Hillingdon Council has invested £88,000 to acquire a further 30 acres of ancient semi-natural woodland in Ruislip Woods, to manage and protect for future generations to enjoy.
The council worked with Ruislip Woods Trust to acquire Copse Wood, which will become part of the council-owned Ruislip Woods National Nature Reserve. The nature reserve consists of 726 acres and constitutes 10 per cent of ancient, semi-natural woodland in Greater London. The new woodland will now be protected from development and important habitats, species and geology will be preserved. Regular maintenance work will be carried out by the council’s green spaces team to ensure that members of the public can enjoy the walking routes around the area.
Council management works will include coppicing, construction and maintenance of woodland furniture, clearance of non-native plant species and path and bridleway maintenance. The council is now applying for funding to employ an education officer for the area to deliver an environmental education programme to primary aged schoolchildren.
Cllr Jonathan Bianco, Hillingdon Council’s Cabinet Member for Finance, Property and Business Services, said: “Ruislip Woods encompasses one of the most extensive oak and hornbeam coppice woods in south east England, and it is imperative that we continue to protect ancient woodlands in our borough.
“Copse Wood is a really important area of land with many species of trees, plants and flowers, and we’re delighted that it will now become part of our nature reserve. Hillingdon is one of London’s greenest boroughs and the council will continue to invest in the management and protection of its woodlands, award-winning parks and open spaces
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