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LESNES ABBEY WOODS - WILDLIFE CONSERVATION SESSIONSEvery WEDNESDAY 10am to 1pm. Meet at the north side of the Lodge by the yard entrance.
Next Wednesday session will be 26th March.
AND ......
The first SUNDAY of each month 10am to 1pm. Meet outside CHESTNUT'S COFFEE KIOSK at 10:00 am. The group then collects tools and equipment from the yard that is opposite the toilets.
Next Sunday session will be 6th April.
Note: these events tend to involve fairly active work and may require walking with tools to remote parts of the woods, so a reasonable level of fitness is required.
All tools and materials provided.
Ffi see: www.friendsoflesnesabbeyandwoods.com/get-involved/conservation
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Hear about, and get involved with the National Hedgehog Monitoring Programme (NHMP).FREE event. In-person at London Zoo or online attendance.
FFI / to sign up go to:
www.zsl.org
Learn how a national-scale camera trap survey contributes to effective conservation action for hedgehogs and other UK species.
LONDON NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY EVENTS IN MARCH INCLUDE TWO FIELD MEETINGS IN BEXLEYThe LNHS welcomes non-members at events on a 'taster' basis.
Thursday 13/3. 19.00-20.00. Finding London's Ferns. The history, identification and conservation of native ferns of London. FREE. Book at Eventbrite:
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/finding-londons-ferns-by-henry-miller-tickets-1071940746629?aff=ebdsoporgp...
Saturday 15/3. 11.00-15.00. FREE. Join Dr. Mark Spencer, one of the capital's foremost botanists, to look at wild Daffodils in Lesnes Abbey Woods and seek out other ancient woodland indicator plant species. Contact Mark at hotfungus.hotmail.com to reserve a space. Note that although no explicit limit has been set on the number of attendees, there may be one in practice if large numbers of people ask to come along.
Sunday 30/3 - FREE. Crossness Nature Reserve with George Kalli. For early migrants and waders. Meet Belvedere railway station at 10.00. Aiming to finish 14.00. Bring lunch.
For more info. about the LNHS, including membership details, please see: lnhs.org.uk/
Finding London’s Ferns by Henry Miller
www.eventbrite.co.uk
Henry Miller will introduce the native ferns of London and guide us through their history, identification, and conservation.
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.
Category Archives: Light pollution
SAVE OUR SKYLARKS! CORY ‘ENVIRONMENTAL’ SUBMITS PLAN TO DESTROY HABITAT OF BIRDS IN SERIOUS DECLINE. FOUR-STOREY BUILDINGS PROPOSED NEXT TO CROSSNESS NATURE RESERVE. PLEASE OBJECT BY FEB 29th!
‘Bexley Wildlife’ has previously drawn attention to three schemes that will destroy even more of what little is left of the inner Thames marshland on the south side of the river . This post provides more detail on the recently … Continue reading
Still in the dark over wildlife and Council’s street lighting plans
Back on October 28th we drew attention to the fact that Bexley Natural Environment Forum had expressed its support for the Council’s direction of travel on reduced night-time lighting, and had offered advice on how the greatest benefits for wildlife … Continue reading
Posted in Bexley Council, BNEF, Light pollution
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Bursted School expansion raises environment concerns as sports pitched slated to be replaced by fake grass
Bexley Natural Environment Forum has submitted its concerns over the wildlife impact of the proposed expansion of Bursted school in a consultation that closed today (December 14th). The Forum is concerned about the loss of resources to red-listed bird species … Continue reading
Posted in Bexley Council, BNEF, Bursted Woods, Light pollution
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Bexley Natural Environment Forum statement of support for reduced and more efficient night lighting
Bexley Natural Environment Forum supports Bexley Council’s proposed reduction in night-lighting and the installation of more energy efficient lighting systems both for environmental (light pollution, carbon emissions reductions) reasons and because this is the sort of financial saving that we … Continue reading
Posted in Bats, Bexley Council, BNEF, Environment, Light pollution
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More research shows lighting negatively impacts Bats – BNEF says Bexley’s proposed budget-driven lighting cuts present an opportunity to tackle the problem
New research has shown that the Common Pipistrelle Bat, often found in urban areas, has its foraging and thus feeding activity disrupted and constrained by artificial lighting, especially where there are larger gaps in tree cover: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3111115/Bats-disappearing-cities-Artificial-lights-creating-ecological-dead-zones.html Bexley Natural Environment … Continue reading
Posted in Andersons Group, Bats, Bexley Council, BNEF, Budget, Bursted Woods, Consultations, Environment, Erith Quarry, Light pollution, Mammals, SINC
Tagged wildlife corridors
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New budget consult: opportunity to support open space ‘maintenance’ reductions over sell-offs, plus more recycling and new energy-saving/light pollution measures
Bexley Council is consulting on further budget-savings proposals which could save open spaces, increase recycling and cut carbon emissions and light pollution, thereby benefiting wildlife and people. The deadline for responses is February 20th. It’s important that as many of … Continue reading
Posted in Bexley Council, BNEF, Budget, Consultations, Environment, Land sales, Light pollution, Litter, Open spaces, Parks, Recycling
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ERITH QUARRY – BEXLEY’S ‘LAST GREAT WILDERNESS’ – UNDER THREAT FROM PLANNING APPLICATION. PLEASE OBJECT! NEW DEADLINE WEDS 17th DECEMBER.
Chris Rose, Vice-chair Bexley Natural Environment Forum Erith Quarry, a Grade 1 Site of Importance for Nature Conservation, is now the subject of a planning application for 600 dwellings, which would see three quarters of its semi-natural habitat destroyed. London … Continue reading
Please respond to UPCOMING CONSULTATIONS WITH MAJOR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATIONS!
There are a number of consultation deadlines looming on Bexley Council (‘Growth’ strategy, Budget, Flood Review) and key GLA (London Infrastructure plan to 2050) and Transport for London (east London river crossings – yet again) proposals, all of which have … Continue reading
Posted in Light pollution, London Wildlife Trust, Parks, Planning, Rivers
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Bursted Woods school under fire over proposed ‘prison camp’ fence by popular open space, and threats to Sparrow habitat
Local residents are strongly objecting to plans by Bursted Woods school to erect a long 2.1 metre (7′) tall metal fence along the access road at the western end of this well-used open space and Site of Importance for Nature … Continue reading
Posted in Bursted Woods, Education, Light pollution, Planning, SINC
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