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THAMES ROAD WETLAND (Inner Crayford Marshes) - THE WORK GOES ON.Our last report was way back on 12th April. We're usually out every Friday, but tiredness and a loss of motivation from yours truly, plus some rainy days, have reduced our levels of activity over the last quarter.
Repeat summer cutting of areas of Reed we are trying to supress has continued. Where this has got taller than we'd hoped, we have watched and listened first to ensure no Reed Warbler usage. We have been able to cut some patches often enough for there to be no danger of nesting birds using them.
Dates, work done and selected wildlife sightings have been as follows:
19/4 - Re-pollarded small Sallows. Dug out road run-off muck from 'crap-trap'. Path work. Slender Thistles outside fenceline in flower. Bur-chervil in flower. Red Admiral, Peacock, Speckled Wood, Small White. Large Red Damselfly, Reed Warblers back.
17/5 - Re-packed Bug Hotels with dead hollow plant stems. Re-cutting main path. Litter removal. In flower: swathe of Wild Clary (Salvia verbenaca), Bee Orchid, Brookweed, Flag Iris, Early Forget-me-Not, Hound's-tongue. Adult Cinnabar Moth, Ashy Mining Bee. 1 x Painted Lady, Peacock, Red Admiral, 2 Holly Blue, single Small Heath. Lizards. 1 Greenfinch heard. Chiffchaff.
14/6 - Re-cutting area of Reed at foot of Thames Road bank with brushcutter, and Reed at west end by scythe. Raking and stacking silt and cut material. Cutting off Giant Hogweed flower heads. Re-cutting sections of main path. Selective cutting back of vegetation where now shading reptile basking sites. Pyramidal Orchids in flower. 18 plants with 23 flower spikes (vz 7 with 12 on 17/6/23). Lots of Hemlock Water Dropwort in flower and one Monkey Flower (Mimulus guttatus). Banded Demoiselle and Azure Damselfly.
28/6 - Reed cutting. Path work. Wild Carrots and Hop Sedges in flower. Small Tortoiseshell, 1st Gatekeeper of season. A few Lizards. Water Rail heard, suggesting possible breeding.
12/7 - Re-cut Reed at west end with brushcutter and by hand with scythes. Some path and Lizard basking site work. More Giant Hogweed beheaded (The fire of 2022 caused a few new ones to come up. Since all the Cray area plants appear to flower once and die, they usually think their job is done if you cut off the flowerhead even though the seeds haven't ripened, and they therefore die without reproducing). First Marsh Sow-thistle flowers of season out. Marsh Woundwort in flower. Red Admiral, Peacock, Comma, a few Gatekeepers. 3 or 4 Blue-tailed Damselflies. A few Lizards out.
A complaint has been submitted to the Council about the large amount of litter / fragmented plastics along the Thames Road site fence that never seem to get cleared up, and that fact that a strimmer gang recently went over it all, unhelpfully chopping up the material into even smaller pieces.
For assistance during this period I thank fellow volunteers Ray, Pamela, Clare, Elio, Ian, Alex, Sarah, Lee, Verity and Rory. There was Thames21 staff support from Michael O'Neill on 14/6 and 12/7.
Chris Rose. Volunteer Site Manager.
WOODLANDS FARM (SHOOTERS HILL) BAT SURVEY DATE CONFIRMED.Thank you to everyone who got back to me to confirm which date they could do for the Bat Survey. I can confirm that we shall be sticking with the original date of Thursday 25th July. Meeting in the yard at 9.15pm. So hope to see you there, please bring a bat detector if you have one, and a torch.
