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HELP CLEAN UP THE LOWER RIVER CRAY CORRIDOR !Join FRIENDS OF THE CRAY AT CRAYFORD on FRIDAY 4th APRIL
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).
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.
Photo from last month's session when the group was joined by Bexley Councillor Geraldene Lucia-Hennis
Best wishes
Sarah
THAMES ROAD WETLAND TEAM WELCOMES CHINESE STUDENTSWORK REPORT
Thames21 did its bit for international relations on a sunny 14th March when six Chinese students studying design at Goldsmith's College came down to help out. They have been taking an interest in water pollution issues.
A further nine volunteers turned out, giving a grand total of 15, who delivered 66 and a half person hours of work, mainly clearing all the previously cut and raked up Reed/fragmented debris/silt piles (as well as creating a few new ones).
Suckering shrubs were thinned out in an open area of the Thames Road bank, to benefit reptiles, which was also the objective behind brushcutting Bramble in the south-west corner,. Additional Bramble cutting by the railway will help conserve nice patches of Common Fleabane and Spearmint in a boggy area at the foot of the embankment.
Three of the 'domestic' attendees were new recruits, two of whom said they would come again.
Thanks are due to Thames21 staff member Michael O'Neill brought the van full of waders and other equipment.
Five volunteers were out on 21/3, when the brushcutter again proved invaluable. We were able to significantly reduce the extent of a bramble patch that had spread to the point where there was only a one-horse-width space left between it and the top of the Wansunt riverbank, which was consequently suffering heavy erosion. Four horses were grazing in the Reedmace/Rush beds at the time. They were quick to move in on the fresh grass once we had raked away the cut material.
Reedmace in the east ditch was thinned out with the pole-saw to improve it for Dragonflies and Frogs. Buddleia and Rose by Thames Rd, including stems impinging on the adjacent pedestrian footway, were pruned back.
WILDLIFE
The Blackthorn is now in flower, as are a number of the blue and plum-purple Grape Hyacinths (Muscari neglectum). A volunteer saw a Snipe on a Saturday visit. Our first ever Green Woodpecker within the official boundary of the site was recorded on the 14th.
On the 21st two Chiffchaffs were calling. Coltsfoot was still in flower by the railway end gate. London rarity Hound's-tongue, a biennial, continues to survive in small numbers at the east end, in the same place I first found it in the summer of 2018. It is now re-sprouting and there are also several seedlings. But it doggedly 'refuses' to spread, apart from the odd one that comes up by the nearby roadside fence. I've distributed seeds by hand, and planted out extra plantlets grown from seed at home, but to no avail.
BOOK NOW!
Our next staff-supported event is on Friday April 11th, with Thames21's Michael O'Neill. Book here: book.plinth.org.uk/e/jyHfDWO68FBjh72gDdBv
Chris Rose. Volunteer Site Manager.
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.
Category Archives: RSPB
Report of Bexley RSPB KWT Sevenoaks Wildlife Reserve and Bough Beech Reservoir walks, February 15th.
Thanks to Leaders Ralph and Brenda Todd for the following report: http://www.bexleywildlife.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/RSPB-Bexley-Group-Walk-Sevenoak-Wildlife-Reserve-February-2022.pdf
Posted in Bird watching, RSPB
Tagged Bexkley RSPB, Bough Beech Reservoir, Sevenoaks Wildlife Reserve
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Report of Bexley RSPB trip to Rainham Marshes reserve on 14/12/2019
Group sees 50 bird species at Rainham, despite some unfavourable weather. Report by Ralph and Brenda Todd. http://www.bexleywildlife.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/RSPB-Bexley-Group-walk-Rainham-Marshes-RSPB-Reserve-Saturday-December-14th-2019.pdf
Bexley RSPB members brave inclement weather to see Siskins, Teal and Kingfisher at Danson
Report from Ralph and Brenda Todd of the October 24th Bexley RSPB walk at Danson Park, of which the highlights were three Siskins a Teal and a Kingfisher. http://www.bexleywildlife.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/RSPB-Bexley-Group-Walk-Danson-Park-October-2019.pdf
Posted in Bird watching, Danson Park, RSPB
Tagged Bexley RSPB, Danson Park, Kingfisher, Siskin, Teal
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RSPB Bexley Group Walk – Foots Cray Meadows, Thursday 26th September 2019
Good turnout of members enjoy 32 species of birds at Foots Cray Meadows, including a top quality view of a pair of Kestrels. http://www.bexleywildlife.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/RSPB-Bexley-Group-Walk-Foots-Cray-Meadows-September-2019.pdf
Posted in Bird watching, Foots Cray Meadows, RSPB
Tagged Bexley RSPB, Brenda Todd, Foots Cray Meadows, Kestrels, Ralph Todd
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Bexley RSPB Joydens Wood bird walk report for 27/4/19.
Blackcaps dominate a chilly morning at Joydens Wood as Bexley RSPB continues to celebrate 40th anniversary. http://www.bexleywildlife.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/RSPB-Bexley-Group-Local-Walk-Joydens-Wood-April-2019.pdf
Posted in Bird watching, Joydens Wood, RSPB
Tagged Bexley RSPB, Blackcap, Joyden's Wood, Woodland Trust
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RSPB Bexley Group Walk – Crossness Nature Reserve and River Thames Thursday 18th April 2019
Report of RSPB Bexley Group Walk – Crossness Nature Reserve and River Thames Thursday 18th April 2019. Highlights for the 23 people present included Mediterranean Gull and Wheatear. http://www.bexleywildlife.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/RSPB-Bexley-Group-Walk-Crossness-April-2019.pdf
Posted in Bird watching, RSPB
Tagged Bexley RSPB, Crossness Nature Reserve, Mediterranean Gull, Thames, Wheatear
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Bexley RSPB 7th February Lamorbey bird walk report
Ralph and Brenda Todd report on the 26 species of bird seen during Bexley’s RSPB’s Lamorbey meeting this week, which was attended by 19 people, and reflect on some of the changes in local bird life that have taken place … Continue reading
Posted in Bird watching, RSPB
Tagged Bexley, Bexley RSPB, Egyptian Goose, Goldcrest, Lamorbey, Nuthatch, Peregrine
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BEXLEY RSPB – 40th ANNIVERSARY YEAR – PROGRAMME OF EVENTS
Now is a good time to join the RSPB, one of the UK’s foremost conservation organisations, and to get involved with the Bexley local group (the Borough’s largest wildlife conservation organisation) the first field meeting of which was in the … Continue reading
BRSPB Sidcup Place walk turns up interesting sightings after starting in sunshine and ending in snow
The latest in Bexley RSPB’s series of introductions to our lesser-watched local sites gave attendees the pleasure of seeing Redwings, Fieldfares, Lesser Redpolls and Lapwings. Walk leaders Ralph and Brenda Todd provide a full report: http://www.bexleywildlife.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/RSPB-Bexley-Group-Local-Walk-Sidcup-Placae-February-2018.pdf
Posted in Bird watching, RSPB
Tagged Bexley RSPB, Fielfare, Lapwing, Lesser Redpoll, Redwing, Sidcup Place
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Bexley RSPB Joydens Wood visit report, 25th January 2018
Four Buzzards, a Treecreeper and five Siskins in glorious sunshine were the highlights of Bexley RSPB’s Joydens Wood field meeting this week. Joydens straddles the London/Kent border and most of it is on the Dartford side. Judging by reports – … Continue reading
Posted in Bexley, Bird watching, RSPB
Tagged Bexley RSPB, Buzzard, Joydens Woods, Siskin, Treecreeper
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