Useful information on the location of TPOs in Bexley from the Council’s website at:
Scroll down to find a list of TPOs by road in the Borough.
Information was previously at the following link, but that now generates a 404 report.
http://www.bexley.gov.uk/article/4310/Tree-preservation-orders
http://www.bexleywildlife.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Tree_preservation_order_street_index.pdf
The latest in Joe Johnson’s ‘Spotlight’ series takes a look at a selection of non-native animals and plants in Bexley, with a view to covering more such species in future editions. Some of these you may well have heard of, whilst others are less well known.
http://www.bexleywildlife.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Invasive-part-1-finished.pdf
With a growing interest in the butterflies of Bexley, and more people reporting observations, the extent of our knowledge about these species, and their distribution locally, is changing on a weekly basis. This revised version incorporates new information about the Ringlet, Small Heath and Brimstone, in particular. No sooner was this latest update finished than the first Painted Ladies of 2016 were seen in the Borough, and a Small Heath was found at Thames Road Wetland – facts that will have to be incorporated in the next re-write …..
http://www.bexleywildlife.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/CHECKLIST-OF-THE-BUTTERFLIES-OF-THE-BOROUGH-OF-BEXLEY.pdf
Following a second, but still grossly inadequate ‘ecology report’ from Cory ‘Environmental’s Riverside Resource Recovery arm – that once again misses out red-listed breeding birds, and offers no credible onsite ‘mitigation’ or creation of off-site ‘compensatory’ habitat for the losses that would arise from the construction of two four-storey data centres on fields right next to Crossness Nature Reserve – ‘Save our Skylarks’ campaigners have launched an online petition to enable more people to object to the scheme, including those who come from far and wide to visit what is one of London’s best wildlife and birdwatching sites.
The petition, which has already been signed by 607 people, is here:
Personal submissions will still carry more weight, so if you can spare a few minutes, some points you might like to make in the wake of the second, flawed report, are given below. 208 pre-printed letters of objection to this ‘development’, many with personal comments added, have already been gathered and the more of these there are the better. A date for the matter to go to Bexley Council’s planning committee for decision has still not been set, so there is still time to make fresh or additional views know.
Objectors have slammed Cory’s second attempt at an ecology survey, and its claim that the red-listed Skylarks and Ringed Plovers at Erith Marshes are ‘insignificant’.
Breeding bird survey done at the wrong time – again!
Ralph Todd, writing to the Council’s Head of Planning on behalf of the 300-strong Friends group said ‘Once again, the ecologists have failed to carry out breeding bird surveys at the correct time. This time their visits took place in March and April, with the last visit being on 18th April: before the breeding season was fully underway. As a result of this, they failed to confirm ACTUAL breeding bird activity and were only able to provide details of PROBABLE breeding, thereby completely missing the breeding Ringed Plover that was nesting on the north Borax Field from at least 24th April and never actually witnessing the Skylark and other species that have bred there. It all seems a little convenient.’
All habitat is not the same ….
He went on to point out that ‘The report states that other suitable foraging habitat exists nearby, as though this makes loss on the Borax fields acceptable, but the point is this is not foraging habitat, but breeding habitat. There is NOT suitable breeding habitat for certain species nearby. The only other suitable breeding habitat was the location of the old electric substation on Norman Road, and Bexley Council have deemed it acceptable to build all over that too.’
If it’s rare in Bexley, it’s insignificant and not worth conserving here, says Cory ‘Environmental’s’ ecology report!
The nub of the report is ‘4.33 In conclusion, the Site lies outside areas of nature conservation designation. The Proposed Development will result in the loss of Open Mosaic habitat which currently supports only a small population of breeding birds of a very limited range of species and is of local interest for invertebrates. Such loss is not considered to have a significant impact on the population or conservation status of protected or priority species.’
The main concern that the Friends group has, said Ralph, ‘is the implication that because only a small number of breeding birds are supported by the Borax Fields, that the impacts are not significant, and are therefore prime for building on. We, however, would argue the opposite: Skylark breed on only 3 sites within the London Borough of Bexley, one of which is Crossness (on the Borax Fields only) and another is Crayford Marsh, where this is a larger population, but this too is under threat from a separate planning application. So while the population may be small at Crossness, the borough wide impact is enormous. By allowing this development to go ahead, you are in effect leading to the extinction of Skylark and Ringed Plover as breeding species within Bexley. Surely this goes against the Council’s own biodiversity policy and biodiversity action plan?’
