Be part of Scrubs Watch - our effort to save the wildlife of the Scrubs!

In early 2023, a proposal to use a large part of the Scrubs for two months for an open air cinema event was postponed because of lack of data on the wildlife which we believe would have been severely affected by the incursion of 5000 people nightly.

In response, Kate McVay, ecology officer for IdVerde (the company which manages the Scrubs for Hammersmith and Fulham Council) has appealed to Friends and the public to send her their own wildlife observations.

This is your chance to be involved! Kate will collate reports, photos etc from members of the public to help create a clearer picture of what really lives on the Scrubs - and how we can help a biodiverse ecosystem to thrive.

Kate says: “I would absolutely love to have folks send me species records!

The main bits that need to be collected are the species, number of individuals, a grid reference point (https://gridreferencefinder.com) and the date. Email your information to kate.mcvay@idverde.co.uk.

It would be absolutely lovely if people could use the spreadsheet to submit record but still happy to collect records in any format as long as they at least list the above data. I'm also happy for the location to be shared using GPS points, what3words or something similar. 

It would also be quite useful if folks could send in a picture so that I can verify the record and add to the growing photo album of beautiful biodiversity on the Scrubs. I will have to take some of these records with a grain of salt as I cannot be certain about someone's identification skills (this is where the pictures are quite helpful!), but I'm currently planning to hold a few identification workshops for those interested.”

Here are the steps you need to take: see right (or below if you are reading this page on your phone) and you can also download Kate’s master grid from the button below.

  • It does not need to be something exotic.

    If you can, please also send in a picture so that I can verify the record and add to the growing photo album of beautiful biodiversity on the Scrubs. As I cannot always be certain about someone's identification skills this is where the pictures are quite helpful, but I'm currently planning to hold a few identification workshops for those interested.”

  • Kate says: "Note down the species, number of individuals, a grid reference point (https://gridreferencefinder.com) and the date. I'm also happy for the location to be shared using GPS points, what3words or something similar.

    If you aren’t sure what it is you’ve spotted, give a description and/or add a photo

  • You can either email your observations directly to Kate.McVay@idverde.co.uk

    or download the grid below and fill it in then send to Kate.

  • Download the grid HERE

  • Message us on instagram @friendsofthescrubs

    use our Contact page

people with binoculars, bird watching

Wormwood Scrubs is under constant threat. Until now campaign costs have been borne by individual Friends, mainly generous members of the Committee but this is no longer sustainable. We know many of you want to help us keep the Scrubs “more wild than tamed” and your donations will help our outreach and future legal costs.

 

Join us

  • Become a Friend of the Scrubs

    Donate to our fighting fund

  • Write to your local and parliamentary representatives and to the WSCT (See above and Latest News) about issues such as HS2’s impact on the Scrubs

  • Follow us on Twitter @ScrubsAction and on Instagram @fowws

  • Join the Facebook group

  • Visit the Scrubs - if you’ve never been there before, you will be amazed

  • Send us your own photos of the Scrubs via social media using hashtags #welovethescrubs or #fowws

 

Volunteer

We need volunteers to:

  • help at our growing list of events

  • organise and join litter collections (or just pick up litter!)

  • distribute leaflets, collect signatures

  • bring expert knowledge on a range of topics such as ecology and planning

  • spread the word about the Scrubs

  • just be vigilant - if you see activity that is damaging the Scrubs, contact the Law Enforcement Team

  • keep to the main paths through the wilder areas! This is VERY important! Recent increase in footfall has dangerously encroached on and reduced habitat space for species.

  • to be involved in one of the sub-groups, please fill out this form


The painting on this page is “Autumn Scrubs” by Nick Clark

 

 Overdevelopment of Linford Christie Stadium would threaten the ecological sensitivity of the Scrubs and destroy the peace and quiet that is so important to residents. With the HS2 sewer works to the north and the threat of LCS becoming a large stadium to the south, what chance does Wormwood Scrubs have? Friends of the Scrubs are establishing a fighting fund for the campaign to keep Linford Christie Stadium small scale and of benefit to local groups.