Introduction
Working closely with residents, community groups, and relevant experts, Ealing Council would like to create a new regional park in the borough; the first in west London.
A regional park is much larger (over 400 hectares) than a standard park, most of which is open to the public, easily accessible by public transport and managed to a high standard. It includes a range of facilities that bring recreational, cultural and nature related benefits.
We think this is an exciting idea, which will bring many different benefits right across the borough, including to our health, climate change, the arts and culture scene, education and it will also create more well-paid jobs.
We will be sharing information and talking with you throughout the design process and there will be plenty of opportunities for you to tell us what you think and to ask us questions.
To start the process, the council ran a public consultation between October and December 2023 to understand what is important to you about a new regional park. You can view the consultation findings on this website.
We have created these pages to share information with you. On these pages you can find out more about what a regional park is, what a regional park will bring to the borough, and we will share the feedback you give us about the plans.
You can also read the regional park report which was agreed by Ealing Council’s Cabinet – the council’s main decision-making committee – in September 2023.
We will update these pages regularly, and signpost you to more information wherever we can.
Background
In April 2019, Ealing Council declared a climate emergency, promising to treat the climate and ecological emergency as a crisis needing immediate and vital action. Our aim is to become carbon neutral, as a borough and an organisation by 2030. You can find out why reducing carbon is necessary to protect the environment and how we can all play our part in doing this, by reading this easy read guide to climate change.
Climate change is driving a rapid decline in biodiversity here in Ealing, and around the world. Lots of species of insects, animals, trees and plants are under threat of extinction. The loss of green spaces and places also makes it harder to reduce carbon emissions. You can read how trees and plants help to fight climate change on the Woodland Trust’s website.
Biodiversity is essential for the processes that support all life on earth, including humans. Without a wide range of animals, plants, and microorganisms, healthy ecosystems can’t survive. We need to begin to restore natural habitats, increase biodiversity and provide space for nature to re-establish itself.
Responding to the climate crisis is just not possible without creating more space for nature.
Our Council Plan 2022-2026 sets the vision and strategy for the next four years and includes the promises we have made to improve the lives of Ealing’s residents, businesses, and other stakeholders.
Climate action is one of three main objectives. We have committed to:
- create 10 new parks and open spaces
- give back to nature 800,000 m2 (the same as 130 football pitches) through re-wilding and re-introducing wildlife
- pioneer 10 new community growing spaces
Furthermore, we have pledged to make our streets and open spaces more beautiful and resilient through planting another 50,000 trees and increasing the proportion of the borough covered by tree canopies to 25% by doubling the number of trees we plant each year, ensuring every town has access to wild fruit.