The Welsh Harp Joint Consultative Committee met on 21 July 2025 to discuss updates to the Welsh Harp Management Plan from both the London Borough of Barnet and Brent Council, as well as an update from the Canal & River Trust. The committee was also scheduled to elect a chair and vice-chair for the 2025-26 municipal year. The meeting was held online and was available for the press and public to follow via a live webcast.

Welsh Harp Management Plan Updates

The committee was scheduled to discuss updates to the Welsh Harp Management Plan from both the London Borough of Barnet and Brent Council. The Welsh Harp Management Plan is jointly managed by Brent Council, the London Borough of Barnet, and the Canal & River Trust.

London Borough of Barnet

The London Borough of Barnet's update included activities related to the management and operation of West Hendon Playing Fields and the Welsh Harp.

The report noted that a significant fly tip clearance was carried out on the east bank of the Silk Stream behind the Ramsey Close properties in late April 2025. There were also consistent fly tipping issues at Priestly Way, and the council was considering introducing CCTV in the area to prevent further issues and support enforcement.

The council is a member of the Thames 21 Brent Catchment Partnership and continues to work with stakeholders on issues facing the Brent River catchment, including the Welsh Harp. The council has engaged a specialist contractor for spraying of giant hogweed, with 2775 square metres treated to date. Japanese knotweed treatment is also in progress.

An update on the West Hendon Playing Fields master plan was scheduled to be reported to the council's cabinet on 22 July 2025, highlighting a phased approach to delivering the plan.

The council has produced a plan relating to the use of a £220,531.05 contribution from the West Hendon Waterside Development for improvements and mitigation works to the Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). The proposal includes:

• Match funding of the Canal & River Trust bid for restoration of the North Marsh
• Upgrade of the footpath network
• Habitat management
• Community engagement, training and site stewardship
• Collection of baseline data through ecological surveys and citizen science events

The council was alerted to concerns relating to the SSSI as a result of development from a property in Woolmead Avenue. An appeal was issued in 29 January 2025 and the council's decision was upheld. An independent inspector has provided up to 29 July 2025 to comply with the terms of the enforcement notice or obtain relevant consents. The council will continue to monitor.

Barratt London provided a briefing to members on 29 May to update councillors on the progress being made on the Silkstream Bridge proposals.

The report included an appendix detailing the Welsh Harp S106 proposal for 2025/2026. A majority of the funding (£150,000) will be used as match funding for the Canal and River Trust's successful bid to Kusuma Trust for the project 'Wings on Water – Rescuing London's Flyway (WOW).

The total project spans 36 months, and an investment from Kusuma will enable the delivery of critical capital work over 12 months to restore wetlands, remove invasive species, and reinstate channels and pools.

Drawing on proven methods from the Eastern Marsh Pilot, cutting back willow vegetation will promote reed growth, improving breeding success through the creation of open spaces. Volunteers will play a key role in ongoing maintenance and surveys, tackling pollution and invasive species to maintain ecological balance. Citizen science initiatives will empower residents, including those in nearby tower blocks, to monitor wildlife, fostering a deeper connection to nature and building healthier, happier communities in inner-city London.".

In addition to the work proposed by the Canal and River Trust, further work will be carried out on the terrestrial areas of the SSSI, including:

• Upgrade of footpath network
• Habitat management
• Community engagement, training and site stewardship
• Collection of baseline data through ecological surveys and citizen science events

London Borough of Brent

The London Borough of Brent's report presented progress on the Welsh Harp / Brent Reservoir Management Plan since the last meeting of the committee and during the 2025/26 year to date.

Following the re-commencement of coppicing¹ and other works in early 2025, the work took a pause during the bird breeding season. Works are planned to restart in the autumn of 2025. The project is led by the Canal & River Trust, The Conservation Volunteers, Welsh Harp Sailing Association and Brent Council Parks.

The Conservation Volunteers have continued a two-year programme of events in Brent, focused on parks and other sites that have, to date, received only limited or no conservation volunteer activity. Seasonal works continued at Neasden Recreation Ground during the spring and summer of 2025.

The issues of littering and fly-tipping have continued. Brent Council have removed fly-tipping on the Brent-side banks of the River Brent at Staples Corner near to Priestley Way.

Following a consultation meeting with stakeholders in June 2025, the council with the project design team has developed the RIBA stage 2 concept design for the Welsh Harp Centre. The Stage 2 concept design report has been issued to stakeholders for review and feedback.

The walking programme continues. The Welsh Harp walks are on Thursdays from 10am to 11am, meeting at the Welsh Harp Open Space end of Birchen Grove, Kingsbury NW9.

The Canal & River Trust unveiled their commissioned sculpture, created by Phil Neal at the Welsh Harp on 16 May 2025. The event was hosted at the Welsh Harp Sailing Association base. In time the sculpture will be moved to a permanent location, overlooking the reservoir, at Neasden Recreation Ground. The sculpture includes parts of the pulley blocks and chains that were part of the sluice gate mechanism that were salvaged during the 2024 works on the dam wall.

The Parks Service has continued to control Giant Hogweed and Oak Processionary Moth, both at the Welsh Harp Open Space.

The report included an appendix detailing the Welsh Harp / Brent Reservoir Management Plan: Action Plan for 2025-2026.

Canal & River Trust Update

The Canal & River Trust were scheduled to provide a verbal update to the committee.

Election of Chair and Vice-Chair

Councillor representatives on the Joint Consultative Committee were asked to elect a Chair and Vice-Chair for the 2025-26 Municipal Year. In accordance with the JCC Constitution, the nominee for position of Chair in 2025-26 should be from amongst the council members appointed by the London Borough of Brent. The nominee for Vice-Chair should be from amongst the council members appointed by the London Borough of Barnet.