Gunnersbury Triangle facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Quick facts for kids Gunnersbury Triangle
IUCN Category IV (Habitat/Species Management Area)

Location	Hounslow/Ealing
Nearest city	London, England
Governing body	London Wildlife Trust

Gunnersbury Triangle is a special nature reserve in London. It covers about 2.57 hectares (6.3 acres). This amazing green space is located in the boroughs of Ealing and Hounslow.

What makes it so special? In 1983, it was the first time in Britain that a public decision stopped a building project. This happened because the land was so important for nature. The reserve officially opened in 1985.

The area is mostly covered by birch trees. You can also find some rare wet woodlands with willow trees. There's even a small area of acid grassland where an old railway track used to be. Many different plants, birds, amphibians, and insects live here. The London Wildlife Trust helps manage and protect this reserve.

Staff and volunteers from the London Wildlife Trust take care of Gunnersbury Triangle. It is open for everyone to visit. They offer fun activities like wildlife walks and talks. Schools and community groups often visit to learn about nature. Companies also send teams to help with conservation work. You can find the entrance on Bollo Lane, near Chiswick Park Underground station.

A Special History: Saving Gunnersbury Triangle
Exploring the Reserve
Habitats and Wildlife
Learning and Fun at the Reserve
Why Gunnersbury Triangle is Important
- Amazing Animals and Plants
- Activities at the Reserve
Images for kids

A Special History: Saving Gunnersbury Triangle

Gunnersbury Triangle Poster London Wildlife Trust 1988

Gunnersbury Triangle local nature reserve campaign, 1988, showing children by the pond

Old maps from the 1800s show this area had orchards and gravel pits. The triangle shape of the reserve was formed by three railway lines. Two belonged to the District Railway (now the District line of London Underground). The third was from the London and South Western Railway, which is no longer used.

In the 1940s, people used parts of the triangle as vegetable gardens. But when a railway workshop was built, the bridge into the triangle was left unused. Over time, nature took over. Grasses and trees grew naturally, creating a wild space.

In 1981, there was a plan to build shops and offices on this land. But local people wanted to protect it. The Chiswick Wildlife Group started in 1982 to fight for the reserve. This group later became part of the London Wildlife Trust.

The fight to save Gunnersbury Triangle was one of the first big projects for the London Wildlife Trust. In 1983, a special meeting called a Public Inquiry was held. The decision was to save the land for nature. This was a huge win! It was the first time in the UK that nature conservation won over building plans in a city. Gunnersbury Triangle became an important example for other places.

The London Borough of Hounslow bought the land from British Rail. They got a grant to help pay for it. Since 1985, the London Wildlife Trust has managed the reserve. Both Hounslow and Ealing councils officially named parts of the triangle as local nature reserves.

In 2016, the volunteers at Gunnersbury Triangle won an award. It was called an RE:LEAF Acorn Award. They won it for their great work in protecting trees.

Exploring the Reserve

The former badger signboard, 2012

The wet woodland 'Mangrove Swamp' with willows

Gunnersbury Triangle is a classic "railway triangle." It's the space between three curving railway lines. To the west, there's the London Overground. To the south, the District line. And to the northeast, an old, unused railway track. Most of the area is now covered in trees. It is a local nature reserve and an important site for nature conservation in London.

Habitats and Wildlife

The reserve has different types of natural areas, called habitats. Each habitat is home to different plants and animals.

Woodlands

Birch Woodland: This is the biggest part of the reserve. You'll see many Silver birch trees here. There are also some willows, wild cherry, and sycamore trees. Smaller plants like hawthorn, elder, holly, and yew grow underneath. The ground is often covered in thick brambles and ivy. You might also spot ferns like male fern and lady fern.
Willow Woodland: This is a special wet woodland area, sometimes called the "mangrove swamp." It has different kinds of willow trees. You can find plants like honeysuckle, common horsetail, and yellow flag flowers here.

Grasslands and Meadows

Eastern Bank and Hedgerow: This area has rough grasses and a hedge. It's a sunny spot, which is great for butterflies. Look for holly blue, Essex skipper, and small skipper butterflies here.
North Neutral Meadow (Anthill Meadow): This meadow is bumpy because of mounds made by yellow meadow ants. You'll see different grasses and wildflowers like common vetch and white clover.
North Acid Meadow (Railway Track Acid Grassland): This part is on the old railway track. The ground is sandy and rocky. Small, fine grasses grow here, along with plants like sheep's sorrel.
Southwest Meadow (Picnic Meadow): This meadow has coarser grasses. You might see broom plants, which grew after a small fire.

