Bexley Wildlife

Boris bridges part of flawed ‘tarmac and traffic’ plan. What are the alternatives?

Posted on 18/11/2014 by Chris Rose

Darren Johnson AM, who is hosting today’s meeting for anti road-bridge campaigners, has released a report highlighting the projected spend by Boris Johnson on road traffic schemes (the north of Bexley is one of the areas where traffic would increase the most ), and how that money could be better spent on walking, cycling and public transport. Full report downloadable here:

https://app.box.com/shared/static/7zjnddptroibw8cgfioz.pdf

Summary:

The Mayor of London is planning to spend £28 billion building and widening roads in London, new research by Darren Johnson, Green Party Member of the London Assembly reveals. His report, ‘Boris Johnson’s Roads to Nowhere’ reveals how the Mayor:

* Plans to spend just £1-2bn on cycling up to 2050 but plans to spend £28bn on road projects for the same period, many of which have no provision for cyclists

* Intends to build three new roads across the Thames at Silvertown, Gallions Reach and Belvedere that would cost £2.25bn – more than twice the capital’s cycling budget for the next decade

* Is planning for big increases in traffic on London’s roads after a decade when traffic fell despite the growth in population and the economy during that time.

* TfL are now warning that if we fail to cut current levels of car ownership, by 2050 we’ll have an extra million cars in the capital, requiring a further area the size of Richmond Park for parking. We have already seen a massive erosion of green space in Bexley thanks to paving over front gardens for multiple car parking, despite Bexley Council claiming in the Local Development Framework that it wants to protect the ‘suburban character’ of the Borough.

The report also shows that TfL has public transport, walking and cycling projects that could be prioritised for that £28 billion, which would do more to improve London’s prosperity and quality of life.

Posted in Bexley Council, Car parking, GLA, Planning, Thames bridges, Traffic, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Rally for Nature, London 9th December – lobby local MPs on Nature and Wellbeing Act

Posted on 10/11/2014 by Chris Rose

The RSPB is organising a lobby of MPs ahead of the General Election due next May, to try and persuade politicians to take nature seriously. In particular the opportunity will be taken to press the case for the ‘Nature and Wellbeing Act’ that is supported by a number of leading conservation organisations. http://www.rspb.org.uk/news/details.aspx?id=384592

Do sign up to go and see your MP about this:

Bexleyheath and Crayford – David Evennett (Conservative)

Erith and Thamesmead – Teresa Pearce (Labour)

Old Bexley and Sidcup – James Brokenshire (Conservative)

Are you worried about the decline in our wildlife?

Big Ben

We do love nature and we are worried, that is why we are holding a Rally for Nature in London on Tuesday 9 December and we would love you to join us.

Sadly, despite the well-documented decline in our nature, and cases of wildlife crime occurring right across the UK, nature remains low on the political agenda, even with an election just around the corner. This is your opportunity to tell your MP why nature matters so much to all of us.

The RSPB, Wildlife Trusts, League Against Cruel Sports and Dr Mark Avery – supported by Butterfly Conservation, Ramblers and the Mammal Society – are organising a Rally for Nature at Church House Conference Centre and the Houses of Parliament.

We will be calling on politicians to defend existing laws that protect our most important sites for nature; to bring an end to wildlife crime; and to establish a Nature and Wellbeing Act to ensure that nature is brought into the very heart of decision-making.

It does not matter if you have never been to the Houses of Parliament or met your MP before, as we will give you all of the help and advice you need. To find out more about the day and book your place – go to the Rally for Nature page here:

http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/rally-for-nature-registration-13703157513?aff=RSPB

With Christmas only a few weeks after the rally, why not make a day of it in London and take in some carols by candlelight or go ice-skating in Hyde Park?

If you want to join us, please register as soon as possible. Places are free but will be allocated on a first-come-first-served basis. Once you have registered we will send you a pack containing more information and advice.

Let’s make 2015 the year that all political parties take nature seriously.

I hope to see you on Tuesday 9 December.

Martin Harper

Director of Conservation

Posted in Environment, MPs, Nature and Wellbeing Act, RSPB | Leave a comment

Campaign for an Act to protect nature.

Posted on 04/11/2014 by jonathanrooks1@outlook.com

The RSPB together with the 47 Wildlife Trusts have produced a document that is an initial discussion of the proposal that as we depend upon the natural world, this should be recognised in law.

The Nature and Welfare Act is being proposed with the invitation to all parties to include it in their manifestos.