The future of the Skylark in Bexley is threatened by proposed ‘developments’ at both Erith Marshes next to Crossness Nature Reserve and at Crayford Marshes. (Photo: Dave Pressland, with permission)
Chris Rose, for Bexley Natural Environment Forum, wrote ‘In other words [they’re saying] the rarer something is in the Borough the less important it is to conserve it here. In fact it’s not worth bothering to try. This is wrong-headed idiocy. The whole purpose of having conservation targets and biodiversity action plans up and down the country is precisely so that everyone doesn’t destroy their own small part and leave us with severely diminished populations in a few ‘core’ places, or none at all. Since Bexley Council states in Core strategy CS18 that it intends to ‘protect and enhance’ biodiversity in the Borough and avoid significant impacts we say this must be measured and put in the context of the London regional and Bexley Borough level picture, not just national. The logical consequence of doing otherwise is that Bexley Council only protects a species heading for extinction in the UK, the entire population of which is so small that the majority of it is to be found within the Bexley boundary. This would be absurd and fly in the face of everything conservation policy is trying to achieve. There are though to be perhaps 200 Skylark breeding territories in the whole of London (LNHS data for 2014) and only 13 across 5 sites in south-east London/Kent out to 20 miles from St Paul’s cathedral, most of which fall outside the London administrative boundary. ‘
He also pointed out that ‘Skylark [is a] a UK BAP species upon which public money is being spent elsewhere in the country to try and recover numbers’ and that ‘Skylark is included in the UK Government’s wildlife indicator of sustainability. In this context it should be noted that Bexley Council’s own Core Strategy purports to be all about delivering sustainability.’
Additional concerns
Both groups raised concerns about freshwater run-off into ditches identified by the ecology report as containing notable invertebrates that require brackish conditions, and the wholly inappropriate height of the buildings for this location. The invertebrate survey also failed to adhere to the recommended guidelines for open mosaic habitat. BNEF described the applicant’s claim that their proposed four-storey constructions, which will be the tallest buildings after the Belvedere incinerator facility, ‘…will offer relief from the more uniform height of the warehouse and industrial buildings to the east.’ as ‘absurd spin’.
Demand for ‘compensatory habitat’ creation
In the absence of any promise of ‘mitigation’ through sufficient green and brown roofing to provide some prospect of the red-listed birds being able to carry on breeding here, both FoCNR and BNEF have called for ‘compensatory’ habitat ‘to be created by the restoration of an equivalent area of former industrial land elsewhere in the Borough that is largely hard surfacing, to a wildlife-rich state’, should the application be approved. They have further stated that ‘This should be as close as possible to Erith Marshes, and ideally be suitable for (re-) creation of grazing marsh or mosaic habitat. [So as to] halt the net loss of high quality wildlife habitat in the Borough, support the Council’s BAP in relation to grazing marsh and other key biodiversity objectives and to satisfy the NPPF requirement of attempting to avoid biodiversity loss and deliver net biodiversity benefit from ‘development’.’
To make your first, or further personal comments on this application, please send an e-mail using the subject line ‘Planning application 15/02926/OUTM’ to the Council at:
developmentcontrol@bexley.gov.uk
using some of the following points …… If you have made a written submission already, point out that you are now responding again in the light of the second (revised) ecology report. Any comments will be accepted up to the date of the planning committee meeting, which still hasn’t been set.
1) The excessive visual intrusion of 4 storey buildings into what should be an open, ‘big skies’ area.
2) The continuing inadequacy of the ‘ecology survey’ which is still missing solid information on species that are a material consideration in planning, and has not followed recommended practice in either the survey of breeding birds or of invertebrates.
3) The significant loss of and impact on biodiversity, including the probable extinction as breeding species in the Borough of red-listed Skylark and Ringed Plover and Schedule 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981-listed Little Ringed Plover, for the latter two of which the fields are the only breeding site in Bexley. Skylark is also under threat of a significant reduction in numbers at its only other secure breeding site in the Borough at Crayford Marshes. Important feeding habitat for other declining bird species would also be lost.
