Harrow Labour brings the community together to turn Headstone Manor Park into a model for flood risk management.
Following a major multi-year project to restore Headstone Manor Museum, Harrow’s Labour ran Council made a successful bid to the Parks for People funding stream through the National Lottery Heritage Fund and National Lottery Community Fund. This bid was for a long-term scheme to restore and rejuvenate Headstone Manor Park to Green Flag status and tackle problems of flooding and pollution in the Yeading Brook.
Local Councillors have worked to make sure this project solves the flooding issue faced by Harrow residents. As part of the revamping of the park, 120 metres of the Yeading Brook was de-culverted and realigned to reduce flood risk and improve wildlife habitat. A 9,000-square-metre wetland was created to manage flood risk and tackle pollution through a network of sedimentation ponds and reed beds. This substantially reduced pollution from road run-off, misconnections, and sewage overflows into the Yeading Brook and the moat which surrounds the Grade 1 Listed Manor House.
The surrounding park was substantially remodelled with 4,000 metres of footpaths created or restored, including a circular route for walking, and exercising and seven new bridges installed over the new watercourses. On the re-profiled bank of the Yeading Brook a picnic area and refurbished children’s play area were created.
A new orchard was planted adjacent to the manor house with 166 heritage fruit trees and 50 more trees planted in the park, along with 1,700 native tree whips. The project also included an activity plan for the community and funded an Outdoor Learning Officer working in conjunction with Harrow Council, the Friends of Headstone Manor, and other partners to deliver a wide range of activities and events for visitors of all ages across the park and in the purpose-built outdoor learning area.
Alongside this project, a 20,000-cubic-metre flood alleviation scheme was created funded by Thames Water, the Environment Agency, and Thames Regional Flood Coastal Committee. The work involved the excavation of 49,000 cubic metres of soil, of which 34,000 cubic metres were used to level and landscape the park, with the remaining 15,000 cubic metres utilised to landscape other parks and open spaces within the Borough.
The de-culverted Yeading Brook, Headstone Manor Park The new wetland reed bed, Headstone Manor Park Headstone Manor Park has once again become the central point of many community initiatives and volunteer events following the official opening on 10 September 2021.