Our Facebook Posts
HELP THAMES21 REMOVE NON-NATIVE INVASIVE PENNYWORT FROM THAMESMEAD CANALSMarch 5 @ 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
Join us for an important conservation effort in Thamesmead as we team up with Peabody and the Environment Agency to combat the invasive floating pennywort threatening our local canals. This fast-growing aquatic plant can quickly overtake water surfaces, harming water quality and local biodiversity. These events are a key part of our broader strategy to protect our waterways.
This hands-on event offers a fantastic opportunity to make a tangible difference in our local environment. No prior experience is necessary—just bring your enthusiasm and a commitment to protecting our natural spaces. We’ll provide all the necessary equipment, including gloves, waders, and refreshments.
If you plan to enter the canals, please enter your shoe size on the registration form so we can provide appropriately sized waders. Volunteers are encouraged to wear suitable outdoor clothing, and preferably water proof clothing or bring a spare pair of clothes as you might get wet.
The day will start with a brief introduction to floating pennywort and its ecological impact, followed by a safety talk and removal techniques. We’ll then head to the water to remove as much pennywort as possible, with a lunch break at 12 PM. The matts of pennywort can be pulled apart and then thrown on to the banks to break down, similar to what the canals teams do but by hand instead of mechanically.
Children are welcome to come, but adult supervision is required.
By joining us, you’ll play a vital role in preserving Thamesmead’s waterways for wildlife and future generations. It’s also a great opportunity to meet like-minded people and learn more about local conservation efforts.
Please sign up to the event on our Plinth page by clicking this link:
book.plinth.org.uk/e/bbtujFsEahRiUrVmsr4k
For further information, please contact Tyler Randall at Tyler.Randall@thames21.org.uk.
book.plinth.org.uk
<p>Join us for an important conservation effort in Thamesmead as we team up with Peabody and the Environment Agency to combat the invasive floating pennywort threatening our local canals. This fast-gr...
** THAMES ROAD WETLAND - SIGN UP NOW FOR THE NEXT STAFF-SUPPORTED HABITAT MANAGEMENT SESSION - FRIDAY 14th MARCH .... plus SITE WORK AND WILDLIFE UPDATE.Thames Road Wetland in Barnes Cray, on the Inner Crayford Marshes, may only be 2 hectares (5 acres), but it takes a lot of work to maintain its high value for species such as Marsh Sow-thistle, Brookweed, Hairy Dragonfly, Reed Warbler, Harvest Mouse, Water Rail and Water Vole.
Birds will be breeding soon, so our mid-March session is the last time we'll be able to have a lot of people out in the water from where we need to remove the remaining piles of previously cut Reed, raked up detritus and silt. We are a bit behind because 3 volunteer-led Jan/Feb sessions had to be cancelled due to adverse weather forecasts.
This is a free event. Could you help us catch up by coming down for up to 4 hours? Booking here helps our advance planning:
book.plinth.org.uk/e/jyHfDWO68FBjh72gDdBv
We will have staff support on the 14th and be able to kit everyone out in waders, though we'll only be paddling in a few inches of water. Wear warm work clothes. All other equipment is provided, plus modest refreshments. Health and safety and first aid back-up assured.
Bookings are also open for April 11th.
RECENT WORK AND WILDLIFE
There were 6 of us on 14/2, plus staffer Michael. A couple of people were unable to come at the last minute, but we welcomed back Jonathan after a long absence. Much cut material was removed from (now) open water in the north-west corner, and near the junction of the main and south ditches. 27 and a quarter hours of volunteer time was given.
The volunteer-only session on 21/2 concentrated on thinning out vegetation in the main ditch for Odonata and Water Voles, using a pole saw and rakes. Three of us (Clare, Elio, Chris) delivered nearly 13 person-hours of work.
28/2 saw five of us (Pamela, Ray, Elio, Ian, Chris) put in 26 hours 15 mins, mainly opening up the drawdown zone at the railway end of the site, to favour regionally rare Brookweed, cutting back Buddleia and chopping up and stacking the large amount of brash, and clearing a substantial amount of litter blown/tossed over the fence from Thames Road.
Local contact Richard kindly let me know he'd seen 2 Common Buzzards and a Red Kite over the site on 30/1. I hadn't seen a Buzzard here for some months, and only one Red Kite ever, but there was a Buzzard flying over on 14/2, and then another on 28/2, to which I was alerted by a 'mewing' call. It was flying very low and being harassed by a lone Crow.
Teal were heard on 14/2, and 1 or 2 Water Rail, of which there have been 4 present through the winter months.
