If you happen to visit Greenford town centre on a Saturday, do pop in to see if anyone is working at the close by Costons Nature Reserve. There it was that I met Sean today, who showed me some of the new additions that have recently appeared.
These include bat and birdhouses in the trees, several areas with bird feeders, two slow worm “hotels” (yes they have been seen there) and the new wetland where ducks have already taken up residence. I learnt that years ago, the nearby Costons brook used to flow this way,‡ although now it flows to the east of this location. The photos of the pond were taken from where a hide will be erected in the future so that one can spot the visiting birds.
I also saw the remains of around 20 bee hives, which were maintained by a local bee keeper as recently as two years ago. So 2022 is shaping up to be a very interesting one for this new local nature reserve.
‡According to Openstreetmap, Costons Brook has two sources, one in Northolt village to the west and a second at Grove farm near Sudbury Hill station. If anyone reading this can verify either of these as the “true” source of the brook, I would be very grateful!
I was the one who updated the coston’s brook on OSM.I remember seeing something on brent river environment association ‘s Facebook the coston’s brook being in belvue park. And for grove farm they said near David Lloyd’s grounds so I thought it was the stream in grove farm as they are right next to each other.If I am wrong I apologize and could you please update the map.
Perhaps the Grove farm friends have more information? I will try to contact them to ask.
Hi Henry,
Anna from Friends of Grove Farm here. Just read your interesting post. The Park Rangers told me that the brooks at Grove Farm do run into Coston’s brook. I’m not sure what makes a “true” source, but our brooks have very little water in them most of the time unless there is rain.
Hello Anna,
Are you aware of the water flowing out of the pipe in the right hand side near to where the 2 paths meet the entrance from Whitton Avenue. It runs the entire right length of the park before becoming culvertised under the train tracks.
Thanks Anna. Great to hear from you! Openstreet maps also shows another Coston’s brook, with the source in Northolt village: https://www.openstreetmap.org/search?query=costons%20brook#map=18/51.54422/-0.37026 where water flows all year round. The two Coston’s brooks may well merge near Oldfield Lane/North/South.
Talking of true sources, the river Lea rises from the five springs well-head in Leagrave (Luton), where it is joined by Sundon Brook about 100m from this “source”. https://www.openstreetmap.org/search?query=five%20springs%20leagrave%20common#map=17/51.91021/-0.45896 The source of Sundon brook is perhaps 300m away from a culvert, so why is this not the true source? Perhaps because springs are more interesting than culverts! And just a few metres further, the Lea is further joined by Lewsey Brook, which is itself fed by Houghton Brook which rises about 3 km away in Houghton Regis. Also not considered the “true” source. Anyway, as a result when the Lea is perhaps only 200m from its source, it is already a substantial river with a considerable flow.