4) A significant knock-on impact on the adjoining Site of Metropolitan Importance for Nature Conservation and Local Nature Reserve, since these species do not recognise the fenceline between the two, and transit between the two areas.
5) The total loss of flower-rich open mosaic habitat, which is a Biodiversity Action Plan habitat. There is an open mosaic habitat target for the capital in the London Plan, to which Bexley is presently making zero contribution.
6) The complete lack of commitment to anything vaguely approaching adequate onsite mitigation for these losses or a promise of creating compensatory habitat elsewhere. It should be noted that the red-listed species require this type of habitat for nesting, which is not found elsewhere on Erith Marshes and is in short supply in Bexley. They can’t just go somewhere else.
In the light of this, the provision of ‘compensatory’ habitat, to be created by the restoration of an equivalent area of former industrial land elsewhere in the Borough – that is largely hard surfacing and wildlife poor – to a wildlife-rich open mosaic state, must be imposed as a condition, should the application be approved.
7) Approval of the application as it stands would be contrary to the National Planning Policy Framework, London Plan and Bexley Core strategy policies regarding biodiversity. The fact that Bexley (woefully) decided to zone the fields for industrial use does NOT exempt the proposed ‘development’ from being tested against these policies.
8) The loss of important open space, visual and wildlife amenity to current and future users of the surrounding area at a time when these things are increasingly being shown to be important for mental health.
9) The terrible example approval would set to the many schoolchildren for whom educational events at the Nature Reserve provide a gateway to an understanding of the importance of wild places, wildlife and their conservation.
(Chris Rose)
The London Natural History Society’s team behind the annual London Bird Reports have been doing a grand job of catching up with themselves after things had fallen a few years adrift, and have recently mailed out the 2014 edition, which is free to members.
London Bird Report 2014
Of the London sites mentioned, Crossness and Crayford Marshes get frequent mentions, not surprising since they are the Borough’s top and best-watched locations.
On the species front, the following information is provided that may be of particular interest to Bexley wildlife people:
Corn Bunting – in trouble nationally and at risk of extinction as a breeding species in London. 16 sites and up to 10 territorial males. 3 breeding pairs reported from Crayford Marshes. Under threat in Bexley from Roxhill’s proposed railfreight depot scheme at Crayford Marshes.
Corn Bunting (in the Pyrenees) (Photo by Ralph Todd)
House Martin – thought to still be in decline in the capital. A minimum of 200 confirmed or probable breeding records. The last one of the year for London was seen in Sidcup on November 25th. Few nesting sites in Bexley. Residents at the two larger ones destroy some nests on their houses, which at the very least least means an added time, energy and thus food-finding cost for the birds when they return from Africa in building new ones if, indeed, they can find somewhere suitable to do so.
Little Ringed Plover – around 60 were in the capital, with 16 pairs that bred or attempted to, with only the Crossness pair managing to fledge young. Under threat from Cory ‘Environmental’s’ proposed development on Borax fields.
Ringed Plover – recorded at 17 sites, with only a pair at Crossness known to have reared young. Two other pairs may have bred in London as a whole. Under threat from Cory ‘Environmental’s’ proposed development on Borax fields.
High power zoomed picture of Ringed Plover on its nest, taken from a safe distance outside a fence line. Note yellow bill with black tip. (Photo: Donna Zimmer)
Ring-necked Parakeet – the establishment of a night roost at Danson Park – as first reported here on ‘BW’ – is mentioned.
Skylark – in serious national decline. Around 200 breeding territories in the whole of London, with more than half at just seven locations. Breeding confirmed at 8 sites. Our south east sector of London, stretching out into Kent, had the fewest birds, with just 13 territories at 5 sites. The two main breeding sites in Bexley are under threat from Cory ‘Environmental’s’ proposed development on Borax fields and Roxhill’s railfreight depot scheme at Crayford Marshes.
Swift – A 56% decline from 1995 to 2013 is reported. No one had reported any breeding sites in Bexley for this year, though undoubtedly there were some.
