Hounslow Heath to benefit from £50,000 regeneration project

Hounslow Heath is a designated Local Nature Reserve and Site of Importance for Nature Conservation and, according to Hounslow Council, the project will help the
site achieve it's ecological, aesthetic, educational and amenity objectives.

In a report to councillors, officers said: "The site improvements will assist in the education and promotion of the site to residents of Hounslow, school children throughout the borough, the general public and visitors to London."

The project has been funded by Section 106 money, which is paid to councils by developers to offset the impact of building projects.

The cash for the regeneration scheme was part of a 106 agreement signed when a Royal Mail sorting office was built on the neighbouring former Feltham Eastern Marshalling Yard.

Councillor Pritam Grewal,
cabinet member for leisure and well-being, said: "The funds from the neighbouring development will see even more of the heath being returned to its previous state.

"Through this proactive management of the site, we are contributing to its regeneration and further
encouraging the flora and fauna of the heath while also improving the visual effects of the new development."

Approximately seven hectares of scrub and small trees will be selectively removed at the south west corner of the heath to create an area of wood pasture into which the new trees will be planted.

Work will also be carried out to create an additional 0.7 hectare area of heath land habitat that will be reseeded with seeds gathered from existing plants on site and left to reestablish.

Birch and oak will naturally reseed into these areas, which will then be managed to ensure the correct amount of tree cover.