Funding boost for Tolworth Court Farm

Tolworth Court Farm is set to become one of London's leading rewilding nature reserves, thanks to more than half a million pounds of funding.

The grants include £238,000 from The National Lottery Heritage Fund along with £149,477 of additional support from the Mayor’s Rewild London Fund and ZSL - the Zoological Society of London. The funding will enable the council to maximise biodiversity at the site and continue to make Tolworth Court Farm an even more valuable nature reserve for wildlife and local communities.

In the past two years, in partnership with Citizen Zoo and The Community Brain, the council has been preparing a co-curated rewilding vision for the site.

The partners have carried out comprehensive ecological surveys, community consultations and investigation work to understand what conservation measures can be implemented, all whilst working with communities and volunteers to enhance the site’s cultural and natural heritage. With the new funding, the project will now focus on restoring the historic wetland habitats and maximising the site's significance for wildlife.

Cows and pigs will be introduced to the site for “conservation grazing” which will promote ecological recovery - an initiative that the council has started implementing over the past three years. Further engagement will be conducted by The Community Brain and Citizen Zoo to forge deeper connections between people and nature - so Kingston can create a greater sense of care about nature and wildlife in the borough.

Councillor Ian Manders, Portfolio Holder for Climate Action and Sustainable Transport said: “We are delighted to win this external funding for Tolworth Court Farm.

“This means we can transform the biggest nature reserve in our borough and restore it for the benefit of not only wildlife, but also local residents.

"Kingston Council is committed to working with its partners to make the borough a greener place for all.”

As part of this project, Kingston Council has also received funding from the Capital Parks Programme, Kingston Council’s South of the Borough Neighbourhood Community Infrastructure Levy and ZSL.