Friends Of the River Crane Environment
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Crane Park
Cow Parsley and Hawthorn in May
 November view of Shot Tower
 Winter view of Crane Park Island

Crane Park is one of the most important open spaces in Richmond (and Hounslow) Borough. Although used intensively by local people the park has not been actively managed to any extent in recent years and FORCE is keen to get involved in enhancing Crane Park as a vital area for human recreation and local wildlife.

FORCE's long term vision for Crane Park is to see it extended to include all the green spaces along the section of the Crane from the existing park down to Twickenham Railway station, including those sections to the south of the river that lie in the Borough of Hounslow.

FORCE is currently involved in Crane Park in a number of ways:

  • Enhancing the riverbank vegetation through the introduction of reeds downstream from Crane Park Island Nature Reserve.
  • Clearance of rubbish in the park and the river.
  • Supporting London Wildlife Trust by holding workdays on Crane Park Island Nature Reserve as well as supporting those already organised by LWT (two members of the current FORCE Committee also sit on the Management Steering Committee for Crane Park Island Nature Reserve).
  • Working with London Wildlife Trust and the local councils towards the development of a management plan for the whole of Crane Park.
  • Species monitoring.
Latest News:  
  • FORCE is involved at the consulting level in a number of potentially exciting large projects in Crane Park, including a possible extension to the park, a possible bicycle route through the park and discussions with other organisations along the entire Crane Valley. We hope to have news of the outcomes soon.
  • Transplanting reeds from Crane Park Island in order to establish areas of reed further downstream. Recent focus has been on the mud flat next to Hospital Bridge Road, where willows have been cleared and we have established a fledgling reed bed.
FORCE volunteers open the Shot Tower to the public on the first Sunday afternoon of each month from 13.30 until 16.00 - come along and meet us there.

FORCE