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CROSSNESS LATEST - PROTECTED AREA WILL REMAIN CLOSED OVER EASTER WEEKENDA brief update to advise that the Protected Area will remain closed over the Easter period - really sorry about this. As hard as we've tried, we can't get a new locking mechanism on the gate before next week, so it is currently padlocked shut so as to not leave us vulnerable over Easter.
I am taking advantage of the upcoming bank holidays to squeeze in some annual leave, so you will not get a notification from me about re-opening, however please assume that the Protected Area is likely to be re-opened by the following weekend.
Karen Sutton
Crossness Nature Reserve Manager
Free webinar on improving Bee 'hotel' design with Prof Dave Gouslon.Tuesday, April 22 · 1 - 2pm
Improving Bee Hotel Design: The Big Bee Hotel Experiment
www.eventbrite.co.uk
Join Prof Dave Gouslon to hear about how the Buzz Club are investigating the effectiveness of different bee hotels for UK bees.
CROSSNESS NATURE RESERVE - PROTECTED AREA CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE DUE TO BREAK-INApologies for the inconvenience that this may cause, but we have experienced another break-in to the Protected Area of the nature reserve and the area is subsequently closed until repairs are made and we are able to open again.
Best wishes
Karen Sutton
Crossness Nature Reserve Manager
HALL PLACE WEIR AND EEL PASS WORK WITH THE NORTH WEST KENT COUNTRYSIDE PARTNERSHIPWednesday 14th May – Hall Place and Gardens, Bourne Road, Bexley, DA5 1PQ
We will be replacing the stop plank in the weir at Hall Place (River Cray) to help prevent flooding. We will also be managing the vegetation on the walls of the structure to prevent damage to the historic brickwork and improve flows through the eel pass.
Led by: Mark Gallant (07740185228)
Meeting Time and Place: 10am in the yard at Hall Place.
Just a quick reminder that any volunteers who plan to meet us on site should let the member of staff leading the task know as soon as possible so that they can pack the correct number of tools and inform them of any task changes/delays that may occur.
If there are any updates or changes with the programme, we will update it regularly on the volunteer page on our website (www.nwkcp.org ). We will also contact the regular volunteers by phone if any last-minute changes to the location of the task happen.
Please remember to bring with you; suitable clothes for the weather conditions, a packed lunch and suitable footwear (we insist working boots with steel toecap and mid sole are worn at all times to comply with health and safety and insurance considerations). We will supply all other equipment, gloves and safety equipment and also hot drinks and biscuits throughout the day.
Each project will be led by a NWKCP member of staff who will be more than happy to answer any questions that you have throughout the day. A health and safety talk will also be given at the beginning of each project. If you are planning to come out on a project for the first time this month then please let us know beforehand which day that will be.
We write a risk assessment for each task day, and a copy of this will be brought to the site and available for you to read if you wish.
SOMETHING EVERYONE IN BEXLEY CAN DO TO HELP SWIFTSPlease write to your MP and ask them to sign Early Day Motion 1065, calling on the government to make Swift nest bricks a legal requirement in new domestic buildings.
Daniel Francis - MP for Bexleyheath and Crayford
Email daniel.francis.mp@parliament.uk
Abena Oppong Asare - MP for Erith and Thamesmead
Email Abena.oppongasare.mp@parliament.uk
Mr Louie French - MP for Old Bexley & Sidcup
Email louie.french.mp@parliament.uk
An EDM is a sort of petition for MPs, designed to generate debate and get things higher up the agenda.
The breeding population of Swifts in the UK has dropped by 60% since 1995. and the species is now red-listed. Loss of nesting sites through building 'modernisation' is thought to be a factor. The number of Swift nesting areas and number of birds in Bexley appears to be stable, but some only have a couple of pairs of birds and it would be good to increase their numbers.
So far the government has only talked about making changes to the planning process. This is likely to be ineffective as companies often fail to act on the conditions attached to planning permissions, and local councils struggle to check compliance and achieve enforcement when this happens.
Key points to make are:
i) Swifts are in serious decline in the UK. Swift nest bricks would help tackle one of the likely reasons for this. Some nesting areas in Bexley only have a couple of pairs of birds, so are at risk of being lost. A number of new buildings have gone up near existing nesting zones in the Borough in recent years, but they lack this key, simple, feature.
ii) The cost would be so small as to be irrelevant.
iii) Making them a straightforward legal requirement will be more effective than relying on the wider planning process, where local authorities already struggle to enforce 'add-on' conditions.
iv) Swifts are an iconic feature of the Bristish summer that everyone should be able to enjoy seeing and hearing, increasing engagement with nature, including in urban areas.
v) Such bricks can be used by other cavity-nesting species..
Swifts will be returning to Bexley from Africa in just over 2 weeks' time. Let's help make sure this continues for years to come .....
Full EDM text here:
edm.parliament.uk/early-day-motion/63437
At the time of writing (14/4/25) none of the Bexley MPs have signed it.
Chris Rose
edm.parliament.uk
This House notes with concern the dramatic decline in the breeding population of swifts whose numbers have dropped by 60% since 1995; recognises that the loss of natural nesting habitat for swifts and...