Also a reminder that the Big Butterfly Count season has started until beginning of August. So why not pop down to the farm on a sunny day (if we have any!) and record what butterflies you see for 15 minutes. Then either write in the Bird Book in Mess or send me the info. All the information and ID sheets are available from the
Butterfly Conservation Trust bigbutterflycount.butterfly-conservation.org/
Hannah Ricketts
Education Officer
The Woodlands Farm Trust
331 Shooters Hill
Welling
Kent
DA16 3RP
Tel: 0208 3198900
Website: www.thewoodlandsfarmtrust.org
NORTH AMERICAN VAGRANT SPOTTED AT CROSSNESS.A Franklin's Gull was found at Crossness yesterday (13/7/2024) by Conrad Ellam, a member of the Friends Group. Thanks to @stormcabbirds for permission to reproduce his 'X' post with photos here.
This is an uncommon species from Canada and the northern USA, which migrates to South America, occasionally showing up in western Europe.
There is currently some debate as to whether it's the third, or possibly second record for London. It is certainly the second for Crossness, since one was also seen here in April 2000.
State of the UK's Invertebrates Virtual SymposiumHugely important subject.
Online event.
Friday, July 19 · 10am - 1pm
Non-professional attendees asked to pay what you can afford (minimum fee of £1, recommended donation £10)
State of the UK's Invertebrates Virtual Symposium
www.eventbrite.co.uk
Join us for a knowledge-sharing event about the state of the UK's invertebrate populations.
Author Archives: jonathanrooks1@outlook.com
Time to find isolated Bluebell populations in Bexley
While out and about leafleting in Bexley I spotted these English Bluebells in the grounds of Hurst Community Centre, Hurst Road. There were small patches dotted around the extensive lawns, particularly under the mature trees and, as is often the … Continue reading
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New organic farm in Welling
We recently visited Keats Community Organics, a new farming project in Welling where Jack Astbury and friends are setting up a certified organic nursery. Located in Keats Road, Welling, Jack Astbury, Ed Harkness and Christina Harrison will be engaging as many … Continue reading
Posted in Organic
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Bird walk at Crossness Nature Reserve May 1st
Ralph and Brenda Todd will be leading a midweek bird walk on Thursday 1st May at Crossness Nature Reserve. An excellent opportunity to attend one of Ralph and Brenda’s excellent bird walks and see a splendid site. “It should be a … Continue reading
Posted in Bird watching, Crossness Nature Reserve
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Thames21 events Foots Cray Meadows next week
Additional Volunteer Thames21 (Cray Catchment) Events Next Week!!As mentioned as a possibility in my previous e mail concerning Thames21 events here are some short notice activities which changing commitments have allowed me to offer for Thames21 river keepers to address … Continue reading
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Will cuts to security affect parks?
The News Shopper carries today an article announcing Bexley Council’s plans to no longer lock the Borough’s parks at night to save £200,000 per year. Of the Borough’s 104 parks there are only 23 that are currently locked at night, … Continue reading
Weather reports February 2014
Prime Meridian is a newsletter covering weather records (and extreme records these days!) across the south-east. A useful read to see just what we have been through lately and the implications of ‘climate weirding’. Publsihed by the Ecospheres Project, they … Continue reading
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Sea fish in the Borough
It is easy to forget that Bexley has marine life too. With the tidal Thames extending far up into London, the river as it forms the border of Bexley contains many saltwater fishes. For example, a report in the Thurrock … Continue reading
Posted in Fish, Rivers
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Friends of the Shuttle River Clean events April to June
FoTS do important work cleaning litter and problem invasive weeds from the River Shuttle, a tributary of The Cray. Volunteers are always welcome at their clean-up events. Please email fots-thames21@hotmail.co.uk with your wader size request if you are joining them. Thursday 24th April – Clean … Continue reading
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Thames21 events in the Cray Catchement
Information from Michael Heath, local organiser: This Thursday 17th April 2014, 1000 Start at Hall Place, Bourne Road DA5 1PQ Join North West Kent Countryside Partnership with the planting of marginal plants in the River habitat Margin Enhancements constructed at … Continue reading
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Discovery Day at Lesnes Abbey Woods
Tuesday 15 April 11am – 3pm As part of the engagement programme Creative Junction will be meeting with groups during the Easter holiday. The event, which features activities with North West Kent Countryside Partnership will be an opportunity for participants … Continue reading
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