Cows, pigs and wetlands: Wild Tolworth is underway!

Wild Tolworth, a collaborative project between Kingston Council, Citizen Zoo and The Community Brain, is improving the Tolworth Court Farm Fields site as a haven for nature, which can be enjoyed by all.

The project is being funded from awards of nearly a quarter of a million pounds from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, £150,000 from the Mayor of London’s Rewild London Fund, £100,000 of council capital, £20,000 from the Zoological Society of London, and £20,000 of Neighbourhood Community Infrastructure Levy funding.

The restoration of a wetlands area is underway and expected to take four to five weeks. This part of the project will provide a vital habitat for a range of wildlife, while increasing the presence of bird and amphibian species.

An added benefit of the new wetlands is its role in flood prevention by storing surface runoff and slowing water entering the Hogsmill river, which is particularly important as our changing climate is likely to bring frequent and intense rainfall.

An accessible boardwalk traversing the wetland area will be installed as part of the project, ensuring everyone can experience this unique habitat up close.

Councillor Ian Manders, Portfolio Holder for Climate Action, Biodiversity and Planning Policy said:

“I am delighted that the next phase of Wild Tolworth is underway. The introduction of cows and pigs, along with the new wetland area, will significantly improve biodiversity at Tolworth Court Farm.

 

“We are custodians of the natural environment, and through projects like this we can give nature a helping hand while ensuring it can be enjoyed by residents for generations to come.”

Elliot Newton, Director of Rewilding, Citizen Zoo said:

“Wild Tolworth is set to become one of the UK’s most ambitious urban rewilding programmes, proving that even suburban areas can offer high-quality nature on people’s doorsteps. 

 

“We aim to challenge perceptions of how much nature our neighbourhoods can and should support, helping people rediscover local wildlife and take pride in where they live.

 

“By transforming green spaces into vibrant, biodiverse habitats, Wild Tolworth will support wellbeing and build resilience to climate change. Our goal is to create a national exemplar, showing how urban rewilding can restore nature and reconnect communities with the wild.”

Dr Robin Hutchinson MBE, Director, The Community Brain said:

“Wild Tolworth is a fabulous opportunity to engage local communities in rewilding their own area and bring home the importance of increasing biodiversity at a local level. 

 

“Tolworth Court Farm Fields sits cheek by jowl with a major trading estate as well as residential and commercial spaces. 

 

“We want to ensure that the work undertaken through Wild Tolworth is taken out into these spaces too and that we encourage policy makers and planners to recognise the steps that can be taken to rewild our suburban and urban areas.”

Another element of Wild Tolworth is the reintroduction of grazing in the form of cows and pigs. Their varied grazing habits will help to naturally improve plant diversity, aerate the soil and create mosaic of habitats, leading to a healthier ecosystem for species.

Secure fencing will be installed in early July which will allow the cows to roam freely within designated areas, with each one being fitted with a special collar to help keep them where they’re meant to be while retaining public access through the site at all times.

Wild Tolworth isn’t just about wildlife, it’s about people too. The Community Brain and Citizen Zoo will be hosting a variety of events and activities over the coming months where people can learn more about the project and the variety of wildlife which calls the site home.

Keep an eye on Citizen Zoo’s website for regular updates and opportunities to get involved.