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RARE BUMBLEBEE SEEN AT LESNESRare bumblebee recorded at historic London site - Bumblebee Conservation Trust
www.bumblebeeconservation.org
In an exciting moment for the capital city, a scarce bumblebee has been recorded at an historic London site this summer by a Bumblebee Conservation Trust volunteer.
NORTH WEST KENT COUNTRYSIDE PARTNERSHIP - RUXLEY GRAVEL PITS NATURE RESERVE HABITAT MANAGEMENT SESSIONS IN NOVEMBERWednesday 4th – Ruxley Gravel Pits, Edgington Way, Orpington, BR5 3HY
We will be doing path clearance.
Led by: Lucy Sawyer-Boyd (07809334071)
Meeting Time and Place: 10am at the site. The gate must be kept locked, if there is no-one there to open it, please call Lucy’s mobile. DO NOT block the gate by parking in front of it while you wait! Follow the track and park underneath the A20. Plenty of parking. Portaloo available, but usually far from work site.
goo.gl/maps/S2NBZUfT2mTkbgX17
What3words:
Entrance: ///noises.sheet.reject
Parking: ///hopes.gender.gums
Thursday 5th – Ruxley Gravel Pits, Edgington Way, Orpington, BR5 3HY
We will be continuing to clear the path along with pollarding and coppicing the willow trees in the reed bed.
Led by: Lucy Sawyer-Boyd (07809334071)
Meeting Time and Place: as above.
goo.gl/maps/S2NBZUfT2mTkbgX17
What3words:
Entrance: ///noises.sheet.reject
Parking: ///hopes.gender.gums
Saturday 14th – Ruxley Gravel Pits, Edgington Way, Orpington, BR5 3HY
We will be continuing to pollard and coppicing the willow trees growing in the reed bed.
Please bring your own refreshments for this day.
Led by: Lucy Sawyer-Boyd (07809334071)
Meeting Time and Place: as above.
goo.gl/maps/S2NBZUfT2mTkbgX17
What3words:
Entrance: ///noises.sheet.reject
Parking: ///hopes.gender.gums
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.
51°24'41.7"N 0°07'10.5"E · 51.411583, 0.119583
goo.gl
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DARTFORD HEATH - GUIDED WALK AND HEATHER SEED COLLECTION FOR HABITAT RESTORATIONWe are holding a Heather Seed Collection & Restoration Event on Dartford Heath on Tuesday 27th October, 13.30-17.00.
The event will include a guided walk to learn about Dartford Heath, the wildlife it supports, and the restoration work taking place on the site. We'll then collect heather seed from across the heath before sowing some into pots for growing on and we'll spread seed directly onto recently restored areas.
If you would like to attend, you can book your place here:
www.eventbrite.com/e/dartford-heath-heather-restoration-tickets-2003598820006
All the best,
Nina Skinner <Nina.Skinner@kent.gov.uk>
Partnership Officer | North West Kent Countryside Partnership
Dartford Heath Heather Restoration
www.eventbrite.com
Join us to help restore Dartford Heath! Collect heather seed and sow it into trays to grow future plants for heathland restoration.
HELP MANAGE THE PONDS AT FOOTS CRAY MEADOWSThe natural process of succession will result in small ponds eventually becoming full of vegetation and drying out.
Thames21 will be clearing some of the in-water plants and thinning surrounding vegetation on 28th October.
A small event with only 8 places available, so if you'd like to join in, book quickly.
Foots Cray Meadows - Vegetation Management & Clearing
book.plinth.org.uk
<p>Join us at beautiful <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.footscraymeadows.org/"><strong><u>Foots Cray Meadows</u></strong></a><strong> </strong>close to the historic <str...
Author Archives: Chris Rose
Thames Road Wetland latest – Mk2 Harvest Mouse ‘safety’ tubes, Brown Argus confirmed and dumped car reported to police
Much time was spent yesterday (7th September) replacing Mark1 Harvest Mouse monitoring feeding tubes with a much safer Mk2 version that is also attached to a bamboo cane rather than in-situ vegetation. The new design features an ‘escape’ hatch at … Continue reading
Posted in Bexley Council, Butterflies, Dragonflies and Damselflies, Reptiles and Amphibians, Thames Road Wetland
Tagged Bexley Council, Brown Argus, Cetti's Warbler, Grass Snake, Harvest Mouse, Marsh Frog, marsh sow-thistle, Migrant Hawker, Police Crayford Safer Neighbourhood Team, River Wansunt, Thames Road Wetland
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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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Crossness Nature Reserve – new events schedule
Somewhat belatedly, here’s the autumn and winter schedule of events for Crossness. Please do try and get down and support one of the best wildlife sites in Bexley. You will receive a warm welcome, and pre-booking helps Karen arrange enough … Continue reading
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Braeburn Park (LWT) to Churchfield Wood and St. Mary’s Churchyard. Some plants and insects seen on 16th August.
On a warm sunny day at London Wildlife Trust’s Braeburn Park reserve there were fair numbers of butterflies about. Holly Blues were seen across the site. Some male (mostly) and female Common Blues were on the large grassy/scrubby bund to west … Continue reading
Posted in Bexley, Butterflies, Churchfield Wood, Invasive species, Invertebrates, London Wildlife Trust, Plants in Bexley, Recording, vegetation management, Volunteering, wild flowers
Tagged Braeburn Park, Brown Argus, Churchfield wood, Hare's-foot Clover, Harebell, Hazel coppice, Jersey Tiger moth, London Wildlife Trust, Marjoram, Old Bexley, Small Heath, Southern Hawker, St. Mary's churchyard, Tansy, Tree of Heaven, Upright Hedge-parsley, Wasp Spider, Wild Basil
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It’s Gold on former Thamesview golf course for Mike Robinson
Mike Robinson’s find of six Golden Dock (Rumex maritimus) plants in late July, at the former Thamesview golf course to the west of Crossness, has now been confirmed by Dock expert Geoffrey Kitchener of the Kent Botanical Recording Group. Very … Continue reading
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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Some recent Bexley butterfly photos by Mike Robinson
A Painted Lady Butterfly rests on the Foreshore beside the Thames in the Erith area ~ 3 August 2016 pic.twitter.com/p11459Rzyc — Mike Robinson (@MikeFRobinson) August 3, 2016 A Small Tortoiseshell Butterfly visits Buddleia flowering beside the Thames Path in the … Continue reading
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
Bexley Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation review saga – two and a half years later and still no sense of urgency
Bexley Natural Environment Forum continues to press Bexley Council on the long-overdue sign-off on the 2013 review by the London Wildlife Trust of the Borough’s existing and potential new Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation. The fact that the deadline … Continue reading
Cemeteries are haven for Harebell and other uncommon plants
Harebell (Campanula rotundifolia) , a rare plant in London, and other species that are uncommon in the capital or Bexley, such as various low-growing clovers, Trailing St. John’s-wort, Changing Forget-me-not and Ivy Broomrape find a haven in the Borough’s cemeteries where … Continue reading