On 21/2 there were a few Lesser Celandine in flower. A couple of Cetti's Warblers were heard. As were 2 Song Thrushes. A Crow was chasing a large Sparrowhawk. A Harvest Mouse nest and a Water Vole latrine were found. On a sunny day, the first two Common Lizards of the year were seen.
28/2 started off almost cloudless, the sun and warmth bringing 6 Lizards out from as early as 09.50. A small Wild Privet (Ligustrum vulgare) seedling (which is a new site record), noticed only recently, was showing signs of damage, possibly horse trampling. It was moved to an area they can't access, though it was rooted in an awkward spot and we'll have to see if it survives.
Chris Rose. Volunteer Site Manager.
Dartford Creek 'spring clean', Saturday 8th March - not too far over the Bexley border ...... Click on link for location map and other details.www.facebook.com/events/1116021873401163/?acontext=%7B%22event_action_history%22%3A[%7B%22surface%22%3A%22notifications_tab%22%7D%2C%7B%22mechanism%22%3A%22attachment%22%2C%22surface%22%3A%22newsfeed%22%7D]%2C%22ref_notif_type%22%3A%22group_activity%22%7D
This content isn't available at the moment
When this happens, it's usually because the owner only shared it with a small group of people, changed who can see it, or it's been deleted.
CAN YOU HELP CLEAN UP THE RIVER CRAY?Join FRIENDS OF THE CRAY AT CRAYFORD on FRIDAY 7th MARCH
to tackle litter along the banks of the lower Cray,
Meet 10 a.m. at the junction of Footpath 106 and Barnes Cray Road (see graphic below).
This session will focus on removing litter from Footpath 106 between Barnes Cray Road and the town centre.
All welcome, no particular skills needed.
Equipment will be provided. Wear appropriate clothing for being out in the open and avoiding stings from Nettles and scratches from Brambles, and bring something to drink.
Best wishes
Sarah
This content isn't available at the moment
When this happens, it's usually because the owner only shared it with a small group of people, changed who can see it, or it's been deleted.
Category Archives: Crayford Marshes
Red-listed Redpolls frequenting lower Cray
A close view was had of Two Lesser Redpolls half way down By-way 105 on the banks of the Cray on 20th January, feeding on Willowherb seeds. In addition, a somewhat fuzzy three-quarter rear view camera trap image captured by … Continue reading
Save our Skylarks ! String of marshland sites under renewed threat.
SAVE OUR SKYLARKS – DON’T LET THE COUNCIL BOOT THEM OUT OF BEXLEY! The future of the Skylark as a breeding bird in Bexley, and the survival of the Corn Bunting both here and in London as a whole – … Continue reading
Councillor Craske, just how important do you think our SINCS are?
As previously reported on ‘BW’ we still don’t have an actual date, or even a target date, for Bexley Council to sign-off the Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation review, despite a written reply on the matter from Community Safety, Environment and Leisure … Continue reading
81 bird species recorded in Bexley on October 2nd
Sightings by Ian Stewart and Eric Brown, noted on the London Bird Club wiki, reveal a wealth of avifauna across the Borough’s open spaces as a one-day total of 81 bird species is achieved. How much higher might the 24 … Continue reading
RSPB Bexley Group Field Trip – Crayford Marshes Thursday 24th September 2015
Avocet the highlight as rain gives way to sun on Bexley RSPB Crayford marshes visit. It was raining hard at 8am, raining at 9am, cloudy 10am and brilliant warm sunshine 11am – surprisingly 6 members arrived to join us for … Continue reading
Posted in Bird watching, Crayford Marshes, River Thames
Leave a comment
GLA committee seeks views on ‘growth’ vz environment – by 18th September
The Greater London Assembly Environment Committee is seeking evidence on the environmental pressures of London’s growth, focussing on: Energy supply, demand and distribution Water management Green infrastructure Deadline Friday 18th September. For details see: http://www.london.gov.uk/mayor-assembly/london-assembly/investigations/environmental-pressures-of-londons-growth There are already several examples … Continue reading
Seals take shine to Bexley foreshore
Repeated observations hint at rise in numbers on our ‘coast’. Ralph Todd writes: Occasional sightings of seals are reported from the Thames, though I haven’t seen much sign until recently. One of my local birding walks is Crayford Marshes and … Continue reading
Posted in Crayford Marshes, Mammals, Recording, River Thames, Rivers
1 Comment
Rare Wryneck photographed on Crayford Marshes as birding trio’s efforts pay dividends
Find again highlights the importance of Bexley’s larger semi-natural habitats as homes and migration refuelling sites for less common wildlife. Report by Ralph Todd August sees autumn bird migration well underway with many waders and songbirds moving south from their northern/European … Continue reading
Posted in Bird watching, Crayford Marshes, Migration, Open spaces, Recording
Leave a comment