Category Archives: Bexley

London butterfly project set up to produce new distribution atlas. Bexley butterfly and moth Facebook page launched.

The London Natural History Society is calling on existing and potential new recorders to help produce a new butterfly distribution atlas for Greater London, the results of which will be compared with the last LNHS survey which was in 1980-86.  Much has … Continue reading

Posted in Bexley, Braeburn Park, Butterflies, Crossness Nature Reserve, LHNS | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Updated checklist and account of Bexley Dragonflies and Damselflies published as season gets underway

‘Bexley Wildlife’s’ guide to Dragonflies and Damselflies in the Borough, and where to see them, has been updated to mark the start of the flight season – during which the adult insects metamorphose from their unobtrusive aquatic larval stage, take … Continue reading

Posted in Bexley, Crossness, Danson Park, Dragonflies and Damselflies, Erith Marshes, Recording | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Now Bexley Council officer recommends building on 10% of Crayford Rough, a wildlife site of regional importance.

The onslaught against the most valuable wildlife sites in Bexley is set to continue this week as the planning committee meets on 14th April to consider an application to redevelop the old Electrobase industrial site between Hall Place and Crayford … Continue reading

Posted in Bexley, Bexley Council, Biodiversity Action Plan, BNEF, Braeburn Park, Common Lizard, Consultations, Crayford, Crayford Rough, development threat, Environment, Open spaces, Planning, Plants in Bexley, Reptiles and Amphibians, SINC, Slow Worm, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Newts in the spotlight: Smooth (or Common), Palmate and Great Crested in Bexley

All three native species of Newt can be found in Bexley. Only the Smooth (or Common) is widespread and likely to turn up in an average garden pond. The Palmate and Great Crested have restricted distributions in the Borough. Joe … Continue reading

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One Swallow doesn’t a summer make …. but Bexley’s first for year seen over Thames Road Wetland

The first Swallow of the year in Bexley was seen over Thames Road Wetland at 17.47 yesterday (March 23rd), flying west low over the site as I happened to look up whilst taking some general panoramic photos. British Swallows winter … Continue reading

Posted in Bexley, Bird watching, Migration, Ring-necked Parakeet, River Cray, River Wansunt, Thames Road Wetland | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Rue-leaved Saxifrage, new site record for a scarce London plant in Crayford, and Musk Stork`s-bill, possibly new to the Borough of Bexley

A small colony of Rue-leaved Saxifrage (Saxifraga tridactylites),  a small spring-flowering annual, was found by me in Crayford town centre on March 12th, growing between clumps of moss on a pad of concrete, and in bare ground in short grass, … Continue reading

Posted in Bexley, Bexleyheath, Crayford, Danson Park, Martens Grove, Plants in Bexley, Recording, Welling, wild flowers | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Skylark and Corn Bunting spotlight – species in serious UK decline are now under threat in Bexley

Skylarks and Corn Buntings are both farmland bird species of the highest UK conservation concern due to major declines in recent decades. Current planning applications in Bexley threaten to make this worse.  According to the RSPB the Skylark population halved during … Continue reading

Posted in Bexley, Bird watching, Crayford Marshes, Crossness, development threat | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Bexley butterfly highlights of 2015 – report

The following Bexley butterfly report has been sent to the London Natural History Society butterfly recorder for the 2016 journal, which will contain the 2015 transect count and species status reports and be published in early 2017. What follows won’t … Continue reading

Posted in Bexley, Butterflies, LHNS | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Bexley Against River Crossings meeting, January 5th Belvedere

The next meeting of Bexley Against River Crossings (BARC) will be at The Belvedere Community Centre, Mitchell Close, Belvedere. on Tuesday 5 January at 2.30pm. Transport for London is conducting yet another consultation: https://consultations.tfl.gov.uk/rivercrossings/east-of-silvertown#Gallions reach and Belvedere river crossings with a … Continue reading

Posted in Belvedere, Bexley, Bexley Council, River Thames, Thames bridges, Traffic | Leave a comment

Harebell (Campanula rotundifolia) at Foots Cray – 60 years on ….

A small patch of Harebell (Campanula rotundifolia) was found by myself on my first ever visit to the churchyard of All Saints on Rectory Lane on October 22nd, with two flowers still open and several empty seed heads. Being right up … Continue reading

Posted in Bexley, Bexleyheath, Christchurch Bexleyheath cemetery, Foots Cray Meadows, Galls, Plants in Bexley, Recording, River Cray, SINC | 1 Comment