“A high-quality natural environment and greater engagement with wildlife-rich green spaces can make a significant and effective contribution to all of these issues. It is clear that nature can be part of the solution to many of the challenges our society faces.”

As someone who already ‘votes for nature’, I welcome this attempt to get politicians to recognise the importance of the natural environment for our health and well being even if they appear to have no concern for wildlife.

“A thriving natural environment is part of the solution to our most pressing social, economic and environmental problems.”

The Report

The report can be viewed online at: http://www.wildlifetrusts.org/sites/default/files/nature_and_wellbeing_act_final.pdf

Or downloaded from our website at: https://app.box.com/s/j9pfgkszdeadixjhb23i

Posted in Parks, Planning, Sustainability | 1 Comment

BNEF: ‘GLA infrastructure to 2050’ plan is another 93 pages of ‘have your cake and eat it’ implausibility

Posted on 03/11/2014 by Chris Rose

The LONDON INFRASTRUCTURE PLAN 2050 – A CONSULTATION closed on 31st October 2014. It describes the amounts and types of infrastructure that is thought to be required to cope with a population that the authors believe will reach over 11 million inhabitants by mid-century, a 37 per cent increase from 2011. It is about to surpass its previous peak of 8.6 million (set in
1939).

Bexley Natural Environment Forum’s response

https://app.box.com/s/vynr90p35u4t7s1boopp

is that the plan is based on wrong-headed assumptions and an approach to solutions which can only provide short term fixes. Open spaces and wildlife will inevitably be diminished despite the basic ‘you can have your cake and eat it’ pitch of the document. There is no commitment to protect existing designated wildlife sites. The costings, such as they are, ignore the real costs in terms of carbon and materials. The fixation with ‘growth’ needs to be replaced with sufficiency and living within the planet’s means.

We reject the fundamental assumption made by Boris Johnson (and all those behind this document) that ‘bigger is better’. We question the deterministic view on population growth, arguing that there needs to be a proper adult debate about all sources of population change, what the implications are in terms of land use, traffic, pollution, resource shortages and so forth, and what might consensually be done about that. We note there is no reference to a wider, balanced UK regional ‘development’ strategy. Fundamentally this is a document that supports and relies on resource consumption growth economics, and whilst acknowledging the serious constraints emerging, not least within the capital (water supply already critical), simply seeks to buy time with technological fixes, paying little attention to the potentially cheaper and quicker solutions of behavioural change.

There is a lot of smoke and mirrors about open space. We are told there needs to be more of it, but it is not clear where, what the net changes will actually be, and whether it will be of sufficient quality for wildlife. Brownfield is projected to run out sometime after 2025, and the wildlife value of such land is not addressed. Meanwhile suburbia will become ‘Supurbia’, with greater ‘densification’. Cutting through the verbiage and management-speak you are forced to conclude that the only way to create ‘extra’ green space will be on roofs, and that there will be major net losses on the ground.

Whilst the authors claim they will try and keep all the extra ‘development’ within the green belt boundary, they never-the-less do look at overspill into surrounding areas, whilst ignoring the wider ‘hidden’ ecological footprint growth even if all the additional concrete can be kept within the London boundary for now.

There is no commitment here to protecting the existing 1,500 plus sites of wildlife importance in London, nor is there any explanation of how commitments to restore and create important habitats to reverse the decline in the capital’s biodiversity, as set out in The London Plan in 2011, will be met.

Whilst the ‘multi-functional’ value of open space is recognised, much of it is from a utilitarian viewpoint, with human demands coming first. The documents raise concerns about ownership of public open spaces, the lack of statutory powers regarding management, the general lack of a strategic approach to them and the dwindling funding. The Mayor will convene a task force to look at this issue. We have cautioned against removal of local input and the potential commercialisation of public assets.

There is a summary of the GLA proposals in the form of a ‘presentation’ here:

https://www.london.gov.uk/sites/default/files/01%20London%20Infrastructure%20Plan%202050%20-%20presentation.pdf

The full 93 page document is here:

https://www.london.gov.uk/sites/default/files/London%20Infrastructure%20Plan%202050%20Consultation.pdf

The supporting document:

ENABLING INFRASTRUCTURE:
GREEN, ENERGY, WATER & WASTE
INFRASTRUCTURE TO 2050

is here, though most of the content also appears in the main 93 page offering:

https://www.london.gov.uk/sites/default/files/Enabling%20Infrastructure.pdf

Posted in BNEF, Consultations, Environment, GLA, Housing targets, Open spaces, Parks, Planning, Sustainability | Leave a comment

Even small scale tree felling can disrupt bat populations

Posted on 31/10/2014 by jonathanrooks1@outlook.com

A five year study into bat behavior in an Oxfordshire wood reveals how bats regularly move roost sites every few days.