Author Archives: Chris Rose
Lesnes Woods ‘garden grab’ – will Bexley uphold existing policy or signal further shift towards Boris-inspired ‘densification’ agenda?
‘Bexley Wildlife’ has been contacted by local residents opposing a plan to demolish numbers ‘5 and 6 Friars Walk to create access to a new development of 8 detached 2/3 storey houses (2×3 bed, 3x4bed, 3x5bed) with rear gardens backing to … Continue reading
Updated CHECKLIST AND ACCOUNT OF THE ODONATA (DRAGONFLIES AND DAMSELFLIES) OF THE LONDON BOROUGH OF BEXLEY (6th edition) published
This updated guide to the 19 species of Dragonflies and Damselflies of the London Borough of Bexley, compiled by Chris Rose with additional records and photographs from Ralph Todd, Ian Stewart, Karen Sutton, Martin Petchey and Wren Rose, provides information … Continue reading
Posted in Bexley, Crossness, Crossness Nature Reserve, Danson Park, Dragonflies and Damselflies, Recording, River Cray, River Shuttle, Thames Road Wetland
Tagged Chalcolestes viridis, Crossness, Damselflies, Danson Park, Dragonflies, Dragonflies and damselflies of Bexley, Foots Cray Meadows, Lamorbey lake, London Borough of Bexley, Odonata, Odonata of Bexley, River Cray, River Shuttle, Thames Road Wetland, Willow Emerald Damselfly
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Updated ‘PROVISIONAL CHECKLIST AND ACCOUNT OF THE MAMMALS OF THE LONDON BOROUGH OF BEXLEY’ (Edition 4) published
The guide to the mammals of Bexley, compiled by Chris Rose with contributions from a number of local wildlife observers, has been significantly updated to include a number of new Hedgehog records, additional information about Harvest Mice in the Borough, … Continue reading
Friends of the Shuttle events Jan-March 2017
Advance notice of Friends of the Shuttle events on the River Shuttle, at Danson Park, and in Danson Park Old English Garden (which the group helps maintain). The River Shuttle meeting time is 10.30, that for the OEG is 10.00. … Continue reading
Bexley RSPB members see Cattle Egret on Rainham visit
Having the Rainham RSPB reserve just over the water from Crayford Marshes increases the prospects of rarities turning up on our side of the river. Bexley RSPB members visiting on December 17th were delighted they got to see a Cattle … Continue reading
Posted in Bird watching, RSPB
Tagged Bexley RSPB, Cattle Egret, Pintail, Rainham Marshes
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Bexley butterfly highlights of 2016
A round-up of key butterfly observations in the London Borough of Bexley during 2016 Principal contributors – Steve Carter, Joe Johnson, Mike Robinson, Chris Rose and Purnendu Roy. Summary: As envisaged in the 2015 report, White Admiral was confirmed as a Bexley … Continue reading
Posted in Bexley, Butterflies, Crayford, Crayford Marshes, Crayford Rough, Crossness, Crossness Nature Reserve, East Wickham Open Space, Erith Marshes, Hall Place, Hollyhill open space, Invertebrates, Joydens Wood, Lesnes Abbey Woods, London Wildlife Trust, Martens Grove, Parish Wood Park, Recording, River Cray, Thames Road Wetland, Uncategorized
Tagged Bexley butterflies, Bexley Butterfly and Moth Group, Brown Argus, Clouded Yellow, East Wickham Open Space, Green Hairstreak, Marbled White, Painted Lady, Ringlet, Silver-washed Fritillary, Small Copper, Small Heath, Small Tortoiseshell, White Admiral
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Bexley RSPB Foots Cray Meadows 6th December bird walk – report
Ralph and Brenda Todd report on the 6th December Bexley RSPB bird walk at Foots Cray Meadows, which attracted several members new to the group’s outdoor meetings. 28 species were seen including Little Egret, Kingfisher and Gadwall. Download the PDF … Continue reading
London Assembly green spaces investigation – comments sought, London Green Spaces Friends Group Network submission
The London Green Spaces Friends Groups Network http://e-voice.org.uk/london-friends-network/ The Future of London’s Green Spaces: London Assembly Investigation / Inquiry now underway. Evidence and recommendations requested. Our much-loved parks and green spaces – around 3,000 throughout London – are recognised by all to … Continue reading
Harvest Mice – first images of this London rarity in Bexley
Nests of of Harvest Mice (Micronomys minutus) , the UK’s smallest rodent, were first found at Thames Road Wetland in 2014, when 7 were discovered in the course of vegetation management work. None were located in 2015, but another three … Continue reading
Posted in Bexley, Biodiversity Action Plan, Harvest Mouse, Mammals, Raptors, Recording, Reedbeds, SINC, Thames Road Wetland, Thames21
Tagged Bexley, Biodiversity Action Plan, Brown Rat, Harvest Mouse, Micronomys minutus, Site of Metropolitan Importance for Nature Conservation, Thames Road Wetland, Thames21, trail camera, Wood Mouse
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