There is also an interesting article on the Birds of the Warren, Bexleyheath, 1988-2014, by former Borough resident Andrew Waller. Of particular note are Bullfinch, which he first saw here in 1990, with a pair in January 1993. Andrew’s last record of it at this site was 31/5/1994. You would be hard-pressed to see any in the whole borough now. They do still seem to be resident at Braeburn Park. Lesser Spotted Woodpecker was first seen 11/9/1992 with the last one noted on 13/1/2001. Andrew reports that it bred here in some years. It has now vanished from Bexley and from most of London and is declining nationally.
To download/read Ralph Todd’s six-monthly Bexley Bird Reports (now available up to December 2015, next one due July 2016) go to http://www.bexleywildlife.org/bird-watching-bexley/
(Chris Rose)
Mike Robinson photographed a couple of uncommon Bexley plants at Upper College Farm on May 26th.
Crosswort is in the Bedstraw family and at the time of the 1983 Atlas of London flora was mainly to be found on the south-east fringe of the capital and then out into Kent, where it is on the county rare plant register, but is fairly widely distributed. GiGL has no Bexley records of it but Tristan Boulton of LACV showed it to me above the Lesnes Abbey ponds a couple of years ago.
Close-up of Crosswort flowers, Upper College Farm, 26/5/16 (Photo: Mike Robinson)
Crosswort at Upper College Farm, 26/5/16, showing general habit. (Photo: Mike Robinson)
Yellow Vetchling (Lathyrus aphaca), a kind of pea, is nationally scarce. There is a also a small amount of it in Belvedere near the incinerator, and rather more on Braeburn Park and also Crayford Rough, though Bexley Council recently voted to build on a significant proportion of the part of that site within which it occurs.
Close-up of Yellow Vetchling flower, Upper College Farm, 26/5/16 (Photo: Mike Robinson)
Yellow vetchling, Upper College Farm, 26/5/16 (Photo: Mike Robinson)
This year is the Tenth Anniversary of the Friends of Foots Cray Meadows. To celebrate this and link in with London Tree Week, ten mature trees have been planted between Rectory Lane and the Lime Avenue. As part of the London Tree Week an event is being organised (see poster below) which is a great opportunity: to find out what species these trees are and how we shall care for them; how to identify trees, to learn about woodland management on the Meadows and meet Bexley’s Tree Officers.
London Tree Week Link
https://www.london.gov.uk/events/2016-05-28/london-tree-week-events-2016#acc-i-34479
Michael Heath, Chair FFCM. 07976 705002.
http://www.bexleywildlife.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Poster10th-Anniversary-2016.pdf
About the Friends of Foots Cray Meadows:
We are an interest group formed to support Foots Cray Meadows. The Meadows are the largest public open space in the London Borough of Bexley, situated in the South East of the Borough bordered by Sidcup, Albany Park, North Cray and Bexley Village.
The River Cray forms a central feature of the landscape. The Meadows are owned and managed by the London Borough of Bexley.
This year The Friends celebrate Their Tenth Anniversary; the group is activity based with the objective of bringing the people who use and visit the Meadows together: To engage with visitors to: have an interest in, use the Meadows responsibly and to protect the natural habitat of the Site. The FFCM is a constituted, well established and active local group with a membership of around 60 households.
Visit our website at <http://www.footscraymeadows.org> www.footscraymeadows.org
Wildlife photography enthusiasts from the growing Hall Place Hiders group joined Chris Rose, Thames Road Wetland Site Manager, on 21st May for a walk from Crayford Riverside, down to and around the wetland, so as to gain an appreciation of the Cray Valley and its wildlife downstream of their usual haunt. Places had been limited to ten, but in the event five were able to come. Given the narrowness of some of the paths this smaller number turned out to be ideal from the point of view of everyone being able to get the pictures they wanted of the various species seen.
At the wetland itself good numbers of Swifts were seen, a House Martin, female Sparrowhawk, Greenfinch, Whitethroat, Reed Warblers and Cetti’s Warblers and a Male Reed Bunting were heard. There was considerable fledgling Starling action. Butterflies seen were Brimstone, Orange-Tip, Green Veined White, Peacock, Holy Blue, Small White, Small Tortoiseshell and Speckled Wood. We observed Hairy Dragonfly, Large Red Damselfly, Blue-tailed Damselfly, Azure Damselfly and Banded Demoiselle. Common Lizard were seen sunning themselves and a grass snake that was too quick to photograph! Marsh Frogs were croaking. The nationally scarce Marsh Sow-thistles and extreme London rarity Brookweed were looked at.
