Campaigns & projects

We support a wide range of projects and run campaigns that contribute to the future of the whole Wandle Valley.

Our current priorities are set out in the Wandle Valley Forum Charter and include campaigns to:

maintain, improve and complete the Wandle Trail along the full length of the river - including by closing gaps in the Wandle trail at Earlsfield and the Wandle Delta
raise awareness and improve management of the Wandle’s diverse cultural and industrial heritage, including its mills and landmark historic sites
realise the opportunity of the vast area of open space three times the size of Hyde Park stretching from Beddington to Mitcham as a major new open space for people and wildlife embracing Beddington Farmlands and the land north of BedZed to provide a major new public focus for the Wandle Valley
ensure new development along the Wandle respects and enhances its wildlife and public access and enjoyment
develop the Wandle’s identity as a source of business and economic success
support development of the Wandle as a “green valley” with a major focus on generating renewable energy for its communities
encourage use of the Wandle Valley for healthy outdoor activity, community volunteering and public events
secure full recognition of the Wandle Valley Regional Park from its four constituent London boroughs and the GLA, including campaigning for a review of the Lee Valley precept
connecting the Wandle Valley into the wider family of Regional Parks In London as as part of recognising London as a National Park City

Subscribe to our mailing list if you want to stay in touch and contact us if you would like to become more involved.

Wandle Vistas
The results of our collaborative project identifying and researching the Wandle Vistas, including the research reports and a compelling six minute video showing all the sites.

The project won the Royal Town Planning Institute award for "Excellence in Plan Making" and the Landscape Institute's Landscape Policy and Research Award.

Wandle Vistas - technical report Part 1
Wandle Vistas - technical report Part 2
Wandle Vistas Guide

You can explore some of the Wandle Vistas using our virtual toposcopes produced in collaboration with TiCL.

Older material

Closing the "Missing Link" in the Wandle Trail

The Wandle Trail is one of the jewels in the crown of the Wandle Valley. It provides near unbroken access along the river and links its sources in Croydon and Carshalton to the Thames near Wandsworth Bridge.

The main railway line into Waterloo creates a break in the Wandle Trail near Earlsfield and it is forced onto busy roads away from the river. There is a longstanding campaign to close this gap and continue the Wandle Trail under the bridge.

Both Merton and Wandsworth Councils have identified closing the "Missing Link" as a "priority project" in their Local Plans and Infrastructure Delivery Plans. It is eligible for funding from the community infrastructure levy placed on new development.

A feasibility study prepared by Merton Council offers a preferred option with support from Network Rail and Environment Agency costing c£1.1m.

We are working with local councillors, community and transport groups to persuade Wandsworth and Merton Councils to deliver the preferred option - it will transform the local area and provide a critical new route for walking, cycling and wheeling.

Wandle Year - click on the image above to watch our presentation on the Wandle Year covering the main issues we have been involved with in 2021 and 2022 as presented to our Annual Meeting in September 2022.

Controversy over replacement Mitcham Bridge

Merton Council's plans to replace the historic crossing of the Wandle at Mitcham Bridge have provoked widespread concern. They will require the felling of trees, demolition of an historic wall, tarmacing of protected green space and removal of Ravensbury Park's protection from air pollution and traffic noise. They also breach cycling standards. We have co-ordinated efforts in a joint letter from a wide cross section of local residents and active travel, environmental and community groups and highlighted that a less damaging design is possible which will deliver the bridge just as quickly. Our Chair, Tony Burton, spoke at the protest meeting in November 2020.

Wandle Delta Masterplan

Wandworth Council has produced a Masterplan for the Wandle Delta. We have developed key principles for the future development of this important part of the Wandle Valley to realise the strategic opportunities to:

enhance and extend the Wandle Trail to reach the Thames and provide new public realm and open space
better to link Wandsworth town centre and the Thames
deliver wider greening and public realm improvements.

Campaign to deliver Beddington Farmlands nature reserve

"the Council should now seek to discharge the relevant conditions without delay"
Local Government Ombudsman, 2015

Beddington Farmlands nature reserve was once a jewel in London's ecological crown. Its wildlife is now in shocking decline. The latest Breeding Birds survey shows eight species now extinct, failed or in drastic decline. The iconic tree sparrow has collapsed from a thousand birds to a single breeding pair in just a decade.

The reserve is now the site of a major new incinerator being developed by Viridor, who promised to restore the surrounding area and set targets for increasing key wildlife. A comprehensive management plan was drawn up to deliver an abundant nature reserve for local people. Planning permission for the incinerator was given by Sutton Council in 2013 conditional on this management plan being delivered.

The reality is very different. The incinerator is almost finished but the restoration plans have fallen way behind. Wildlife has collapsed and, despite the welcome arrival of the wildlife hides, There is next to no public access to enjoy this vast area of open space at the heart of the Wandle Valley Regional Park.

We are campaigning for an end to the delay. It is time to enforce the planning conditions and require Viridor to restore the site and deliver the nature reserve it promised. This should include access across the site and to key viewpoints.

Our latest petition secured support from over 6,500 people. It was presented to Sutton Council in October 2019 (along with our critique of the Officers Report). You can read our verbal representations at the Committee meeting. As a result of the campaign Viridor must report on progress every six months.

Hackbridge bridges

Watch the destruction of the Hackbridge bridges in this short video.