The River Crane and Duke of Northumberland's River form part of West London Green Chain, a twenty mile chain of interconnected green spaces that runs along the River Crane and its key tributary, the Yeading Brook, to the River Thames. It is recognised as a vital wildlife corridor, allowing the movement of birds and small mammals and the distribution of plant species through the urban landscape of west London. If you are not exactly sure where this area is then look at Streetmap. 

Friends Of the River Crane Environment  (FORCE) was formed in the summer of 2003 to represent the interests of local residents regarding the River Crane and Duke of Northumberland’s River and their respective corridors within the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and its environs, and to provide sustainable improvements to these environments for the benefit of local people and visitors, the flora and fauna.

FORCE was originally founded to counter the proposals put forward by Richmond Council in its UDP consultation document to remove Metropolitan Open Land status from various sites within the lower Crane Valley of north Twickenham and to open the area for development. The UDP went to Public Inquiry in December 2003 and the Inspector’s Report was issued to the public in March 2004, largely supporting FORCE’s case.

The group had decided at an early stage to produce positive alternative proposals for the Council and the Inspector to consider and these were developed as “Option Five”. Towards the end of 2004, when the group’s constitution was developed, FORCE made clear that its objectives had broadened to act as a Friends group for the interests of local residents, visitors and the environment throughout the Crane and DNR corridors of Richmond Borough. In 2005, FORCE revised the constitution to “The Borough of Richmond and its environs” so as to allow operations where the rivers lie local to the Borough boundary (in Crane Park for example where one bank is in Richmond and the other in Hounslow).

FORCE obtained registered charity status in February 2005. The objects of the group are:

• To operate for the benefit of the public, and with other interested parties, to protect and enhance the environment of the River Crane, the Duke of Northumberland’s River, their corridors and surrounding open spaces within the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and its environs, for the benefit of the ecosystem, residents and visitors.

• To advance the education of the public in the ecology, conservation, protection and improvement of the environment of the River Crane, the Duke of Northumberland’s River, their corridors and surrounding open spaces within the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and its environs.

FORCE aims to work in partnership with other organisations such as The British Trust for Conservation Volunteers (BTCV), The London Wildlife Trust (LWT), Richmond CVS, and London Borough of Richmond-upon-Thames

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