Please sign this petition calling on Brent council to save the Wesh Harp Environmental Education Centre for future generations

 

I am grateful to Maya, Rochelle and Family for permission to use this video showing children's excitement and curiousity when engaging with nature.

  

“Bringing nature into the classroom can kindle a fascination and passion for the diversity of life on earth and can motivate a sense of responsibility to safeguard it.”  David Attenborough

 

I happened to be at the Welsh Harp Environmental Education Centre (WHEEC) yesterday when the doors to the classroom block were locked for the very last time after a youth group had left.

The dilapidated block will be demolished to be replaced by a SEND 16-25 Skills Centre that was planned to include a classroom for the WHEEC.

That is now in jeopardy after the withdrawal of Thames21 from running the Centre.

I agree, as a former teacher and an environmentalist, with what David Attenborough said. We cannot expect children to fight to maintain our biodiversity if they have not had a chance to experience it using all their senses. This becomes even more important at a time of climate and ecological crisis.

I have set up a petition supported by Brent Parks Forum and Brent Friends of the Earth calling on Brent Council to search for ways of continung the service. If you are one of the very many Brent residents whose children have used the Centre, or remember the thrill of using it yourself, or just  recognise what a great resource it is, please sign the petition and pass the link on to anyone else who may be interested. Please note the petition cn be signed by anyone of any age so do encourage your children to sign if they are interested

Thank you.

Martin Francis 

PETITION LINK 

Petition wording 

 

We the undersigned petition the council to scope out all opportunities to maintain primary provision at the Welsh Harp Environmental Education Centre following the withdrawal of Thames21 as a provider.

We residents and people who work or study in Brent * call on Brent Council to undertake a full scoping exercise to enable the work of the Welsh Harp Environmental Education Centre (WHEEC) with primary age children to continue. This work, which has been going on for more than half a century is even more important at a time of a climate and ecological emergency. It is imperative that the generation that will be dealing with this emergency in the future are enabled to experience and appreciate the natural world that is now under threat.

The scoping exercise should include talks with Careys, the local groundworks company that previously made a bid for the Centre and other local companies, organisations or charities that wish to make a commitment to children’s education and combatting climate change.

The Council should also revive the Consortium who were interested in a shared resource that would be based at the new build 16-25 Skills Centre to be used at times outside school hours including evenings and weekends.

A primary classroom with separate entrance and toilets should be provided within the new 16-25 Skills Centre for use by the WHEEC during school hours and school term times (60 primary pupils per day) as envisaged in the current plans. Thames21 withdrew from the WHEEC in July 2025 because they could no longer sustain the losses. Running costs should be less in a shared 16-25 new build Skills Centre compared with the dilapidated wooden classrooms that are due to be demolished.

Rental income could be earned both from letting out space at the Centre at evenings, weekends and during school holidays and from letting out the grounds for activities such as camping for guides, scouts, and Woodcraft Folk.

 

*Guidance from Brent Council:
 

A petition can be signed by a person of any age who lives, works or studies in Brent.
If you are signing a paper petition as a resident of the borough a check will normally
be made that you are a registered elector in the borough. If you sign a petition as
someone who is studying or working in the borough you should provide either your
home address or an address relevant to the petition i.e., your place of study or work.
If you add your name to an e-petition you will be asked for a personal e-mail address
and your post code. You may only sign any one petition once.

Started by: Martin Francis

This ePetition runs from 25/07/2025 to 05/09/2025.

Below is a video from Brent Council itself celebrating the Centre published some years ago.