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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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FRIENDS OF THE CRAY AT CRAYFORD - WORKING ALONG BY-WAY 105, Friday 4th September.We are meeting next Friday at 10am in our usual location where footpath 106 meets Barnes Cray Road.
We have had a request from the Council to see if we can get some large items out of the river along 105. This includes a commercial waste bin which may be a challenge especially if the river is high.
We will initially be assessing this, and if we have enough volunteers, trying to remove at least the easy one.
Wear work clothes. Bring any food and drink you may require.
All other necesary equipment provided.
Best wishes,
Sarah
NORTH WEST KENT COUNTRYSIDE PARTNERSHIP - SEPTEMBER HABITAT MANAGEMENT SESSIONSAt Dartford Heath, just outside Bexley, and Joydens Wod, which straddles the Bexley-Dartford border ...........
Tuesday 1st - Dartford Heath
We will be bracken pulling on Dartford Heath, this will help reduce bracken dominance and support the restoration of diverse heathland vegetation. We will be working in the compartment opposite the car park on Heath Lane (maps.app.goo.gl/cCtvcSevJ5WsDg7YA).
Led by: Nina Skinner (07816128553)
Meeting Time and Place: 9am at Trosley Country Park or 10am if meeting at Dartford Heath car park, Heath Lane (Upper), Dartford DA1 2TN maps.app.goo.gl/jw17ArhgFUu24zwz9.
Wednesday 2nd, Thursday 3rd – Joydens Wood, Summerhouse Drive, Dartford DA2 7PB
We will be removing reeds that have choked up one of the ponds on site, along with cutting back vegetation that is growing in and around another pond which is struggling to retain water. Depending on if we get any rain waders maybe required for this task so please let me know your shoe size beforehand so that I can provide these.
Led by: Stephanie Johnson (07816128570)
Also Wednesday 16th – same details but led by Nina Skinner (07816128553).
Wednesday 23rd – Joydens Wood Ponds or Gattons Plantation Pond
Depending on our progress we will either be continuing our work at the two ponds we worked on in the previous weeks in the main section of Joydens Wood or moving on to vegetation clearance around Gatton’s Plantation pond which is in a different section. Steph will confirm the working area along with sending out the new meeting details if we are moving to this new pond. Brush cutter operators maybe required if working on Gatton’s Plantation pond.
Led by: Stephanie Johnson (07816128570)
Meeting Time and Place: details to be sent out and confirmed the week before.
Just a quick reminder that 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.
UPCOMING WOODLANDS FARM WILDLIFE SURVEYSThe last few bee walks of the year are coming up. As usual they will be at 2pm and they will be taking place on Monday 14th September and Friday 9th October.
Also wanted to get feedback if anyone interested in a moth survey? Due to being fully booked with schools I won't be around to help with any, however we could do one on a Thursday again where I put the trap out for you Wednesday night. If you would be interested in helping with this please let me know and if any preferred weeks.
Thank you.
Hannah Ricketts
Education Officer
<education@thewoodlandsfarmtrust.org>
Working Days: Monday and Wednesday - Friday.
The Woodlands Farm Trust
331 Shooters Hill
Welling
Kent
DA16 3RP
Tel: 020 8319 8900
Author Archives: Chris Rose
Male and female Willow Emerald at Foots Cray Meadows
Despite the overcast and breezy conditions, both a male and a female Willow Emerald Damselfly (Chalcolestes viridis) were seen at Foots Cray Meadows on 27th September by Chris Rose and Wren Rose. These are the second and third sightings in … Continue reading
Lower Plants in Nature – free lecture series
Birkbeck Free Lecture Series. Friday evenings 14th October to 18th November 2016. Lecture Theatre B34, Birkbeck, University of London, Torrington Square. 18.30 – 20.00. Just turn up – no charge. “Lower plants” is a term routinely used by botanists to include … Continue reading
Support declining wildlife on Crayford Marshes – please take 10 minutes to write a letter (before October 6th)….
Please make your voice heard for Bexley’s disappearing wildlife, using the suggestions in this post…… As many readers will know, there is a proposal from a company called Roxhill to destroy Green Belt and most of a Site of Importance … Continue reading
Erith Quarry – a response to ‘developer’ spin in the online News Shopper article
Reference the news Shopper’s latest Erith Quarry article: http://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/14762148.Hundreds_of_snakes_and_lizards_ca/ It’s very disappointing to see that an old, rather selective, photo giving the impression that the quarry site is an unkempt rubbish dump has been wheeled out again to contrast with the ‘developer’s’ artist’s … Continue reading
Two years on and Bexley Council planning pages still mislead on objections
Twenty four months after Bexley Natural Environment Forum first raised the matter, Bexley Council’s ‘view planning applications online’ webpages continue to wrongly state that the group has made no comments on proposals to damage Sites of Importance to Nature Conservation and … Continue reading
Willow Emerald Damselfly has now been found in Bexley
The first known Willow Emerald Damselfly (Chalcolestes viridis) for Bexley, a male, has been found and photographed at Footscray Meadows today (September 24th) by Ian Stewart, a week after he recorded the species at nearby Ruxley Gravel Pits, which was … Continue reading
Stripey spider psychedelia at Thames Road Wetland
We recently reported on the unusually large number of Wasp Spiders (Argiope bruennichi) at Thames Road Wetland during August 2016. Jason Steel, who first drew attention to this, has kindly provided the following photographs taken at the site. We have … Continue reading
Posted in Recording, Thames Road Wetland
Tagged Argiope bruennichi, Jason Steel, Thames Road Wetland, Wasp Spider
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Bexley RSPB visit to Thames Road Wetland
Just 6 of us turned out early on a dull morning with rain forecast, for a walk down the river Cray from Crayford town centre and around Thames Road Wetland, but it’s probably about the best number for keeping people … Continue reading
Posted in Bexley, Bird watching, Crayford, Plants in Bexley, Reedbeds, River Cray, River Wansunt, Rivers, RSPB, Thames Road Wetland
Tagged Bexley RSPB, River Cray, Thames Road Wetland
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Willow Emerald damselfly found at Ruxley, on Bexley’s doorstep ….
The Willow Emerald Damselfly (Chalcolestes viridis), one of Britain’s newest natural colonist species, has been found and photographed by bicycling birder Ian Stewart at Ruxley Gravel pits on 6th September. The identification, and status as the first record of the species … Continue reading
Clouded Yellow, and once-extinct-in-UK moth, found on doomed Crayford Town centre site
A Clouded Yellow butterfly (Colias croceus), primarily an immigrant species, originating from northern Africa and southern Europe, was seen on the former Electrobase site in Crayford this afternoon (11th September). More usually a very occasional sight in our ‘coastal’ areas of … Continue reading