Cool Oak

Environmental pressure group reversing decades of neglect at London’s Brent Reservoir (Welsh Harp) SSSI.

[Ben Watt @ben_watt]

Good to see Labour’s @SteveReedMP promising a ‘commitment to revive wetlands’. Maybe he can knock some sense into @BarnetLabour and get them to block @BarrattPlc planned 200m footbridge that’ll destroy part of Brent Reservoir SSSI. A no-brainer, surely?

https://t.co/lMBupLVXMf

[Friends of the Welsh Harp @welshharpies]

On the 26.2.23 and the 26.3.23 there were 2 huge community volunteer efforts to clear tonnes of rubbish from the Silk Stream area of the Welsh Harp SSSI. At that point, this pile was easily accessible from the estate hoardings, and @BarnetCouncil were meant to collect it.

[Ben Watt @ben_watt]

First of the new tern rafts going in at Brent Reservoir. Someone should be happy.

Thanks @CanalRiverTrust @CRTSouthEast @welshharpgroup

[Ben Watt @ben_watt]

Was at Brent Reservoir today. Props to @CanalRiverTrust for riverbank clearance. Lots of fallen trees, debris removed. Trash screen grill also unclogged by @EnvAgencySE. Will stop overtopping of effluence, plastics into SSSI woodland. *salutes*

(Inspired by @CoolOakGroup) ✊🌿

[Ben Watt @ben_watt]

Dam repairs have overrun at Brent Reservoir. @NaturalEngland are letting @CanalRiverTrust delay the refill until mid-April. It will LITERALLY kill the breeding season at a major SSSI. 8 months of planning, yet three empty months wasted, a stupidly late start, no contingency 🤬

[Cool Oak @CoolOakGroup]

Surely @NaturalEngland must reject @CanalRiverTrust’s request for a works extension to the Brent Reservoir dam repairs into the breeding season, and propose a postponement until September.

https://t.co/TRFaoRFfQD

[Ben Watt @ben_watt]

 V real prospect @CanalRiverTrust (currently spending £750k on Brent Reservoir dam repairs) will twist NE’s arm into works extension past Mar 1 and into breeding season at a key SSSI. If so, effect on wildlife could be disastrous. Mothball works until Sept. Best option surely!

[Cool Oak @CoolOakGroup]

We've just posted a campaign update to kickstart the new year!

Find out about the ongoing draining of the reservoir, new restoration projects, the battle to save the fragile north marsh, the future for one of reservoir's most famous species, and more.

https://t.co/X9hLtpufTo

[Ben Watt @ben_watt]

With Brent Reservoir SSSI now mostly drained for dam repairs, it’s depressing how little debris removal ⁦@CanalRiverTrust⁩ are undertaking in spite of fizzy PR campaign promises. A parking meter currently sits in shallow water by the bridge.

[Cool Oak @CoolOakGroup]

Lazy journalism from @bktimes and @Reaidi_. The draining of Brent Reservoir is primarily for statutory dam repairs. A tiny fraction of the budget is going towards a clean-up and habitat works. Most of the rubbish will be untouched. Tell the real story.

https://t.co/O2imctoyeg

[Ben Watt @ben_watt]

Yesterday @thameswater ‘discovered’ (owned up to) 12 new sewage overflows that currently all feed into Brent Reservoir SSSI. As if we hadn’t already guessed. You can’t make this up. Take a stand. ✊🌿🦢

(Thanks for the heads up, @Feargal_Sharkey)

[Ben Watt @ben_watt]

2 metres down and counting. The slow emptying of Brent Reservoir continues. Huge delta of black silt and scattered debris. Original meandering course of two rivers revealed along the reservoir bed. This was once a valley with fields.

[Cool Oak @CoolOakGroup]

Brent Reservoir will be drained for three months this winter. We look at @CanalRiverTrust's plans.

https://t.co/cWPPLvi7Li

[Cool Oak @CoolOakGroup]

30% of the north marsh still brutally threatened by the planned @Barrattplc and @BarnetCouncil footbridge, but this is GREAT news for unaffected areas.

[Ben Watt @ben_watt]

Fought for 2 yrs with @CoolOakGroup to help my local Brent Reservoir SSSI following years of neglect.

Today owner @CanalRiverTrust confirmed they’re preparing a 5 yr restoration plan and 30 yr stewardship plan for the fragile marshes.

Win! 🎉

[Cool Oak @CoolOakGroup]

It all reads well - and the public response is great - but decades of pollution build-up from untreated water, toxic silt and plastics will continue to blight the protected SSSI marshes and wildlife until real money is found to address it. 2/2

[Cool Oak @CoolOakGroup]

Props to @CanalRiverTrust for this appeal to help clean up Brent Reservoir, but 5 days of large debris removal by contractors and a few shoreline litter-picks by volunteers will barely scratch the surface of what needs to be done. 1/2

https://t.co/czETK2KOaR

[Cool Oak @CoolOakGroup]

@bktimes Misleading article. It’s being drained to allow £750k sluice repairs to dam. While empty, contractors will spend just 2 days lifting a few items off the marsh. Public won’t be allowed anywhere near, yet being asked to fund £15k shoreline litterpicking.

[Ben Watt @ben_watt]

Great to see @tomheapmedia’s latest Climate Show shine a light on the plight of Brent Reservoir with @Feargal_Sharkey and Ben Morris’s @BrentPollution team.

Inspired? Follow our local campaign at @CoolOakGroup

https://t.co/IXVXVaUyjc

[Ben Watt @ben_watt]

The reed warblers have finished breeding, so had a great morning scything and trampling reeds at Brent Reservoir to improve views from main hide. One day we’ll get a digger from ⁦@CanalRiverTrust⁩ to reshape the reed bed. Until then, it’s old school volunteer labour. 💪🌿🦢

[Cool Oak @CoolOakGroup]

Experienced birders, we need you. Newcomers, you are welcome. Walk round the SSSI reservoir and green spaces to find as many different species as possible from dawn until dusk. Come for an hour or so, or bird all day. Main hide open 🦢🌿🔍