Three years of restoration work start at nature reserve (From Harrow Times)

Three years of Heritage Lottery Grant funded restoration work starts at Bentley Priory Open Space

8:30am Saturday 19th January 2013 in News By Emma Innes

Three years of restoration work are to take place in a Harrow nature reserve.

The Heritage Lottery Fund is paying for large areas of overgrown scrubland in Bentley Priory Open Space to be turned into wildflower meadows.

The first phase of the work started on Monday and is expected to be finished by the end of February.

It will see the removal of invasive overgrowth to admit light and to encourage the recreation of meadowland.

The nature reserve is part of the Green Belt, it is also designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest because of the uncommon habitats and rare wildflowers it contains.

Councillor Susan Hall, leader of Harrow's Conservative group, said: “This is fantastic news for Bentley Priory, and the Heritage Lottery funding has resulted from the hard work put in by our council officers and others.

"But I’d also like to pay particular tribute to councillors Camilla Bath and Joyce Nickolay for really taking the lead in obtaining this funding.

"Camilla and Joyce are two of the unsung heroes of Harrow Council.

"Their local residents in Rayners Lane and Stanmore Park, and indeed anyone who has ever had the pleasure of their support when dealing with a problem, will know this.

"They do so much behind the scenes and are always working in Harrow’s best interests.

"Their efforts in applying for and obtaining this funding cannot be overstated, and I’m so pleased that these exciting plans are now becoming a reality.”