With a substantial funding of over half a million pounds, Tolworth Court Farm is poised to transform into a unique and thriving nature reserve, setting a new standard for London.
The grants include a £238,000 grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and £149,477 of additional support from the Mayor’s Rewild London Fund and ZSL. These will enable the council to maximise biodiversity at the site and continue to make Tolworth Court Farm an even more valuable nature reserve for wildlife and local communities.
Over the past two years, the council has meticulously crafted a rewilding vision for the site in a collaborative effort with Citizen Zoo and The Community Brain. This inclusive approach has involved comprehensive ecological surveys, community consultations, and investigation work to enhance the site’s cultural and natural heritage.
With the new funding, the project will now concentrate on revitalising the historic wetland habitats and enhancing the site’s significance for wildlife. A key initiative is the introduction of cows and pigs for ‘conservation grazing’, a practice that promotes ecological recovery and has already shown promising results over the past three years.
The Community Brain and Citizen Zoo will engage further to forge deeper connections between people and nature. So Kingston can create a greater sense of care for nature and wildlife in the borough.
Councillor Ian Manders, portfolio holder for Climate Action and Sustainable Transport, said:
“We are delighted to win this external funding for Tolworth Court Farm. This means we can transform the biggest nature reserve in our borough and restore it for the benefit of not only wildlife but also local residents.
“Kingston Council is committed to working with its partners to make the borough a greener place for all.”
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