Ealing Council has been awarded nearly £1 million to support its ambitious plans for a new regional park in the borough, as part of a nationwide initiative to bring nature into urban areas.
The funding will go towards creating a 586-hectare park, connecting previously isolated green spaces and establishing a heritage trail designed to link communities with local wildlife and cultural landmarks.
Ealing’s scheme is one of the largest projects in the first phase of the UK’s new “Nature Towns and Cities” programme, which is distributing £15.5 million across 40 towns and cities. Led by the National Trust, Natural England and the National Lottery Heritage Fund, the initiative aims to put nature on people’s doorsteps, with a longer-term ambition to raise £1 billion by 2035.
The proposed park will stretch eight kilometres, following the River Brent from Horsenden Hill in the north of the borough to Warren Farm in the south. The green corridor will offer improved walking and cycling routes along with increased biodiversity, better flood protection and space for recreation.
Speaking to EALING.NEWS, Steve Toft, trustee for Brent River Park charity, said: “It’s great news that Ealing Council has secured £1m of funding for the regional park. It comes at an opportune time, in the 50th anniversary year of the Brent River Park and with the creation of new Local Nature Reserves imminent.”
Mr Toft added: “We are fortunate in Ealing to have this incredible connected park – a safe space for a quarter of London’s skylarks – but there is still much to do. We will continue to work with the council to protect and enhance our park. The climate and biodiversity crisis means we need Urban Countryside more than ever, so let’s ensure it is protected for another 50 years.”
The design concept for the park was developed by architects Prior and Partners, who helped to create the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in East London for the 2012 London Olympic Games.
In March 2025, Ealing Council launched a public consultation on the plans, which ran from 10 March to 6 April 2025.
Councillor Blerina Hashani, cabinet member for thriving communities, said at the time: “We want the regional park to be more than a day out and offer something for lovers of nature, culture and play.”
Councillor Hashani added: “The concept plan includes exciting ideas ranging from a sports hub at Warren Farm, cycle trails and yoga to play areas and an amphitheatre for cultural events. But we want to hear your views on the regional park and the concept plan.”
Council leader Councillor Peter Mason said: “The regional park could transform the health and wellbeing of people across west London for generations to come. It will act as a green lung for London and tackle the impact of climate change by improving air quality, protecting the borough from flooding and providing habitat for wildlife.”