Hall Place hiders (left to right) Lisa and Martin Burke, Jean Bufton and Donna Zimmer photographing insects at Thames Road Wetland (Photo: Chris Rose)
Some of the Hiders’ excellent photographs taken on the visit can be seen in 21st and 22nd May posts at their ‘out and about’ Facebook page entitled Bexley Hiders Photography Walks
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1664837523792544/
Another such walk is scheduled for June 6th.
Chris Rose. Thames Road Wetland Site Manager.
David Courtneidge, Water for Wildlife Project Officer (South) for London Wildlife Trust came to Bexley on May 20th. He is visiting wetland sites across south London with a mission to select an initial three to focus on for training/recording and habitat improvement events, with a particular focus on Odonata.
He was welcomed at Crayford station by Thames Road Wetland Site manager Chris Rose. They then walked along the Cray to the wetland, where they were joined at the site by Assistant River Cray Project Officer Joanna Barton. It is early in the Dragonfly and Damselfly season, but Azure, Large Red and Banded Demoiselle Damselflies were seen, though the hoped-for Hairy Dragonfly was not in evidence (inevitably, one put in an appearance the day after ….) . Much other wildlife was seen, including low-flying Swifts, Common Lizards and a couple of Grass Snakes.
Chris Rose and David Courtneidge, pictured at Crossness . (Photo: Karen Sutton)
Chris and David then took the train round to Belvedere to visit Crossness Nature Reserve at Erith Marshes. A benefit of this particular journey is that a brief, but panoramic and otherwise inaccessible view of the wetland can be obtained, from the height of the railway embankment.
Thames Road Wetland, looking west from a passing train, May 20th 2016. (Photo: Chris Rose)
Whilst waiting for Reserve Manager Karen Sutton, prolonged views of a Kestrel hunting over one of the threatened Borax fields were enjoyed. Both the northern sector and Southern Marsh were traversed, and Azure, Common Blue and Blue-tailed damselflies were seen, along with a female Broad-bodied Chaser.
Karen Sutton and David Courtneidge chat at Crossness. (Photo: Chris Rose)
Chris spotted a variegated Common Reed shoot. A number of plants that are garden escapes were noted along the Belvedere Road footpath, including several Aquilegia in flower.
Variegated Common Reed (Phragmites australis) shoot at Crossness. There is already a variegated form in cultivation, so we won’t be making a fortune out of this ….. (Photo: Chris Rose)
If a Bexley site is selected, there are a number of reasons why Crossness would be likely to win out over others, including size, having the most Odonata species and a large Friends group to tap into.
The project is funded until 2019, so has a much better chance of leaving a lasting legacy than the far too many nature conservation schemes that only get the finance for a year or less. We hope to be seeing David in the area again soon.
Chris Rose
As part of the ongoing ‘Save our Skylarks’ campaign, the Friends of Crossness Nature Reserve recently wrote to the head of the Cory Environmental Trust, the body that dispenses grants from the company’s landfill tax breaks for, amongst other things, ‘Protecting the environment, and conserving or promoting biological diversity’, pointing out the contradiction between the activity of the Trust and its parent company’s proposals for the Borax fields next to Crossness Nature Reserve. The Trust has now punted the matter back to Cory’s Head of Planning and Development for London without reply. He in turn has simply referred to Cory’s ‘Supplementary Ecological Report’ to Bexley Council rather than addressing the key issues. This second report fails once again to take into account red-listed Ringed Plover breeding, and promises no adequate ‘mitigation’ for the loss of breeding habitat for this species or red-listed Skylark at the site.
Save our Skylarks demonstrators line up for the photoshoot with Cory’s incinerator in the background.
FoCNR has sought constructive dialogue with Cory throughout, but has been stymied by less than full and frank disclosure over their plans at an initial meeting, and slow or inadequate responses to its questions since.
The full text of the letter follows:
26th April
Dear Mr Gerstrom,
Re: Cory Environmental/RRRL Planning Application Norman Road/Crossness – London Borough of Bexley.
