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FRIENDS OF THE RIVER CRAY AT CRAYFORD*** REVISED SCHEDULE ***
Below is the revised schedule for our next few dates (issued 27/4), which involve litter removal and sometimes vegetation management.
The three sessions up to 5/7 are on Fridays and run from 10am to around 12.30 (may be 1pm with packing up). The meeting point is where Barnes Cray Road in Crayford meets Footpath 106 (graphic attached).
3rd May - postponed until 17th May (to avoid clash with River Cray Himalayan Balsam clearance event)
7th June
5th July - postponed until 19th July - (to avoid clash with River Cray Himalayan Balsam clearance event) - (hoildays allowing - I'll see who is available)
Our next session is going to involve undergrowth cutting so long sleeves needed!
2nd August - this session will be on the St Paul's Cray/ Sidcup border, at Ruxley Gravel Pits Nature Reserve, near Foots Cray Tesco's. We will be joining the North West Kent Countryside Partnership for a litter pick on a beautiful site with 3 lakes.
This site is not usually open to the public so it is a fantastic opportunity to see it. We hope to remove all litter from the site, a task started by volunteers in the winter but with water levels too high to finish it.
I am happy to walk you round any of the site you have not seen whilst litter picking. NWKCP is likely to offer lifts from Hall Place - details to follow.
For more details of the Himalayan Balsam work, please see the post of 21/4 on this page.
Best wishes
Sarah
UPCOMING NORTH WEST KENT COUNTRYSIDE PARTNERSHIP EVENT IN BEXLEY:Wednesday 1st and Thursday 2nd May – Trinity School, Erith Rd, Belvedere DA17 6HT
We will be constructing a series of steps at Trinity School in Erith to enable better access for the students in their nature area.
Led by: Mark Gallant (07740 185228)
Meeting Time and Place: 9am if needing a lift from Hall Place or 10am at reception if meeting at the school. There is limited parking along Erith Road and inside the school car park as well. Toilets will be available at the school.
What3words: ///dizzy.cloth.slime
maps.app.goo.gl/Hpff46F4b3DioKwP7
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.
Trinity Church of England School, Belvedere · Erith Rd, Belvedere DA17 6HT, Storbritannien
maps.app.goo.gl
★★★☆☆ · Högstadieskola/gymnasium
Lesnes Abbey Woods conservation work session, 5th May. Ffi: friendsoflesnesabbeyandwoods.com
All welcome at Thames21 Wetland Discovery event, Gallions Lake, Thamesmead. 25th April.Booking and more details at:
book.plinth.org.uk/e/JYiK5o1EZLcHRsZef1be?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR2VOcdNkoirlIYi9D_rnqDRw9n9ED...
Gallions Lake Wetland Discovery (Nature Forum)
book.plinth.org.uk
<p><br></p><p>🌿 Join Thames21 for an unforgettable evening of discovery at Gallions Lake! 🌊</p><p><br></p><p>📅 Date: April 25th</p><p>🕒 Time: 17:30 - 18:45</p><p><br></p><p>Meet off Whinch...
THAMES21 LAUNCHES CONTINUATION OF TARGETED HIMALAYAN BALSAM ERADICATION PROGRAMME ON RIVER CRAY.Past attempts to tackle the plentiful Himalayan Balsam on the Cray have jumped around from one location to another, with no sustained effort working from upstream downward. Consequently, plants removed from lower down the river can simply be replaced by seed washed down from further up. Balsam seed only remains viable for a couple of years, so a more disciplined approach could start to clear the river of it.
Micahel O'Neill will be leading 6 events in total over this spring and summer period, 3 on the upper stretch of the affected Cray, 3 on the next stretch down.
The upper stretch being from Water Lane off North Cray Road, down to Old Bexley Village, the lower stretch being from Old Bexley Village to the confluence of the river Shuttle, next to Dartfordians Rugby Club.
Dates and links are given below for both the Thames21 website (which carries background details) and for the Plinth event sign up pages.
Please send these dates on to your contacts if you think they would be interested in getting involved, either as a volunteer or to coordinate control works on the Cray river.
Any questions, please do let me know.
