stream Bridge - Make it stand out Abandoned north marsh wetlands, May 2021 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61af7d90f4845a5813d27a5b/2c8cc410-bd10-47e9-bf26-931f32e0d6c4/P1070671.JPG Campaigns - The brutal reality of the Silk Stream Bridge - Make it stand out Abandoned North Marsh Wetlands, May 2021 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61af7d90f4845a5813d27a5b/1ea57d27-d908-4c96-b376-248a23974896/P1070668.JPG Campaigns - The brutal reality of the Silk Stream Bridge - Make it stand out Abandoned north marsh wetlands, May 2021 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61af7d90f4845a5813d27a5b/2cacea37-a4d2-4dff-bfbc-6ce305064807/Silkstream+Bridge+Alt+Routes.png Campaigns - The brutal reality of the Silk Stream Bridge - Make it stand out Possible alternative routes minimising impact on wetlands https://www.cooloakgroup.com/ourcampaigns/our-vision-for-the-welsh-harp monthly 0.5 2022-01-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61af7d90f4845a5813d27a5b/1639063397139-JD0RVZ0HBJDKJCLJ0UW9/IMG_0397.jpeg Campaigns - Our vision for the Welsh Harp - Make it stand out North Marsh, Brent Reservoir, Jan 2021 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61af7d90f4845a5813d27a5b/537eb041-63e6-4a96-a082-cb83fa820d3f/shoreline-litter.jpeg Campaigns - Our vision for the Welsh Harp - Make it stand out Shoreline litter and debris, East Marsh, January 2021 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61af7d90f4845a5813d27a5b/9ae178b5-d07d-4c99-8e0f-58f6c3040d40/PICT0252.jpeg Campaigns - Our vision for the Welsh Harp - Make it stand out East Marsh wetlands with mixed waterside flora, 1999 (Photo: © Leo Batten) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61af7d90f4845a5813d27a5b/f07cc572-dcfa-436c-9500-50ed12bee35d/IMG_0498.jpeg Campaigns - Our vision for the Welsh Harp - Make it stand out Bed of the protected East Marsh revealed, January 2021 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61af7d90f4845a5813d27a5b/920663e2-022f-4f83-b2e7-5d4a6345ac6c/tufted-duck-plastic.jpeg Campaigns - Our vision for the Welsh Harp - Make it stand out Tufted Duck, plastic ring around its neck. Numbers are down 70% since 1995. (Photo: © Magnus Andersson) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61af7d90f4845a5813d27a5b/e352b551-ab3d-4a4d-85b9-c1c48cd4b7f9/IMG_0381.jpeg Campaigns - Our vision for the Welsh Harp - Make it stand out One metre below the surface. Debris and contaminated alluvium build-up on the protected East Marsh, revealed during lowering of water levels, January 2021 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61af7d90f4845a5813d27a5b/f3e47aae-ea89-41ca-a3d9-f8b7ec631bbc/IMG_0849.jpeg Campaigns - Our vision for the Welsh Harp - Make it stand out Trash trap, River Brent (Priestley Way), January 2021 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61af7d90f4845a5813d27a5b/888a8714-1233-4940-83e3-bcae3cd6b994/IMG_0869.jpeg Campaigns - Our vision for the Welsh Harp - Make it stand out Woodland above the North Marsh, February 2021 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61af7d90f4845a5813d27a5b/37674d26-3d87-4539-82ed-dacb3c9a0518/tufted-duck-swallow-hook.jpeg Campaigns - Our vision for the Welsh Harp - Make it stand out Tufted duck killed by discarded fishing tackle (Photo: © Leo Batten) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61af7d90f4845a5813d27a5b/cefdea1f-a704-4b37-a977-04af2844296d/wide-island-swans.jpeg Campaigns - Our vision for the Welsh Harp - Make it stand out The start of something good? East Marsh after large debris removal and return of normal water level, March 2021. https://www.cooloakgroup.com/news daily 0.75 2026-03-27 https://www.cooloakgroup.com/news/north-marsh-restoration-update monthly 0.5 2026-03-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61af7d90f4845a5813d27a5b/0536bee9-893c-418b-849a-49f2e18219d1/N+Marsh+Restoration.jpg News - North Marsh restoration update - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.cooloakgroup.com/news/north-west-wetlands monthly 0.5 2025-10-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61af7d90f4845a5813d27a5b/07df9e17-354e-456d-a040-579374ae7cc3/P1070671+copy.jpeg News - North West Wetlands project due to start next month - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.cooloakgroup.com/news/matthew-frith monthly 0.5 2025-08-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61af7d90f4845a5813d27a5b/c3dd17e0-845c-4a84-b1b1-f9a37b5e73e7/Matthew+Frith.jpg News - Matthew Frith - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.cooloakgroup.com/news/6egue5jsdmp9vayp5kszjfxe86u9w9 