The Welsh Harp Joint Consultative Committee met virtually on Thursday 26 March 2026 to discuss ongoing management plans for the Welsh Harp reservoir and surrounding areas. The meeting's agenda included updates from both the London Borough of Barnet and the London Borough of Brent on their respective management plans, as well as reports from the Canal & River Trust and the Brent Catchment Partnership.

London Borough of Barnet - Welsh Harp Management Plan

The report from the London Borough of Barnet was scheduled to provide an update on council activities during Quarter 3 and 4 of the 2025/26 financial year concerning the Welsh Harp and West Hendon Playing Fields. It was noted that Barnet Council had spent over £210,000 on site improvements, including match funding for the CRT Wings on Water project and repairs to the footpath network. The council had also planned and funded 15 training and engagement sessions, and The Conservation Volunteers (TCV) had been running weekly habitat management days, contributing significant volunteer hours and collecting litter. Invasive Non-Native Species (INNS) had been treated across 2,775m², and daily litter and fly-tipping removal had taken place. The report highlighted progress under the Welsh Harp Vision, a document adopted in 2023 to improve the site for people and wildlife.

Specific areas of focus included:

• Care: Two major clearances of fly-tipping at Pristley Way were undertaken, and contractors were appointed to litter pick the bankside area upstream from the Silk Stream trash screen. Volunteer litter picking events, supported by Barnet Council and Phoenix Canoe Club, were also organised.
• Governance and Oversight: Barnet Council's involvement in the Thames21 Brent Catchment Partnership was detailed, including participation in INNS control groups and the development of an interactive map for INNS locations. The council continued to collaborate with Brent Council, the Canal and River Trust, the GLA, the London Wildlife Trust, and Thames 21 on the Welsh Harp Vision and Management Plan.
• Environment: Progress on the 'Wings on Water' project, aimed at restoring a large area of the North Marsh, was noted. The Welsh Harp was also part of a survey for German Hairy Snails by Citizen Zoo. TCV continued their habitat management sessions, and Barnet Council supported bird ringing activities.
• Wellbeing: The West Hendon Playing Fields project was progressing with a phased approach, focusing on improvements to existing facilities, including tennis courts, a new 3x3 basketball court, and a playground. Feasibility for a 3G pitch was also completed.
• Inclusion: £17,000 of capital funding was allocated for upgrading the footpath network to address waterlogging issues. Barnet Council also worked with the Canal & River Trust to agree locations for new interpretation panels detailing the site's biodiversity, history, and heritage.
• Planning Updates: Barratt Developments submitted information regarding the discharge of planning conditions for the consented Silkstream Bridge. This included details on materials, a Woodland Management Plan, an Ecological Management Plan, and Woodland/Bird Features. These documents were also to be reviewed by Natural England. Barratt's Building Relations Team were conducting ground investigation surveys for the bridge design. The report also detailed a planning enforcement case relating to a property in Woolmead Avenue, which had involved an enforcement notice and a retrospective planning application.

London Borough of Brent - Welsh Harp Management Plan

The report from the London Borough of Brent presented progress on the Brent Reservoir / Welsh Harp Management Plan, jointly managed by Brent Council, Barnet Council, and the Canal & River Trust. The report highlighted the Welsh Harp's contribution to the Borough Plan Priorities, including A Cleaner Greener Future, and its role in providing green space, opportunities for water sports, and contributing to flood control. The report referenced the Welsh Harp Vision, published in July 2023, which was developed by multiple partner organisations.

Key updates included:

• Marshland Work: Restoration efforts continued on the southern shore at Neasden Recreation Ground, with approximately 150 metres of marshland partially restored.
• Welsh Harp Centre: The centre, now known as the Welsh Harp Education Centre, was progressing with stage 2 design approval. It aims to provide vocational skills training for young people aged 16+ with special educational needs and disabilities. Recruitment for a staff member to oversee the centre was underway.
• Maintenance and Fly-tipping: Grounds maintenance continued, and issues relating to rough sleeping and fly-tipping were being managed. The FixMyStreet app was highlighted as a way to report litter and fly-tipping.
• Healthy Walks Programme: The walking programme continued with weekly walks on Thursdays.
• Invasive Species: Brent Council Parks Service continued to control invasive species at the Welsh Harp.
• Investigatory Works on the Dam Wall: Brent Council was enabling access via Neasden Recreation Ground for the Canal & River Trust to conduct tests on the dam wall infrastructure, commencing in February 2026.
• Interpretation: Brent Council Parks Service was preparing interpretative maps for park entrances and working with the Canal & River Trust on interpretation signage.
• Biodiversity Habitat Land Bank: Funding had been allocated to explore the creation of a habitat bank at Neasden Recreation Ground, with a scoping exercise underway.

Update from the Canal & River Trust

An update was scheduled from the Canal & River Trust regarding ongoing restoration works within the north marsh of the Welsh Harp, which had commenced in late October 2025 and were reported to be progressing well.

Brent Catchment Partnership: Update on Community Group Activities

The Brent Catchment Partnership was scheduled to provide an update on community engagement and activities undertaken by the organisations represented on the committee. This included a proposal to introduce a standing agenda item for updates on community activities, to be led by the Partnership.

Other Agenda Items

The agenda also included the approval of the minutes of the previous meeting, a review of matters arising, and a discussion on the date of future meetings.

The report pack also contained detailed information on the Silkstream Bridge Proposal, which had been a significant point of discussion in previous meetings. Concerns were raised by community groups regarding its environmental impact, potential maintenance costs for residents, and its necessity given changes to the original development plans. The report indicated that Barratt London was submitting details for discharging planning conditions related to the bridge's construction.

Additionally, the report pack included a detailed Action Plan for 2025-2026 for the Welsh Harp / Brent Reservoir Management Plan, outlining specific actions, lead organisations, budgets, timetables, and progress updates across various categories such as habitat management, invasive species control, and infrastructure maintenance.