The existing classroom is used to host regular education events and open days, attended by local children and community groups. We are also a popular destination for local schools, who do not have their own outdoor space to offer their children but without enhanced facilities we are limited as to what we can offer.
Improving our space will enable us to offer the facility to the wider community to hold events and allow us to attract more people to the reserve, bringing them closer to the natural world. currently we host a variety of events such as open days, bat walks, nature trails, story telling, bird box making and pond dipping. we also host a regular art group. having a classroom on site is a huge benfit for these groups, providing shelter from the elements, facilities and space to review and discuss what they've leraned out in the reserve.
for more info please see http://littenreservefriends.webs.com/

What we'll deliver:

• Create storage for tools and dry room for wet weather clothes
• Transform the existing classroom, into a warm, clean, safe, practial and sustainable community space.
• Paint walls inside and out
• Rewire the electrics and upgrade the heating

Why it's a great idea:

This project will allow us to ensure the future of the building and accommodate even more visitors. In a highly built up area, the opportunity for local people to access outdoor learning within a nature reserve will it make a real difference in the area.
Many of these are regular users, coming back to visit or are part of ongoing ground breaking projects. For example, we have supported the facilitation of Belvue High School, a local special school, in their delivery of the ASDAN programme which furnishes young people with skills for the workplace. The students would be involved in looking after the renovated space.
The transformation of the space would present opportunities for a wider range of local people to get involved from conception to completion, having input in to how the new space will look and be used.

Steps to get it done:

• purchase materials and do the work with local volunteers and professionals

The Litten is also of historic significance. Originally a garden for Greenford House in the early 1800's, it was continually occupied until 1940 when a bomb landed in the garden (now a pond) and damaged the house. The house was demolished in the 1950's. The council designated the area as a local Nature Reserve in the late 1950's and when its future was threatened in the 1980's, the Friends of the Litten Reserve were formed. The reserve is managed by Ealing Council's Park Ranger team.
We have strong support from Ealing Council, making this regeneration project feasible as no additional permissions are required. Other supporters include the Greenford Green Ward Forum, local schools, nurseries and the Friends of the Litten.
This season we’ve had over 2000 visitors from the local community, including residents, schools and nurseries, play centre groups, youth organisations, volunteers, trusts for conservation, ecological experts, bird watchers, art groups and bee keepers.