The study confirmed that bats “move house” every few days, but usually to another roost site nearby.

Dr Fiona Mathews, of Exeter University, said: “This work has really important practical implications for bat conservation. We now realise that although social groups of woodland bats ‘move house’ every few days, they remain within a very small geographical range. This means that even small-scale felling may destroy all the roosts potentially available to a group.”

This means that even small scale tree removal at sites where bats are found may remove important roosting sites and make the area unsuitable. This would be a concern at Erith Quarry where bats are found and there could be some tree removal.

Bats are thought to move regularly possibly to ensure they are always in the site with the best micro-climate or to avoid the build up of parasites.

The article from The Independent 31/10/14

https://app.box.com/s/utok5d200unrwerjm0ud

photo by:

Posted in Erith Quarry | Leave a comment

Thames river crossings seminar for campaigners – Nov 18th, City Hall

Posted on 30/10/2014 by Chris Rose

Thames river crossings seminar hosted by Darren Johnson, Green Party Member of the London Assembly

The Green Party is the only party operating in Bexley that is publicly opposed to the new road crossing proposals (Beckton-Gallions Reach, Rainham-Belvedere) currently being promoted by Transport for London. This meeting is open to members of other parties and none that also wish to be involved with campaigning against them.

N.B. If you want to attend and haven’t booked yet, or have booked but can no longer make it, please contact “Rachel Carlill” <Rachel.Carlill@london.gov.uk>

Date: Tuesday 18th November 2014

Time: 9am for a 9.30am start. Event ends at 11am. Light refreshments served from 9am.Venue: Committee Room 3, Lower Ground Floor, City Hall, The Queen’s Walk, London,SE1 2AA

The event will be a roundtable format with the aim of identifying how Darren can best support efforts to stop new river crossings being built, and will provide an opportunity for campaigners from different areas to link up with one another.

Agenda 9.30am – 09.40am

* Opening remarks from Darren Johnson AM

* Welcome and explanation of event format

* The Green Party Assembly Members’ role in the river crossings debate since 2000

* Tools that Assembly Members can use to influence the river crossings debate at City Hall

* The role that Green Assembly Members will play in the consultation/examination-in-public process in the coming years.

09.40am – 10am

* Introductions around the table

* Participants are invited to introduce themselves, give details of any campaign they might be involved in and identify opportunities to work with others

10am – 10.40am

* What information is currently lacking?

* Identifying gaps in knowledge that need to be filled in to strengthen the case against the river crossings

* Identifying gaps in knowledge that need to be filled in to strengthen the case for river crossings alternatives

10.40am – 10.55am Next steps

10.55am – Closing remarks

11am – Event closes.

How to get to City Hall By public transport: https://www.london.gov.uk/city-hall/location-map

By bicycle: There is cycle parking provision near City Hall. Alternatively, cycle parking can be arranged in City Hall’s loading bay but please register with us by Monday 3rd November as a list of names must be provided to City Hall security staff.

Posted in Belvedere, Bexley Council, Consultations, GLA, Planning, River Thames, Sustainability, Thames bridges, Thamesmead, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Foots Cray Meadows bird walk report. October 28th 2014.

Posted on 29/10/2014 by Chris Rose

This RSPB Bexley Group event was led by Ralph and Brenda Todd, who have provided this report and photos.

Walk attendees enjoy the autumn sun.

Not one but two kingfishers called and flew up river behind Michael Heath (Chair of Friends of Foots Cray Meadows and Co-ordinator for the Thames21 Cray River team) as he explained to the 21 attendees the recent works carried out along the river Cray north of Five Arches towards Bexley. These works are restoring this historic chalk river to enable it to flow better and create some vegetated margins and also to help protect the banks from further erosion. A group of long-tailed tits flew out from the overhead trees. A great start, we then led the group back towards Five Arches but birds were thin on the ground, in the air and in the trees with only crows, woodpigeons and the ubiquitous ring-necked parakeets showing themselves.