Last week my wife and I visited the Thurrock Thameside Nature Park managed by Essex Wildlife Park. We were immensely impressed with the nature park and also the magnificent Visitor Centre – possibly the best in South East England. You will be aware that Cory Environmental Trust has their name emblazoned across the top of the Centre – and why not? You should be proud of the partnership you have with Essex Wildlife Trust. The other thing that stood out for us was the number of skylarks (a UK red data species) that were in the air singing – almost certainly more than we’ve seen at any other single site for many, many years.
Here, across the river in Bexley we have just three sites with breeding skylarks: one inland with one pair (hanging on despite pressure from dog walkers), one on the Crayford Marshes with 6 or 7 pairs (currently under threat from a major development) and two fields on the Erith Marshes at Crossness (also now under threat from development by Cory Environmental).
These are the only two fields where the skylark breeds within the larger complex of marshes/paddocks and fields.
I am not sure if you are aware that Cory Environmental/RRRL has entered a planning application to Bexley Council to develop two, four storey Data Centres on the two plots of land adjoining the highly regarded Crossness Nature Reserve. These two plots are vitally important for wildlife with both being the only nesting sites for skylark, ringed and little ringed plover amongst a variety of other wildlife.
At the outset I wrote, on behalf of the Friends of Crossness Nature Reserve, to the Director of RRRL Mr Pike to seek clarification of rumours that were circulating at the time. Mr Pike passed me to the Head of Planning and Development, Richard Wilkinson, who I met on site in January and have had some communication with since (see attached communication with Mr Wilkinson for a more detailed understanding of our objections). Despite an early indication that he would continue to communicate with me and giving assurances to a local forum that he would do so I have failed to elicit a response to a letter I sent on 6th March which he acknowledged and said he would respond to (I have sent three reminders). His most recent response only informed what we already knew – Bexley Council had passed the application asked for more work.
The purpose of me writing directly to you is that it seems quite bizarre to myself and the Friends that whilst Cory Environmental Trust in Britain sets out very comprehensive and demanding criteria to be met by applicants for grants from the Trust, especially environmental grants, Cory Environmental (whilst not seeking a grant from the Trust) can seemingly ride rough shod over such criteria and destroy what is known to be valuable habitat for breeding, feeding and foraging species. It also seems incomprehensible not to mention hypocritical, as I’ve said in my letters to Messr. Pike and Wilkinson that a company that boasts a strap line “At Cory Environmental the environment is not only in the name, it’s at the heart of everything we do” is then prepared to blindly go ahead destroying places that are important for wildlife and enjoyed by large groups of the community.
We are now aware that Bexley Council has asked Cory Environmental for further information which is not a surprise given that they only carried out two, one day, ecological assessments both outside the breeding season (September and October we are led to believe) and their findings were woefully inadequate demonstrating either a total lack of professionalism or arrogance. There are so many issues but I appreciate that is not your concern.
I am not sure what, if any influence you will have over the company but in the absence of any positive responses, the local Friends and wider community are getting very frustrated. The local press are taking an increasing interest and whilst we thought we had a line of communication open we were happy to look positively on Cory Environmental. Now that we have seen the extent of the development plan and lack of communication I can see the issue becoming quite an embarrassment to both Cory Environmental and possibly the Trust. It is just another irony that many of us interested in the natural environment can applaud the grant funding Cory Environmental Trust gave to another local Bexley site, in conjunction with Froglife – the splendid, forward thinking introduction of ponds to improve habitats for amphibians and invertebrates at East Wickham Open Space. Yet just four miles away Cory Environmental are destroying rare and important habitats for schedule 1 and red data species.
I understand a significant number of objections have been sent to Bexley Council who have asked Cory Environmental to carry out more work on the application in light of those objections. However, the main thrust of the objections, as I understand it, is that this development should not go ahead at all and I am hoping, on behalf of the 300 Friends and the wider community that Cory Environmental Trust in Britain might agree with us.
Thank you for your consideration,
Yours Sincerely, Ralph Todd(on behalf of the Friends of Crossness Nature Reserve) London Borough of Bexley.
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CHARITABLE RECYCLING STATION Our Recycling Station is a drop off point for your hard to recycle items. We're diverting waste away from the incinerator and raising money for charity Recycling for chari...