monthly 0.5 2025-07-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61af7d90f4845a5813d27a5b/1752932266613-DMSHU30BTLDXBQA9TTEU/eastmarshcanal.jpg News - Plenty to celebrate in 2025, but the bridge still looms - Make it stand out The restored east marsh canal https://www.cooloakgroup.com/news/7rxqho894ksk76fno5tic5f03hc9aj monthly 0.5 2024-02-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61af7d90f4845a5813d27a5b/1707848542282-59W66POH9CA2E0TPP45I/IMG_7523.jpg News - Extension to dam works threatens breeding season - Make it stand out Pic above: Brent Reservoir midway through dewatering this winter https://www.cooloakgroup.com/news/19kwewilzcxhwcqq3alla2zcbfmp64 monthly 0.5 2024-01-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61af7d90f4845a5813d27a5b/f0518e5e-c4c7-4c61-98e7-95fdfabd08af/pexels-jen%C3%85%C2%91-medgyesi-13002909.jpg News - What can Brent Reservoir expect in 2024? - Make it stand out Common tern will get new nesting rafts in 2024. Pic by Jenő Medgyesi. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61af7d90f4845a5813d27a5b/4f0c2e34-c238-4c34-a019-782421f981ba/Bermuda+Island+from+Heron+Hide+-+1990s.jpeg News - What can Brent Reservoir expect in 2024? - Make it stand out Wader scrape and mudflat in the East Marsh in the early 1990s before vegetation took over. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61af7d90f4845a5813d27a5b/7782d1a5-59ef-45b6-88b7-138bc02baa72/IMG_2212.jpeg News - What can Brent Reservoir expect in 2024? - Make it stand out The rough grassland and scrub next to West Hendon playing fields is a key natural habitat for wildlife that needs protecting. https://www.cooloakgroup.com/news/i3eu3c9mg8yeky6swcvu0wvl1o3i1o monthly 0.5 2023-12-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61af7d90f4845a5813d27a5b/1702121645115-5L7RGFE6I8LPNOJ8SNIP/IMG_7503.jpeg News - Full drainage of reservoir begins - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.cooloakgroup.com/news/v66b1nzhq73uhlg0h9qtroslrbkizm monthly 0.5 2023-11-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61af7d90f4845a5813d27a5b/1700652831647-005YO5NA6PI2L5MR5PJQ/IMG_7368.jpeg News - Still questions for Barnet and Barratt - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.cooloakgroup.com/news/sssi-wrecking-bridge-spoils-launch-of-major-new-vision monthly 0.5 2023-08-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61af7d90f4845a5813d27a5b/3916bb74-ff6b-434e-b4ea-332c5bf33a61/IMG_5462.jpeg News - SSSI-wrecking bridge spoils launch of major new vision - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61af7d90f4845a5813d27a5b/1644840955977-9QDMV9WPDZ149RR7VEDA/Bank+above+playing+fields+car+park%2C+looking+SE+-+1200x750.jpeg News - SSSI-wrecking bridge spoils launch of major new vision - Make it stand out (Above) North marsh wetlands during re-profiling in late 1980s https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61af7d90f4845a5813d27a5b/b7d0d6ab-2775-45b5-be94-64c85879615c/Original+SSSI+Wetland+with+New+Bridge.JPG News - SSSI-wrecking bridge spoils launch of major new vision - Make it stand out (Above) Route of new bridge across north marsh wetlands as they were in 1990s https://www.cooloakgroup.com/news/cool-oak-diary-and-our-two-year-anniversary monthly 0.5 2023-08-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61af7d90f4845a5813d27a5b/6ab36e42-a508-4cb7-95b0-5f371c79e3b6/IMG_5034.JPG News - Cool Oak Diary and our two year anniversary - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.cooloakgroup.com/news/canal-restoration-and-silk-stream-litter-blitz monthly 0.5 2023-08-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61af7d90f4845a5813d27a5b/9694b6ca-a304-4f40-a4c2-837184522dc8/Screenshot+2023-02-18+at+18.28.59.png News - Canal restoration and Silk Stream litter blitz - Make it stand out Canal on the east marsh, 1984 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61af7d90f4845a5813d27a5b/c5260ec8-7474-49c1-8fec-cc3d1c5c133e/Screenshot+2023-02-18+at+18.28.38.png News - Canal restoration and Silk Stream litter blitz - Make it stand out Canal restoration, 2023 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61af7d90f4845a5813d27a5b/dabc2e0e-9b4f-4688-9c89-942466f63ab3/IMG-20230131-WA0040.jpg News - Canal restoration and Silk Stream litter blitz - Make it stand out Silk Stream, 2023 https://www.cooloakgroup.com/news/a-look-back-at-2022 monthly 0.5 2023-08-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61af7d90f4845a5813d27a5b/aaba90a7-c1a9-4f93-9283-486af8f15dcb/IMG_6115.jpg News - A look back at 2022 - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.cooloakgroup.com/news/new-nesting-islands-arrive-at-the-welsh-harp monthly 0.5 2023-08-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61af7d90f4845a5813d27a5b/a7dcd862-72e6-4867-8c75-000852e80d5e/IMG_6064.jpeg News - New nesting islands arrive at the Welsh Harp - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.cooloakgroup.com/news/new-future-habitats-initiative monthly 0.5 2023-08-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61af7d90f4845a5813d27a5b/741d6c6f-6f06-4358-b4d0-04bba456739e/_MAG5059+copy.jpg News - New Future Habitats initiative - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.cooloakgroup.com/news/no-rain-and-low-water-threatens-wildlife-numbers-at-brent-reservoir monthly 0.5 2023-08-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61af7d90f4845a5813d27a5b/4ace9365-1eb9-4df0-b7fc-20f796d58dac/low-water-trash.jpeg News - No rain and low water threatens wildlife numbers at Brent Reservoir - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.cooloakgroup.com/news/help-reduce-fly-tipping-that-ends-up-in-the-welsh-harp monthly 0.5 2023-08-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61af7d90f4845a5813d27a5b/1650825879783-0A3O5ASDCS3BE2BVBBKN/IMG_2184.jpeg News - Help reduce fly-tipping that ends up in the Welsh Harp - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.cooloakgroup.com/news/bp2yj308hcns3rorv3vwzwe1o4llcw monthly 0.5 2023-08-03 https://www.cooloakgroup.com/news/flowering-rush-among-rare-notable-plants-to-be-reintroduced-at-brent-reservoir monthly 0.5 2023-08-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61af7d90f4845a5813d27a5b/c2728b56-b58f-453b-b09c-121e1ff7620f/flowering+rush+1.jpg News - Flowering rush among rare plants to be reintroduced at Brent Reservoir - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.cooloakgroup.com/news/hidden-world-views-of-the-welsh-harp-not-seen-for-30-years monthly 0.5 2023-08-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61af7d90f4845a5813d27a5b/ea38ca6e-2e37-4f1e-b7ac-516a0c060f8f/IMG_2674.jpeg News - Hidden world. Views of the Welsh Harp not seen for 30 years - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61af7d90f4845a5813d27a5b/e46e40ee-4838-4bbb-8d58-9cf2057c5ff1/IMG_2672.jpeg News - Hidden world. Views of the Welsh Harp not seen for 30 years - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.cooloakgroup.com/news/natural-englands-tony-juniper-visits-the-welsh-harp monthly 0.5 2022-03-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61af7d90f4845a5813d27a5b/1644450642994-QJWA5R0XLMDG5FW08M5Q/tony-juniper-1x1.JPG News - Natural England’s Tony Juniper visits the Welsh Harp - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.cooloakgroup.com/news/ben-watt-starts-new-monthly-column-for-caught-by-the-river monthly 0.5 2023-08-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61af7d90f4845a5813d27a5b/1644056915274-E660BQE9KEL33Z2RMX5A/ben-watt-guardian-may-2021.jpg News - Ben Watt starts new monthly column for Caught By The River - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.cooloakgroup.com/news/major-tree-works-take-place-on-east-marsh monthly 0.5 2023-08-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61af7d90f4845a5813d27a5b/1644055738023-8KBWAP0H3I0U2BXCV02Y/IMG_4702.jpeg News - Major tree works take place on east marsh - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.cooloakgroup.com/news/cool-oak-founder-ben-watt-chats-to-brent-amp-kilburn-times monthly 0.5 2023-08-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61af7d90f4845a5813d27a5b/1643391197649-OUQDZFK51RBO7VSI3DYU/IMG_4610+%281%29.jpeg News - Cool Oak founder, Ben Watt chats to Brent & Kilburn Times - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.cooloakgroup.com/news/join-a-conservation-day-on-sun-jan-30-with-friends-of-the-welsh-harp monthly 0.5 2023-08-03 https://www.cooloakgroup.com/news/canal-and-river-trust-announces-85k-winter-works-programme monthly 0.5 2023-08-03 https://www.cooloakgroup.com/news/new-vision-promised-for-the-welsh-harp-by-all-three-owners monthly 0.5 2023-08-03 https://www.cooloakgroup.com/news/tireless-campaign-culminates-in-two-day-clean-up-by-friends-of-the-welsh-harp monthly 0.5 2023-08-03 https://www.cooloakgroup.com/news/canal-and-river-trust-commits-to-selective-dredging-of-the-marshland monthly 0.5 2023-08-03 https://www.cooloakgroup.com/news/decades-old-junk-removed-from-marshes-by-canal-and-river-trust monthly 0.5 2023-08-03 https://www.cooloakgroup.com/news/barnet-labour-and-feargal-sharkey-applaud-crisis-report