The weather was superb, clear blue skies, sun shining, not at all what should be expected end of October or when we are leading (often overcast or wet or is that just a myth?). Five Arches proved to be more active with the mute swan family, many mallard and black-headed gulls (mostly adult with just a few first year birds for identification comparison) feeding near the bridge. Further along the bank with the sun behind us made for wonderful light to enjoy the grey heron, cormorant, a pair of gadwall, moorhen, coots and at least 3 little grebe.

Little Grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis), also known as the Dabchick, on the FCM lake.

Gadwall (Anas strepera) on the lake at FCM.

We continued along the culvert to Mitchells Field but still few birds: jays, the occasional robin, blackbird and goldfinch. A grey wagtail was spotted flying, given away by its distinctive call. Even the secluded area behind All Saints Church was quiet -though a nearby great spotted woodpecker proved elusive but was seen by most. We wandered back on the west side of the river enjoying the good weather and various pieces of information about the meadows – such a wonderful open space accessible to all.

We wondered where all the birds were? Autumn can be an unpredictable time of year, summer visitors have migrated south and given the recent mild conditions perhaps those birds from further north or the continent have not arrived and those migrating further south flying straight over on clear nights. Having said that, some 27 species were recorded on the walk, if not in the numbers we might have wanted but given the good company, lovely weather and an appreciation of how lucky we are to have such a wonderful site as Foots Cray Meadows to enjoy we left knowing that we’d return again, either individually or on another organised visit in the future.

List of Species seen: Little Grebe (min 3), Cormorant, Mute Swan (pr+3 juvs), Gadwall (6), Mallard, Tufted Duck (17), Grey Heron, Moorhen, Coot, Black-headed Gull, Stock Dove, Woodpigeon, Ring-necked Parakeet, Kingfisher (2), Great Spotted Woodpecker, Grey Wagtail, Wren, Robin, Blackbird, Long-tailed Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Jay, Magpie, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Goldfinch.

Posted in Bird watching, Foots Cray Meadows, River Cray, Rivers, RSPB, Thames21, Weather | 3 Comments

Thames21 celebrates 10th anniversay

Posted on 29/10/2014 by jonathanrooks1@outlook.com

Thames21 who lead on a number of river conservation projects in the Borough have released a film to mark their 10th anniversary.

Posted in Rivers | Leave a comment

Climate report for September 2014

Posted on 29/10/2014 by jonathanrooks1@outlook.com

Latest Prime Meridian newsletter covering weather and climate, globally and locally, for September 2014.

This issue pays particular attention to the failure to keep global temperature rises below the 2^oC limit.

There have been a succession of climate summits and assurances from politicians about curtailing CO2 emissions in order to keep the rise in global temperature below 2^oC, which has been quoted widely as the threshold for dangerous climate change. In fact, CO2 emissions have continued to rise at an average of 2.5 % per decade.

The fact that surface temperature has not yet exceeded its 1998 peak is sometimes quoted by those arguing against man-made climate change as evidence that supposed global warming has ceased. Studies have confirmed, however, that warming has continued, but that it has been concentrated in the upper part of the oceans.

The apparent futility of this limit is not a new revelation. It has been the subject of concern in the scientific community for some years. “Pretending that they are chasing this unattainable goal has also allowed governments to ignore the need for massive adaptation to climate change.”

Prime Meridian is published as part the outreach programme of the Ecospheres Project – Earth Campaign. It may be copied and distributed freely by bodies seeking to raise awareness of environmental issues.

Downloadable from: https://app.box.com/s/9vijw98fg77ukglj676p

All reports we have at: https://app.box.com/s/4s0juq011umknr98rav2

Posted in Weather | Leave a comment

Hall Place and Danson House face complete loss of Council funding.

Posted on 28/10/2014 by jonathanrooks1@outlook.com

The charity that runs Danson House and Hall Place house and gardens on behalf of Bexley residents is facing the complete loss of funding over the next four years in Bexley Council’s latest round of cuts.

With 107,000 visitors a year the two sites are popular with local people and tourists to the area too. About half of the Council grant is used to pay for the management of the award winning gardens and an extensive area of parkland. It is not clear what will happen to either house or the park if the cuts go ahead as planned by Bexley Council.

The Trust generates substantial income itself from visitors, activities and grants.

The charity, Bexley Heritage Trust, has set up a survey for residents and visitors to express their opinions.

You can complete the survey here:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/BexleyHeritageTrust

Hall Place.

Posted in Bexley Council, Hall Place | 5 Comments