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THAMES ROAD WETLAND HITS 20 SPECIES OF ODONATAThames Road Wetland, managed by Thames21 volunteers, has seen an increase of 6 species of Odonata in the last 12 months, adding a couple of the newer arrivals in the UK that have been present at other sites in the Borough for a while now and two undergoing general range expansion. This is likely to be due to increased observer effort, with a helper who lives fairly close now visiting the site 2 or 3 times a week.
Autumn 2025 saw the addition of Scarce Chaser.
A Four-spotted Chaser was photographed on 5th June 2026, a Norfolk Hawker on 1st July, a pair of copulating Southern Migrant Hawkers on July 22nd and a Southern Hawker on 21st August.
A Lesser Emperor was also seen.
Although only 2ha in area, the site benefits from a large expanse of floodplain land to the south and west, and the Outer Crayford Marshes and Dartford Marshes stretching down to the Thames to the north of Thames Road.
The full list of species is currently:
Damselflies (6) - Azure, Banded Demoiselle, Blue-tailed, Common Blue, Large Red, Willow Emerald.
Dragonflies (14) - Hairy, Brown Hawker, Migrant Hawker, Norfolk (Green-eyed) Hawker, Southern Hawker, Southern Migrant Hawker, Emperor, Lesser Emperor, Broad-bodied Chaser, Four-spotted Chaser, Scarce Chaser, Black-tailed Skimmer, Common Darter, Ruddy Darter.
Thanks to Jim and Tom for photos.
Chris Rose, Volunteer Site Manager
UPCOMING LONDON NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY EVENTS AT BEXLEY SITESNon-members welcome on a 'taster' basis. To join: www.lnhs.org.uk/index.php/join-now (£20 p.a., under 18/students £5)
Great for beginners as well as the more experienced.
Sat Nov 7th. 2026. 10.00-14.00. London Bird Club section of the LNHS. Danson Park. Meet Welling station. Leader Bexley RSPB's very own Harry Halstead.
Sat Nov 21st. 2026. 10.00-14.00. LBC. Meet Belvedere station 10.00. Leader George Kalli.
Sat 16th Jan. 2027. 10.00-14.00. LBC. Crayford Marshes. Meet Slade Green station 10.00. Leader Harry Halstead.
Sat 6th Feb 2027. 10.00-14.00. LBC. Crayford Rough and Hall Place Gardens. Leader Harry Halstead.
For full list of events across London, covering a wide variety of wildlife topics, see:
www.lnhs.org.uk/index.php/activities/full-programme
JOIN A WETLAND HABITAT WORK SESSION AT CRAYFORD MARSHES ......The next Thames21 staff-supported event at Thames Road Wetland, an important wildlife site on the Inner Crayford Marshes, will be on Friday 11th September.
We will be clearing cut Reed to retain open pools, digging out Reed rootmat to 'recover' open water areas for Dragonflies and Water Voles and clearing out more of the road run-off trap so that it has plenty of capacity once the autumn rains kick in.
Samantha Dhedhi will be bringing all equipment provided. No sophisticated skills needed. A chance to meet new people and get close to wildlife.
Basic refreshments available. Loos available at the nearby council depot.
Ffi/to book:
book.plinth.org.uk/e/0WCJmk9xkzaAmCNTk2TC
Looking for a career in environment/wildlife conservation?LONDON WILDLIFE TRUST - Green careers showcase event ..........
www.facebook.com/LondonWildlifeTrust/posts/pfbid0sx533b2dpvpBAVtfA8MiqqZrdxHRBuVnLR97cuL82USNpJSP...
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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
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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
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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
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
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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
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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
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
Posted in Ruxley Gravel Pits, Volunteering
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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
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
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