monthly 0.5 2023-08-03 https://www.cooloakgroup.com/stories daily 0.75 2022-12-23 https://www.cooloakgroup.com/stories/ben-watts-cool-oak-diary monthly 0.5 2022-12-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61af7d90f4845a5813d27a5b/95fe581d-1c3c-49e2-9469-293bfc585508/Public-Hide-North-Marsh-MAIN-PHOTO-REPLACEMENT.jpg Stories - Ben Watt’s Cool Oak Diary - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.cooloakgroup.com/stories/welsh-harp-wanderer monthly 0.5 2023-08-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61af7d90f4845a5813d27a5b/1644603090633-P7KFBGDFJN0GGTMF82AA/image2-33.jpeg Stories - Welsh Harp wanderer - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61af7d90f4845a5813d27a5b/ce727fdb-89d9-4b64-b77d-4a1e853be945/image3-35.jpeg Stories - Welsh Harp wanderer - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.cooloakgroup.com/stories/the-building-of-the-welsh-harp-wetlands-in-the-1980s monthly 0.5 2023-08-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61af7d90f4845a5813d27a5b/4a104588-5500-4d92-9815-7ca37442d65f/NorthMarsh1985.jpeg Stories - The building of the Welsh Harp wetlands - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61af7d90f4845a5813d27a5b/e5ac20e9-ef6e-45fe-b812-f13e9b6af5f6/PICT0634.JPG Stories - The building of the Welsh Harp wetlands - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61af7d90f4845a5813d27a5b/f03a43a8-8097-44f3-8203-9638d0bd52c9/Bank+above+playing+fields+car+park%2C+looking+SE.JPG Stories - The building of the Welsh Harp wetlands - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61af7d90f4845a5813d27a5b/8b3f4000-9fcc-4b2a-bccf-330605e46d29/PICT0637.JPG Stories - The building of the Welsh Harp wetlands - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61af7d90f4845a5813d27a5b/c483da12-082a-4460-bd43-09dcdf4eb31a/PICT0646+%282%29.JPG Stories - The building of the Welsh Harp wetlands - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61af7d90f4845a5813d27a5b/d54e2e39-ad37-4cec-a312-78359c71f2f8/PICT0645.JPG Stories - The building of the Welsh Harp wetlands - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61af7d90f4845a5813d27a5b/d2bc3f39-2748-485c-9728-d8b00d20394d/North+marsh+looking+towards+clubhouse+1.JPG Stories - The building of the Welsh Harp wetlands - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61af7d90f4845a5813d27a5b/277cef88-ac42-47f1-934d-34d9e247772e/2022+tree+works+2.jpeg Stories - The building of the Welsh Harp wetlands - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.cooloakgroup.com/home daily 1.0 2025-07-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61af7d90f4845a5813d27a5b/0bdc72ae-b254-4edd-8f9a-226faef28879/_MAG4457.jpg Home - Plastic pollution A tide of plastics and debris has built up over decades on the shallow marshes, mostly washed in from the reservoir’s two inflowing rivers - the River Brent and Silk Stream. In 2021, we successfully convinced Natural England to agree this was ecologically threatening to the wetlands, not just unsightly. We then urged reservoir owner Canal and River Trust to act. March 2021 saw the professional removal of the worst of the visible junk - wheelie bins, supermarket trollies, car bumpers, fruit crates, traffic cones, plastic chairs - for the first time since the habitat was re-landscaped for protected bird species in the 1980s. Smaller plastics and microplastics — bags, fabrics, wet wipes, shredded polythene —still threaten precious habitats and feeding grounds. Annual marshland clean-ups are now timetabled for surface items. Dredging would also help remove the layer-cake of items trapped in the silt. There is plenty more to do. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61af7d90f4845a5813d27a5b/19e52c6f-2c10-418f-b71e-6a9e3353751f/IMG_0397.jpeg Home - Silt and dredging Silt (technically, alluvium) carried by the inflowing rivers has been allowed to heavily accumulate in the reservoir, and in particular the marshlands. Much of it is toxic, laced largely with petrol, oil, tyre fragments and hazardous chemicals from urban runoff and outfall from the neighbouring industrial estate. Breeding habitats have become clogged and misshapen. Water quality has deteriorated. In 2022 we successfully persuaded Canal and River Trust to complete a full bathymetric survey. We then pressed for silt testing, and a staged programme of selective dredging and shoreline reshaping to help restore habitats. In 2023, Canal and River Trust took silt samples from the east and north marsh. Results from the east marsh proved a direct link with hazardous hydrocarbon pollution from motorway road runoff, and the organisation is now seeking reparations from National Highways for the long-term damage caused. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61af7d90f4845a5813d27a5b/d2ab72a9-b264-4b6c-8dee-9cc455b356c4/IMG_0448.jpeg Home - Trash screens and water quality Junk, storm debris, oils and effluence are not cleared regularly enough from the trash screens positioned upstream of the reservoir on the River Brent and Silk Stream. High water takes debris up, over and around the screens. Microplastics, polystyrene, sewage, phosphates and oils flow through. Floating booms on the downstream side hold back some surface pollutants but many sink and are taken down to the reservoir. Excessive phosphate and low oxygen levels mean toxic algae and blanket weed are a summer hazard on the open water. Protected wet woodland around the screens is regularly flooded and carpeted in debris, toxic sediment and sewage. Waterborne debris needs to be stopped at source. This means Barnet Council must do more to prevent fly-tipping upstream of the screens. Outfall pollution upstream must be tackled more robustly by Thames Water, and the Environment Agency must be given more powers to hold it to account. Runoff and spillages need greater interception and filtering by Highways England and the Environment Agency. Trash screen maintenance, water quality and biodiversity improvement are the responsibility of the Environment Agency. We met with it in 2021 to ask for better standards, but flood control would appear to be higher on its agenda than the effect of contaminated water and inflowing debris on the ecology of the Welsh Harp. We recognise the EA faces many challenges through under-funding, but we don’t agree one should be at the expense of the other and continue to push all parties for better. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61af7d90f4845a5813d27a5b/1639067384647-Z5BWDXGTT09KPVUYQSEO/P1070670.JPG Home - Overgrown habitats An extensive mosaic of wetland habitats was created around the east marsh and north marsh with a large chunk of public money in the late 1980s. It provided safe breeding grounds for many of the bird species that fall under the Welsh Harp SSSI notification. Since then stewardship by successive authorities has been insubstantial. The mosaic of habitats has slowly given way to large areas of colonisation, over-siltation and invasive species. Numbers of protected breeding bird species and rare fenland plants have dropped steadily. In December 2021 we worked with Canal and River Trust to put in place a new programme of invasive vegetation clearance and reed habitat improvements around the east marsh, as part of an £85k winter works programme - the first serious investment in the area for many years. In 2022, four large floating eco-systems - new nesting islands for the locally-threatened great crested grebe - were installed thanks to funding from the Mayor of London’s Grow Back Greener campaign, sourced by Canal and River Trust. In 2023 and 2024 further modest restoration of the east marsh took place. The east marsh canal was dredged, self-seeded trees were coppiced and the reed line was reshaped in places to create more refuge and breeding areas. We continue to press for more expansive works. On the north marsh, we remain engaged in a battle to restore the neglected SSSI habitats currently under threat from Barnet Council and Barratt PLC’s approved plans for a 200m bridge and in September 2021, we published a new case against it re-opening the debate on the bridge’s validity. The future of the bridge still remains unresolved almost fifteen years after it was first proposed. In spite of this, in 2025 - following a Cool Oak proposal - Canal and River Trust raised funding for a major restoration of a large section of the western side of the north marsh away from the bridge site. Pools and channels will be reinstated, willow removed, and reed beds enhanced. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61af7d90f4845a5813d27a5b/32da3075-9245-4a47-b699-272fbf590068/rusting-appliances.jpeg Home - Fly-tipping and littering In the surrounding green space, fly-tipping and littering blights woodland, river banks and verges. Organised volunteering by Friends of the Welsh Harp and Friends of the Silk Stream has improved countless areas to the north of the reservoir. Thousands of bags of rubbish and truckloads of rusting appliances, mattresses, and dumped waste have been collected - with support from Barnet Council - in a major initiative since January 2021. On the southern side, land owners Brent Council and Canal and River Trust have responded to our campaign and removed historic fly-tipped waste and 1,398 dumped tyres from the protected woodland next to the Staples Corner industrial estate. The area has also seen tireless regular clean-ups from its own local volunteers. More work is still needed. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61af7d90f4845a5813d27a5b/53e5ee3d-6017-46c8-ba0c-dedf8b3d4a63/MAG_1929.jpg Home - SSSI protection We published our first crisis report in March 2021. In response, Natural England now considers the state of the Welsh Harp SSSI “a cause for concern”. All three owners - Canal and River Trust, Barnet Council, Brent Council - have since pledged to “secure a cleaner, greener future for the Welsh Harp”. In 2021 they commissioned an environmental review and in July 2023 published a new Joint Vision for the Welsh Harp. It is hoped it will be the springboard for serious third-party funding for improvements.. We published our own 15-point plan for the future in April 2021. We continue to urge Natural England to reassess the scale of new pressures faced by the Welsh Harp - in particular those from waterside development and poor ecological stewardship - and to act in the best interests of its SSSI status. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61af7d90f4845a5813d27a5b/3916bb74-ff6b-434e-b4ea-332c5bf33a61/IMG_5462.jpeg Home - Climate resilience In an age of rising temperatures and climate change, well-stewarded wetlands are about flood resilience and heatwave relief for nearby neighbourhoods and businesses. They act as a vital sponge in times of heavy rainfall, absorbing potential flood waters. During hot weather, they soak up urban heat, taking pressure off surrounding communities. Building, maintaining and restoring wetlands is now known to be crucial to modern future-proof planning in densely-populated areas. And when a wetlands is also a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), there is an added imperative and legal requirement to protect and enhance it. As one of the largest waterbodies in the capital, we are urging all owners to recognise the key role the Welsh Harp has to play in the future eco-health of London.. https://www.cooloakgroup.com/about daily 0.75 2025-09-02 https://www.cooloakgroup.com/take-action daily 0.75 2022-01-13 https://www.cooloakgroup.com/contact daily 0.75 2022-01-24 https://www.cooloakgroup.com/privacy-policy daily 0.75 2021-12-28 https://www.cooloakgroup.com/future-habitats daily 0.75 2023-01-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61af7d90f4845a5813d27a5b/9d679df9-e8b5-4ed8-b7f1-34191898a784/Main+Map+-+GRAB+-+JPEG.jpg Future Habitats - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61af7d90f4845a5813d27a5b/59dff5fd-e30b-44d6-aa71-7255903f64c8/East+Marsh+-+Selective+Dredging+2+-+GRAB+-+JPEG.jpg Future Habitats - Selective dredging Selective dredging Alluvium deposits from the inflowing River Brent have drastically altered the shape of the SSSI wetlands since the last re-profiling in the 1980s. Many of the existing breeding rafts are now beached on the silt, when they once floated in one metre of water. Periods of low rainfall lead to even larger areas of silt being exposed, turning the wetlands into dried-out contaminated reefs covered in plastics with little appeal for feeding birds. Sediment build-up has also reduced the reservoir’s water capacity for flood relief. If it continues to remain unaddressed the reservoir’s role in flood resilience will almost certainly be compromised. To improve the wetlands and general capacity, we suggest 0.5m of silt be skimmed off the areas worst affected. Pending full chemical analysis and EA approvals, it ould be moved into offshore bunds or part-redeployed on site. See suggestions below. Where silt removal is close to the shoreline, any existing reed fringes should be retained. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61af7d90f4845a5813d27a5b/4b99e6e7-b627-4aec-b0f9-cc352096eb71/East+Marsh+-+Silt+Deposits+-+GRAB+-JPEG+SMALL.jpg Future Habitats - Where could the silt go? Where could the silt go? Two locations already exist on the east marsh where silt has been previously deposited - a raised bund on the corner of Edgware Road (A5) and Priestley Way; and on the tip of the Brent Peninsula. Re-using them should be investigated. An alternative would be a new narrow bund in the SE corner along the edge of the industrial estate on the southern side of the River Brent. This area is already in poor environmental health following outfall contamination from the major 2018 paint factory fire on nearby Waterloo Road. The bund could also be set far enough back from the woodland public footpath and riverbank. Another option would be to use some of the silt deposits to create new peninsulas topped with reed beds further north on the east shore, where the water level is relatively low. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61af7d90f4845a5813d27a5b/21b743f3-df15-4e9c-8db2-2d64a3eb465d/Plastic+Pollution+Traps+-+East+Marsh.png Future Habitats - Plastic pollution removal Plastic pollution Large items of debris have already been removed manually from the east marsh wetlands by Canal and River Trust in 2021 and 2022, yet a carpet of medium-to-small size plastics - bags, sheeting, buckets, bottles - still litters the feeding grounds. This will continue to break down into micro-plastics entering the food chain with associated threats to animal and human health. Birds already sift though the debris, and bird numbers continue to fall. This is most likely due to poor water quality, contaminated silt and widespread plastics. An annual winter programme of plastic removal is still needed until the situation is under control. A large tracked amphibious excavator with a bucket is likely to be the best method; it would be used to scrape off the plastics, dumping them into a floating hopper for removal off site. Further manual removal is possible but tricky in the treacherous silt, where many items are embedded and hard to pull out by hand. Stopping the inflow of further plastic and debris from the River Brent is also key. This will need co-operation with Environment Agency (trash screen and outfall management) and Barnet and Brent Councils (upstream fly-tipping control). We also propose Barnet Council install a second trash screen a little further up the River Brent, possibly near the new Brent Cross Town development. This would help reduce the amount of material arriving at the existing trash screen, and the items that get washed over and around it when the river rises after heavy rain. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61af7d90f4845a5813d27a5b/8e09baf2-dc33-4626-9f17-41c0eade9662/East+Marsh+-+Heron+Bay+-+GRAB+-+JPEG.jpg Future Habitats - Heron Bay Heron Bay In the south-east corner of the reservoir, Heron Bay is a key refuge for protected bird species, while its reed beds act as a frontline filtration system on the low quality water arriving from the inflowing River Brent. Future restoration should pick up where Canal and River Trust’s truncated winter works of February 2022 left off. This should include (1) more secluded alcoves cut into the reed beds, (2) a wedge of reeds removed from in front of the hide with a perimeter ledge for species such as water rail, (3) a large 5m channel cut right through the silt spit of Bermuda Island to encourage waterbird access, (4) ponds or scrapes created on the tip of the Brent peninsula following recent tree clearance, and (5) partial infill of the channel between the peninsula and Bermuda Island to stop further silt ingress from the River Brent into the bay. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61af7d90f4845a5813d27a5b/6798d51b-c22b-4653-9749-e4cb7be73356/East+Marsh+-+Brent+Peninsula+Protection+-+GRAB.jpg Future Habitats - Brent Peninsula Brent Peninsula Tree removal in January 2022 at the tip of the Brent Peninsula has attracted dog walkers and members of the public, who follow the path from the trash screen to this sensitive area for breeding birds. Extending the existing partial channel from Heron Bay to the River Brent would effectively turn the peninsula into a protected island, dissuading visitors. A narrow weir board or metal insert could be placed across the channel to stop the flow of silt from the river to the bay. This work could be achieved manually with a big-enough team, if no amphibious excavator were available. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61af7d90f4845a5813d27a5b/59174b79-a93d-4dd6-813f-1161696102c6/Dead+Hedge+-+Southern+Shore.png Future Habitats - Dead hedge on southern shore Dead hedge on southern shore Tree removal on the southern shore has opened up a new desire path for the public in an area sensitive for breeding birds. Illegal anglers have already been approached by EA officers in this area. Waterbirds have been harassed from the shoreline by members of the public. A large dead-hedge is recommended to prevent further access. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61af7d90f4845a5813d27a5b/f739ab3f-7106-4766-8cd7-e15dfa8e8c58/North+Marsh+-+North+Western+Wetlands+-+GRAB+-+JPEG.jpg Future Habitats - Restored North Western Wetlands New North Western Wetlands In the 1980s, considerable public money was spent re-profiling the upper reaches of the north marsh at the top of the northern arm of Brent Reservoir to create a mosaic of habitats suitable for the breeding birds protected under the SSSI citation of 1950 (renewed in 1985). A large area of overgrown vegetation and accumulated river silt from the inflowing Silk Stream was reclaimed and islands, canals, channels and backwaters were created. Sadly, through neglect and lack of funds for adequate stewardship, these remarkable wetlands have been allowed to fall into disrepair over the thirty years since. Breeding birds have left, and a monoculture of willow-dominated wet woodland, bramble, invasives and plastic pollution has taken over. To make matters worse, planning permission for a new 186m pedestrian footbridge linking new housing with the playing fields was granted in 2018. It will pass right over the wetlands, and in so doing remove any chance of the area around it being meaningfully restored. The full story of its impact is told here. New questions about the project’s validity were raised in 2021, and until the future is clear, we propose a partial reclamation of the wetlands away from the affected area. The new North-Western Wetlands would make use of the skeleton of canals and channels still visible on the western side, and excavate a fresh series of interlinked pools and ponds. Silt and soil could be dumped at the foot of the high embankment. Breeding birds protected under the SSSI citation could return, and a new green space rich in biodiversity would be created. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61af7d90f4845a5813d27a5b/6bc77e9a-dc20-4929-b69a-8fcc70116fc7/North+Marsh+-+Siltation+-+GRAB+-+JPEG.jpg Future Habitats - Siltation, dredging, flood relief and plastic pollution Sediment and plastics from the inflowing Silk Stream have impacted heavily on the north marsh over the past thirty years. Not only have channels cut from the riverbank into the original 1980s wetlands transported silt and debris into the upper section compromising the SSSI habitat, but a large delta of sediment has settled at the mouth of the stream in the shallow open water. The result has been similar to the issues facing the east marsh habitats - low water quality, unhealthy feeding grounds, large areas of dried-out contaminated reef in periods of low rainfall, a carpet of plastics, and reduced reservoir capacity for flood relief. A new selective dredging initiative in this area is vital for the area to sustain protected bird numbers and increase biodiversity and flood resilience. An old existing bund - now overgrown - west of the proposed North Western Wetlands project could perhaps be re-purposed for excavated silt. Large items of plastic and debris at the mouth of the Silk Stream were removed by Canal and River Trust in March 2021, but a long-term project to remove more using a tracked amphibious excavator and hopper is also needed. The Silk Stream channel and adjacent woodland are also heavily contaminated with plastic pollution. Some of this could be collected by hand. A ‘grab’ vehicle might be needed for large clumps of plastic trapped in the channel. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61af7d90f4845a5813d27a5b/2d972eb7-c57b-468c-835d-94cf908acb91/IMG_1653.jpeg Future Habitats - Plant Map None of the three owners of Brent Reservoir have a current inventory of plants growing at the Welsh Harp. This means rare plants noted in the SSSI citation are going unprotected, and invasive species such as giant hogweed and Himalayan balsam are making dangerous inroads. Cool Oak has unearthed the last plant inventory drawn up almost thirty years ago in 1994, and created a new digital database. We urge owners to use this as the basis of a new citizen-science-led project to re-map the flora of the Welsh Harp to better manage and protect biodiversity. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61af7d90f4845a5813d27a5b/0e02797d-d7ac-470c-9b16-a4c15fcb049d/IMG_5389.JPG Future Habitats - Stop fly-tipping Fly-tipping remains a constant threat to Brent Reservoir. Hazardous materials such as asbestos are left on verges, tyres are unloaded onto riverbanks. Plastic pollution is rife in many places. We urge owners to (1) find solutions to local dumping in known kerbside hotspots, (2) tackle riverbank dumping further upstream, and (3) consider clean-up partnerships with local businesses and retail parks adjoining the Welsh Harp’s green spaces.