Ponds and Water Areas

Pond dippers on Frog Day

Main Pond: This pond was dug in 1986. Its water level changes with the seasons. Many plants grow here naturally, like common reed, purple loosestrife, and yellow iris.

Six frogs spawning in the main pond

Small Pond: This pond also changes with the seasons. You can find plants like water plantain and bittersweet here.

Other Areas

Tall Herb Meadow: This small meadow has tall plants like cow parsley and hogweed. You might even see some daffodils that escaped from gardens.
Gardens: Near the entrance, there are gardens planted with wildflowers. Hedges with native trees and shrubs grow here too.
Infrastructure: This includes the hut and sheds used by the reserve staff.

Learning and Fun at the Reserve

A painter at work on the boardwalk over the pond

Many school groups visit Gunnersbury Triangle. About 1500 students come each year, especially in summer. They learn about grassland, woodland, and pond ecosystems.

The reserve is a great place to see wildlife. You can spot holly blue, peacock, and brimstone butterflies. A sparrowhawk might nest in a birch tree. You might also see jays, bees, and wood-mice. There are open areas for picnics. In autumn, you can even pick blackberries. The goal is to keep it feeling like a wild countryside spot in the middle of the city. Even if you see a train go by, the trees make you feel far away from the busy city.

The reserve is open to everyone. The London Wildlife Trust leads guided tours like "Fungus Forays" to find mushrooms and wildlife walks. On open days, staff and volunteers organize activities for kids and adults. These activities help people learn about nature in a fun way.

Bumblebee in Gunnersbury Triangle's wildflower demonstration meadow planted with cornflowers and poppies

Sometimes, companies send groups of volunteers to help. They do tasks like clearing overgrown plants or fixing paths and fences.

The London Wildlife Trust wants to keep the reserve healthy and full of different plants and animals. They do this by cutting back certain plants, mowing, and removing plants that don't belong. They want to keep the "wild" feeling of the place.

Why Gunnersbury Triangle is Important

Gunnersbury Triangle shows that amazing things can happen for nature, even in busy cities. It proves that you don't need a huge budget if people are willing to work together. These projects help nature and bring communities closer.

Amazing Animals and Plants

The Gunnersbury Triangle is home to a huge variety of living things. Here are just a few examples of the animals, insects, and fungi you might find there:

