Chris Rose, of Bexley Wildlife fame, has kindly donated another 7 Marsh Sow-thistles. This rare plant was locally extinct, but thanks to Mark Spencer from the London Natural History Society and Chris Rose’s efforts, they are establishing well across the Bexley borough. They have grown like 10 foot trifids at Thames Road Wetland in Crayford/Dartford, and though not quite as tall, we have a number of established plants on our ridge and furrow (left of the path as you walk towards the boardwalk), and in the West Paddock and Island Field (the latter plant areas not visible to visitors – sorry). While the new plants are relatively small at the moment, one in particular has already had a significant growth spurt and flowered, and the rest we hope are close behind. Crossness news email July 2019