Here are the links:
book.plinth.org.uk/e/y60VP19JxW7up2gnWQOP 1st event - 26/4/24
book.plinth.org.uk/e/m2F8e62NkwUwurdy4diJ 2nd event - 03/5/24
book.plinth.org.uk/e/i0JY9SORp1q0JstoVRTF 3rd event - 24//5/24
book.plinth.org.uk/e/gpVVKbNti5oxiuP8lmZg 4th event - 31/5/24
book.plinth.org.uk/e/S1vEqb7sJoztovKqWxvg 5th event (London River Week) 21/6/24
book.plinth.org.uk/e/04q3NEldqncXlKLf5H1K 6th event - 5/7/24
www.thames21.org.uk/event/cray-river-balsam-blitz/
( 1st Event)
www.thames21.org.uk/event/cray-river-balsam-blitz-2/ (2nd Event)
www.thames21.org.uk/event/cray-river-balsam-blitz-3/
( 3rd Event)
www.thames21.org.uk/event/cray-river-balsam-blitz-5/
( 4th Event)
www.thames21.org.uk/event/cray-river-balsam-blitz-6/
( 5th Event) London
Rivers Week
www.thames21.org.uk/event/cray-river-balsam-blitz-4/
( 6th Event)
Kind regards
Michael O'Neill
Engagement Officer
M +44 (0)7597584363| W www.thames21.org.uk
Tag Archives: Thames Road Wetland
Brown Argus booming in Bexley – or just previously overlooked?
The Brown Argus butterfly (Aricia agestis) has been found in some new Bexley sites in recent weeks. It was identified at Braeburn Park. Between 2 and 4 individuals have been seen at Grasmere Road allotment site in the past fortnight. … Continue reading
Posted in Butterflies
Tagged Braeburn Park, Brown Argus, Perry Street Farm, Thames Road Wetland
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Wasp Spider boom at Thames Road Wetland
There is an unusually large number of Wasp Spiders (Argiope bruennichi) at Thames Road Wetland this year, something first noticed by Jason Steel a week ago when he counted 32. Yesterday I managed 38, though I wouldn’t say this was … Continue reading
Posted in Invertebrates, Recording, Thames Road Wetland
Tagged Argiope bruennichi, Thames Road Wetland, Wasp Spider
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New rarity – Britain’s ‘largest’ fly, the Hornet Robber – found at Thames Road Wetland
Jason Steel, a leading local wildlife photographer, has captured a picture of the rare Hornet Robber Fly (Asilus crabroniformis), at Thames Road Wetland. According to Buglife, this predatory species, which protects itself by resembling a Hornet, is thought to now … Continue reading
Nest confirms continued Harvest Mouse presence at Thames Road Wetland
A Harvest Mouse nest was found at Thames Road Wetland on June 20th, whilst cutting vegetation to maintain access along the path on one of the ditch bunds. It was only a couple of inches above ground, and woven into … Continue reading
Posted in Harvest Mouse, Thames Road Wetland
Tagged Common Lizard, Harvest Mouse, Reed Bunting, Swift, Thames Road Wetland, Thames21
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Hall Place Hiders make first group visit to Thames Road Wetland
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 … Continue reading
Lots of wildlife activity at Thames Road Wetland, but another motorcycle dumped in the water
The first Odonata of the year were in evidence at Thames Road Wetland on May 12th, with a Large Red Damselfly and a few Azure Damselflies seen. Three or four different Peacocks and a Brimstone butterfly were spotted, along with … Continue reading
Out of Africa – Reed Warblers back at Thames Road Wetland
The welcome chuntering of Reed Warblers could be heard once again at Thames Road Wetland on 18th April, my first visit since March 30th. There is obviously an advantage in making the effort to come all the way back to … Continue reading
Absence makes the heart grow fonder – Little Egret shows up at Thames Road Wetland
The first Little Egret ‘on the deck’ at Thames Road Wetland since winter 2014/15 was seen in the ‘west pool’ on the 30th March. This apparent absence (though for much of the time the site is unmonitored) is perplexing given … Continue reading
Marsh Harrier seen over Thames Road Wetland as Peregrine perches on nearby pylon
The Marsh Harrier, once extremely rare in the UK, has made something of a comeback. Following a report of a female in the area on March 10th by Ian Stewart, I also saw a female fly low over the site … Continue reading