Animals You Might See
Mammals, Amphibians, and Birds Fox, Vulpes vulpes Bank vole, Myodes glareolus Bank vole eating mugwort seeds Wood mouse, Apodemus sylvaticus Grey squirrel, Sciurus carolinensis Toad, Bufo bufo Toads laying eggs Common frogs, Rana temporaria Smooth newt, Lissotriton vulgaris Sparrowhawk, Accipiter nisus Grey wagtail Blackcap, Sylvia atricapilla singing An adult and a young slowworm, Anguis fragilis Butterflies and Moths Peacock butterfly, Aglais io Red admiral, Vanessa atalanta Painted lady, Vanessa cardui Small skipper, Thymelicus sylvestris Essex skipper, Thymelicus lineola Large skipper, Ochlodes venatus Gatekeeper butterfly, Pyronia tithonus Holly blue, Celastrina argiolus Urban green-veined white, Pieris napi Small copper, Lycaena phlaeas Comma, Polygonia c-album Ringlet, Aphantopus hyperantus Knotgrass moth caterpillar, Acronicta rumicis Gypsy moth caterpillar, Lymantria dispar dispar Gypsy moth male Early grey moth, Xylocampa areola Buff-tip moth caterpillar, Phalera bucephala Silver Y moth, Autographa gamma Cinnabar moth, Tyria jacobaeae Cinnabar moth caterpillars Small china-mark moth, Cataclysta lemnata Common white wave moth, Cabera pusaria Box tree moth, Cydalima perspectalis Herald moth, Scoliopteryx libatrix Jersey tiger moth, Euplagia quadripunctaria Ruby tiger caterpillar, Phragmatobia fuliginosa Pupae of parasitoidal wasps on a caterpillar Dragonflies and Damselflies Female black-tailed skimmer dragonfly Southern hawker dragonfly Large red damselflies Bluetail damselfly Male common darter Immature female common darter Azure damselfly Pair of azure damselflies Willow emerald damselfly Pond Life Dragonfly nymph, beetle larva, damselfly nymphs, water fleas Leech Water scorpion Caddisfly egg mass Great ramshorn snail Other Insects and Arthropods Marble galls of gall wasp Stag beetle, Lucanus cervus Click beetle Rose chafer beetles Devil's coach horse beetle Carabid ground beetle Aphids and young Field grasshopper Meadow grasshopper Speckled bush cricket Ichneumon wasp Macrophya sawflies mating Male hairy-footed flower bee Female ivy bee Common carder bee Tree bumblebee nest Male long hoverfly Hoverfly Hoverfly on catsear Hoverfly Longhorn beetle Woodlice Spiders Anyphaena numida, a rare spider Sheetweb spider False widow spider Fungi Blusher mushroom Fly agaric Webcaps Honey fungus Mild milkcap Purple swamp brittlegill Rhodocybe gemina Lilac fibrecap Peeling oysterling Flat oysterling Sulphur tuft Pale brittlestem Giant funnel Clouded funnel Wood blewit Common cavalier Lepiota Rosy bonnet Twig parachute Waxcap fungus Sulphur Knight Coconut-scented milkcap Tawny funnel Charcoal burner Ashen knight Oyster mushrooms Puffballs Collared earthstar Tripe fungus Pestle puffball Brain jelly Pointed club Golden spindles Dotted stem bolete Brown birch bolete Turkeytail bracket fungus Lyophyllum ulmarium Birch Polypore Blushing bracket Hairy bracket Birch woodwart Oak pin Candlesnuff fungus Dead man's fingers Orange peel fungus Scarlet elf cup fungus Eyelash fungus Layered cup Tan ear Tar-Spot fungus Dog's vomit slime mould Plants and Flowers Common smoothcap moss White dead-nettle Green alkanet Male thick-kneed flower beetle on catsear Spanish bluebells Yellow iris or flag Spring show of forget-me-nots Celery-leaved buttercup Alexanders Evening primroses Scarlet pimpernel Purple loosestrife Ragwort Rosebay willowherb Teasel flowerhead Dog rose Redcurrant Broom Red campion Elder Dogwood Hemlock water dropwort Mallow Bindweed Narrow-Leaved hawksbeard Bittersweet Weld or dyer's rocket Horseradish

Activities at the Reserve

Here are some photos showing the educational and conservation work at the reserve.

Fun Activities
The welcome blackboard Making birdboxes Painting butterflies Demonstration beehive with a queen bee Collaborating on a bird canvas Pond dipping Making a 'stained glass window' flower Looking at a dragonfly nymph Cutting the cake to celebrate 30 years Volunteers clearing the picnic meadow Shovelling woodchips into sacks ...and loading the sacks into the LWT Land-Rover Using a circular saw Checking nestboxes for spiders Repaired nestboxes Putting up a nestbox Fixing a wooden railing Scything the Anthill Meadow Photographing a peacock butterfly Inspecting the moth trap Identifying a pug moth A group from Mace digging an extension to the main pond Instructing a Headstart group Volunteers cutting reeds and desilting the pond Weaving a hurdle deadhedge A corporate group digging out wet woodland Muddy volunteer after a morning's work Wheelbarrow and tools after a morning's work Mycologist Alick Henrici leading a Fungus Foray De-brambling the butterfly bank Cutting a fallen birch Planting a hazel hedge Sieving earth for demonstration meadow Sawing a board for a boardwalk School visit in springtime Education officer asks a question Carrying a birch log Teaching Landscape Design course students Hammering in a post Hammering in a post Card cutout ladybirds for children's nature trail Ladybird masks London Wildlife Trust staff with pond dipping gear Keeping path edges clear Entomologists on the hunt Entomologists beating oak leaves Entomologists examining their catch Smooth newt on a children's nature trail Clive Leeke teaching hedge laying A young entomologist at work Rupa Huq MP with volunteers Photographing a fly agaric Unloading logs for minibeast logpile Digging out wet woodland Painted wooden birds' eggs for an Easter nature trail Wooden leaves for a summer nature trail Staff and volunteers smoothing mud sofa Ivy leaf decoration LWT ecologist Tony Wileman on a plant survey Replacing a post in anthill meadow fence Volunteers cutting a willow tree felled by Storm Ciara

