Huckerby's Meadows

Wildlife flourishes in this pastoral site, whilst above, planes start their descent to Heathrow Airport.

Important notice: We experienced flooding at Huckerby's Meadows over the summer due to a leaking sewage pipe. Thames Water have since completed works, repaired the leak and carried out remedial works on site. Although the reserve is now safe to visit, we will continue to monitor for any reoccurrence of flooding so please be mindful when passing through.

Location

Waye Avenue

Cranford, Hillingdon

TW5 9SH

Know before you go

Grazing animals

Cattle

Access

The nearest station is Hatton Cross on the Piccadilly line, a 15-minute walk away. Buses 203, 423 and 482 stop in the Great South-West Road, adjacent to the reserve. There is an entrance from the north via Crane Bank Park in Waye Avenue, and from the south via Earhart Way. The London Outer Orbital Path passes by the southern entrance and runs through Crane Bank on the eastern banks of the River Crane towards the Bath Road.

The site currently has informal footpaths of a natural surface, and while mainly flat it largely comprises uneven and boggy terrain.

Dogs

On a lead

Please note: there are cattle grazing on site during spring and summer.

When to visit

Opening times

Open at all times

Best time to visit

April - July

About the reserve

The reserve sits on the western banks of the River Crane and provides a home for invertebrates and other animals that thrive in its mixed terrain of old pastures, remnant orchard, scrub, river and wet woodland, as well as grassland that has established on the site of an old airport car park.

Huckerby's Meadows opened to the public in 2017 after many years of restoration work by staff and volunteers. The Trust-owned reserve's location at the end of Heathrow Airport’s first runway provides a stunning juxtaposition of London; urban life and wildlife, side by side.

History of Huckerby's Meadows

Part of the site was once farmland owned by the Huckerby family, and Mrs Huckerby grazed horses here for half-a-century. The northern end of the reserve was restored from a car park for Heathrow Airport in 2009. The Trust first began managing Huckerby's Meadows in 1999, when it was called Crane Meadows, while also taking over the restored meadow of the old car park in 2010. After several years of restoration work and habitat improvements, including reconnecting four meanders of the River Crane, the reserve was finally opened to the public in August 2017.

Management of Huckerby's Meadows

A regular meadow management regime is maintained, in line with the requirements of Heathrow’s bird-strike team which aims to prevent the gathering of birds that could cause problems for incoming aircraft. Periodic cattle grazing helps to encourage a greater diversity of meadow flora and fauna and prevent encroachment of scrub and coarse grasses.