Category Archives: Volunteering

New grounds maintenance contract process raises yet more doubts over Council’s ability to take biodiversity duty seriously

As a new contract for grounds maintenance went out to tender, we have discovered that the Trees and Nature Conservation Manager in the Parks and Open Spaces section ‘was never part of this process’ . Nor has there been any prior consultation with … Continue reading

Posted in Bexley Council, Budget, vegetation management, Volunteering | Leave a comment

News from the Sidcup Place Gardens Project

Reports and meeting announcement from the Sidcup Community Garden Group. Community answer the call to restore Sidcup’s “Secret Garden”. Council cuts backs meant that the once beautiful walled garden at Sidcup Place was allowed to decline, and become overgrown through … Continue reading

Posted in Bexley Council, Parks, Sidcup Place Garden, Volunteering | 1 Comment

Purple haze as Lesnes woods conservationists brave persistent rain

Six members of Lesnes Abbey Woods Conservation Volunteers turned out on Sunday morning (August 23rd) for the last heathland task of the year, despite the threat of persistent rain, which soon became a reality. There was some cover from the … Continue reading

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26 enjoy first ‘Bexley Wildlife’ social event

Twenty six people from a wide variety of conservation groups across Bexley (and beyond) came to our first social event at Bexley library last night (August 18th). Whilst something of an experiment, with the aim of mixing a ‘networking’ opportunity … Continue reading

Posted in Bexley, Bexley Wildlife social events, BNEF, Cray Riverkeepers, Crossness Nature Reserve, Environment, Erith Marshes, Foots Cray Meadows, Friends of the Shuttle, Keats Community Farm, Lesnes Abbey Woods, Old Farm Park, River Cray, River Shuttle, Ruxley Gravel Pits, Save Our Green Spaces Campaign, Thames21, Volunteering | Leave a comment

Ruxley Gravel Pits SSSI working group announces autumn/winter dates

Ruxley Gravel Pits is a Site of Special Scientific Interest. Come and help conserve the key features of this important wildlife site on the Cray by the Bexley/Bromley border. The birds have flown but the buddleia & the brambles continue … Continue reading

Posted in Reedbeds, River Cray, vegetation management, Volunteering | Leave a comment

Sidcup walled garden project off to successful start

The Sidcup Community Garden Project, a scheme to maintain the gardens at Sidcup Place following Bexley Council funding cuts, had a good turnout at its first hands-on event on Saturday 8th August. Sidcup Ward Councillor Rob Leitch sets out the next … Continue reading

Posted in Bexley Council, Budget, Sidcup Place Garden, Volunteering, Walled Garden Sidcup | 1 Comment

New access ramp built at Ruxley Gravel Pits Nature Reserve

A small tributary had washed away the previous ramp leaving a high step and a muddy mess to negotiate. The temporary solution of a plank was quickly rejected on safety grounds. Volunteers replaced this with a more user friendly ramp. The 15 volunteers … Continue reading

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FotS features in ‘Bexley Magazine’

A photo of FotS volunteers hard at work in Danson Park’s Old English Garden features on page 16 of the Council’s own magazine for local residents. The associated article extols the opportunities of getting involved with such initiatives, but could … Continue reading

Posted in Bexley Council, Danson Park, Environment, Friends of the Shuttle, Gardening for wildlife, Gardens, Old English Garden, Volunteering | Leave a comment

Spring into summer at Thames Road Wetland

Things were hotting up at Thames Road Wetland on Tuesday (June 16th). Reed Bunting bred on site in 2013, but last year the male seemed to spend most of the summer singing, with no apparent success. Now he is back … Continue reading

Posted in Butterflies, Common Lizard, Crayford, Dragonflies and Damselflies, Environment, Harvest Mouse, Invertebrates, Plants in Bexley, Recording, Reedbeds, Reptiles and Amphibians, River Cray, River Wansunt, Thames Road Wetland, Thames21, Volunteering | Leave a comment

Ruxley Gravel Pits Nature Reserve – working party dates announced

Ruxley Gravel Pits Nature Reserve – working party dates announced. OK so Ruxley isn’t in Bexley, but it’s near enough, and is part of the Cray catchment, within which many of us do conservation work. It’s a biological Site of … Continue reading

Posted in Ruxley Gravel Pits, vegetation management, Volunteering | Leave a comment