Images for kids

Old railway level indicator
Muntjac (Muntiacus reevesi) prints
Grey heron, Ardea cinerea
Speckled Wood, Pararge aegeria
Orange Tip, Anthocharis cardamines
Parasitoid wasp and its host
Harlequin ladybird nymph, Harmonia axyridis
Blusher mushroom, Amanita rubescens
Fly agaric, Amanita muscaria
Webcaps, Cortinarius
Honey fungus, Armillaria mellea
Mild milkcap, Lactarius subdulcis
Purple swamp brittlegill, Russula nitida
Rhodocybe gemina
Lilac fibrecap, Inocybe geophylla var. lilacina
Peeling oysterling, Crepidotus mollis
Flat oysterling, Crepidotus cf applanatus
Sulphur tuft, Hypholoma fasciculare
Brittlestem, Psathyrella multipedata
Giant funnel, Leucopaxillus giganteus
Clouded funnel, Clitocybe nebularis
Wood blewit, Lepista nuda
Common cavalier, Melanoleuca polioleuca
Lepiota cf. hystrix
Rosy bonnet, Mycena rosea
Twig parachute, Marasmiellus ramealis
Waxcap fungus, Hygrocybe, cf H. cantharellus
Sulphur Knight, Tricholoma sulphureum
Coconut-scented milkcap, Lactarius glyciosmus
Tawny funnel, Lepista inversa
Charcoal burner, Russula cyanoxantha
Ashen knight, Tricholoma virgatum
Tricholoma fulvum, birch knight
Oyster mushrooms, Pleurotus ostreatus var columbinus
Laccaria proxima, the scurfy deceiver
Hypholoma fasciculare, sulphur tuft
Laccaria amethystina, amethyst deceiver
Mycena olida, always on moss
Fairy inkcap, Coprinellus disseminatus
Puffballs, Lycoperdon perlatum
Collared earthstar, Geastrum triplex
Tripe fungus, Auricularia mesenterica
Pestle puffball Handkea (Calvatia) excipuliformis
Brain jelly Tremella sp.
Pointed club, Clavaria acuta
Golden spindles, Clavulinopsis fusiformis
Ramaria cf stricta, a coral fungus
Ramariopsis subtilis, a white coral fungus
Dotted stem bolete, Neoboletus luridiformis
Brown birch bolete, Leccinum scabrum
Turkeytail bracket fungus, Trametes (Coriolus) versicolor
Lyophyllum ulmarium on ivy-clad elder
Birch Polypore, Fomitopsis betulina
Blushing bracket, Daedaleopsis confragosa
Hairy bracket, Trametes hirsuta
Laxitextum bicolor
Ganoderma adspersum, Southern bracket
Birch woodwart Hypoxylon multiforme
Oak pin, Cudoniella acicularis
Candlesnuff or stag's horn fungus, Xylaria hypoxylon
Dead man's fingers, Xylaria polymorpha
Orange peel fungus, Aleuria aurantia
Scarlet elf cup fungus, Sarcoscypha austriaca
Eyelash fungus, Scutellinia scutellata
Layered cup, Peziza varia
Tan ear, Otidea alutacea
Tar-Spot fungus, Rhytisma acerinum
Dog's vomit slime mould, Fuligo septica
Redcurrant, Ribes rubrum
Borage, Borago officinalis
Common vetch, Vicia sativa
Garlic mustard, Alliaria petiolata
Cut-leaved cranesbill, Geranium dissectum
Herb Robert, Geranium robertianum
Smooth sow-thistle, Sonchus oleraceus
Ribbed Melilot, Melilotus officinalis
Greater Celandine, Chelidonium majus
Oxeye Daisy, Leucanthemum vulgare
Poppy, Papaver rhoeas
Tufted Vetch, Vicia cracca
Meadow Vetchling, Lathyrus pratensis
Broad-leaved dock, Rumex obtusifolius
Buddleia, Buddleja sp.
Pendulous Sedge in flower
Woven hazel deadhedge
Flash flooding of path
Coppicing sycamore
Digging out holm oak stumps
Scooping mud from the pond
Storm Eunice fells dead birch
Repaired rail
Storm Eunice blocks boardwalk
Cherry tree and hazels fallen after Storm Franklin
Cherry tree and hazels cut
Winching strop around birch trunk
Winching a birch tree trunk
Birch trunk winched down
Nature Trail Stag beetle
Nature Trail Red Wood Ant
Nature Trail Common Blue Damselfly
Nature Trail Flesh Fly
Hedge, 4 years after laying
Laminating nature information signs
Tamping a new information signpost

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