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BOOK NOW FOR BEXLEY RSPB'S OUTDOOR WINTER EVENTS (non-members welcome, but advance booking is essential for anyone who wishes to attend as numbers are limited):The group's December/January walks and make-your-own-way-there car trips, plus a coach trip, are as below. There are currently spaces on each, so please email Ralph Todd on <rbtodd@btinternet.com> to reserve a spot.
5 December - Sidcup Place
14 December - Rainham Marshes
21 December - Wallasea Island
9 January - Lamorbey Park
11 January - Cliffe Pools
18 January - Sevenoaks Wildlife reserve
25 January - Big Garden Birdwatch - Hall Place (no booking required for this one)
26 January - Titchwell COACH TRIP - please email Deborah on deborahfrances@aol.com (cost £23 pp)
For more details and a full list of events through to March 23rd 2025, including indoor talks, please go to:
group.rspb.org.uk/bexley/news-blogs/blog/upcoming-events-october-2024-march-2025/
No booking is required for the indoor talks - just show up. Refreshments available. Non-members are again welcome but pay a slightly higher entrance fee of £5.
Upcoming Events October 2024 - March 2025 - Bexley Local Group
group.rspb.org.uk
Please note that booking is required on all our guided walks, car trips and coach trips. Please refer to the below for how to book a place. No booking is needed for our indoor meeting. To book a place...
VOLUNTEERS SOUGHT FOR MINK MONITORING SCHEME AT THAMES ROAD WETLAND - help protect rare local wildlife from Mink predation !A nationwide scheme to locate and eradicate non-native American Mink (Neogale [formerley Mustela] vison), which have contributed to the parlous state of Water Voles in the UK, as well as attacking other species, is now being rolled out along the River Cray by the Waterlife Recovery Trust.
Thames21 has agreed to install a Mink trap at Thames Road Wetland (TRW), where there is an important population of Water Voles, along with one of only a very few Harvest Mouse colonies in London. North West Kent Countryside Partnership (NWKCP) will be doing likewise at Ruxley Gravel Pits Nature Reserve. It is hoped that traps can be installed elsewhere on the Cray in due course.
If triggered, the trap automatically transmits an alert, with the role of volunteers being to go and check it if this happens. A WhatsApp group will be used for co-ordination purposes so that only one person out of those available at the time needs to go out. The design of the traps ensures that waterbirds rarely enter them. The species most likely to be caught are Water Voles, which will be released, and Brown Rats, which the TRW team has agreed should also be let loose. There is no evidence they are harming Water Voles, and there are so many in the wider landscape that any removed will quickly be replaced by others. Should a Mink be caught then there will be designated people to contact who will kill the animal humanely.
We do not think that there are any Mink at or in the vicinity of TRW at the moment, or that here have been any in the past, but with Mink known to be present on the River Darent, we don't want to take any unnecessary risks.
Ruxley already has enough volunteers, but we need a longer list of people for TRW to make sure that we can cover every alert in reasonable time, for animal welfare reasons.
To volunteer for trap-checking at TRW, please contact Michael at
<michael.oneill@thames21.org.uk>
Ffi about the scheme as a whole, see:
Waterlife Recovery Trust - Saving our native wildlife from the introduced American Mink
www.waterliferecoverytrust.org.uk
Have you seen or caught an American Mink? Please let us know Report Sighting Report Capture Seeking volunteers to host a smart mink raft If you live in Essex, London, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire,
DOUBLE DOSE OF FRIENDS OF THE CRAY AT CRAYFORDDue to the amount of rubbish dumped along the river below Crayford, there are two upcoming opportunities to join the friends group in clearing up the resultant mess.
29th November - removing litter from Footpath 106 (not done last month as we were working on 105)
6th December - tackling the fly-tipping at the Maiden Lane end of By-way 105 by the bridge over the Cray, which has long been a favoured location for criminals to dump garbage. Arrangements have been made for the council to take the extracted material away.
Both events will start at 10a.m. at the group's usual rendezvous point, which is the junction of Footpath 106 and Barnes Cray Road (see graphic below) as it is easier to park the vehicle carrying the equipment at this location.
All welcome, no particular skills needed.
The necessary equipment will be provided. Wear appropriate clothing for being out in the open and avoiding stings and scratches from Brambles and Nettles, and bring something to drink.
Best wishes
Sarah
NORTH WEST KENT COUNTRYSIDE PARTNERSHIP - DECEMBER CONSERVATION EVENTS AT RUXLEY GRAVEL PITS NATURE RESERVE.The reserve is a SSSI on the Bexley-Bromley border, and normally off-limits to the general public, so besides helping out, this is an opporunity to visit somewhere you may not have seen before.
Wednesday 4th, Thursday 4th and Saturday 14th– Ruxley Gravel Pits, Edgington Way, Orpington, BR5 3HY
We will be clearing scrub and burning the arisings on a bonfire.
Led by: Lucy Sawyer-Boyd (07809 334071)
Meeting Time and Place: 10am at the site (lifts from Hall Place not currently available due to the group's vehicle being under repair).
The gate must be kept locked, if there is no-one there to open it, please call Lucy’s mobile. Follow the track and park underneath the A20. Plenty of parking. Toilets are available at the local Tesco (but it is far from site).
On Saturday 14th we will be working with Kent Wildlife Trust volunteers. Please bring your own refreshments if joining on this day. On this occasion there will be a portaloo on site.
LOCATION:
goo.gl/maps/S2NBZUfT2mTkbgX17
What3words:
Entrance: ///noises.sheet.reject
Parking: ///hopes.gender.gums
Just a quick reminder that any volunteers who plan to meet us on site should let the member of staff leading the task know as soon as possible so that they can pack the correct number of tools and inform them of any task changes/delays that may occur.
If there are any updates or changes with the programme, we will update it regularly on the volunteer page on our website (www.nwkcp.org ). We will also contact the regular volunteers by phone if any last-minute changes to the location of the task happen.
Please remember to bring with you; suitable clothes for the weather conditions, a packed lunch and suitable footwear (we insist working boots with steel toecap and mid sole are worn at all times to comply with health and safety and insurance considerations). We will supply all other equipment, gloves and safety equipment and also hot drinks and biscuits throughout the day.
Each project will be led by a NWKCP member of staff who will be more than happy to answer any questions that you have throughout the day. A health and safety talk will also be given at the beginning of each project. If you are planning to come out on a project for the first time this month then please let us know beforehand which day that will be.
We write a risk assessment for each task day, and a copy of this will be brought to the site and available for you to read if you wish.
51°24'41.7"N 0°07'10.5"E · 51.411583, 0.119583
goo.gl
Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.
If the council said it was going to concrete/tarmac/pave over Danson Park, there would be uproar. But vastly more greenspace/wildlife habitat in the Borough has been lost to cars in recent years.Why the loss of front gardens matters - to cut flood risk, reduce health-harming heat, restore our depleted nature, and raise resilience.
Lunchtime online discussion on Thurs 14 Nov. FREE.
Front gardens on the frontline - CPRE London - Tickets
cpre-london.eventcube.io
Front gardens on the frontline at Tickets and Information
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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