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Can Green Roofs Function as True Ecosystems? FREE ONLINE EVENTWednesday, November 25 • 1 PM - 2 PM GMT
Eva Drukker (Wageningen University) explores the ecology of green roofs. Can they operate as functional ecosystems?
Green roofs, exposed to wind, heat, and drought, might seem like unlikely places for ecological development. But can they become self-sustaining ecosystems? How do they interact with the surrounding flora and fauna? How quickly do they develop, and which insects choose to live there? Crucially, which design choices make these elevated habitats most supportive for biodiversity?
Can Green Roofs Function as True Ecosystems?
www.eventbrite.co.uk
Eva Drukker (Wageningen University) explores the ecology of green roofs. Can they operate as functional ecosystems?
THAMES ROAD WETLAND, INNER CRAYFORD MARSHES. NEXT STAFF SUPPORTED HABITAT MANAGEMENT SESSION IS FRIDAY 13th NOVEMBER 10.00-14.00.To book and ffi:
book.plinth.org.uk/e/0WCJmk9xkzaAmCNTk2TC
Sam Dhedhi will be down with a van full of equipment to support a larger team of volunteers than we can accomodate at our volunteer-only events. These bigger teams are essential if we are to push back the Reedbeds and maintain habitat and thus species diversity while breeding birds such as Reed Warblers are off on their winter 'holiday' in Africa.
No particular skills required. All help welcome even if you can come only once. 40% of the person hours delivered in the last 12 months have been contributed by one-time-only helpers.
At our last staffed session on 16/10 we had nine volunteers - who gave nearly 39 person-hours of labour - and one staff member.
Fortunately the weather followed the forecast, with drizzle giving way to warm sunshine shortly after we started work.
Seven people, led by Ian, dug out another significant amount of Reed rootmat and silt from the 'north-west corner pool' and piled it on the new banking by the main path.
Three of us scythed and sheared Reed opposite the road run-off -trap ditch. Due to a mechanical problem with the brushcutter, and poor servicing back-up fron the manufacturer, we have been without it for the last 6 workdays and this patch has rather got away from us. Unfortunately, we had to do without it again on this occasion. as the person who looks after and transports it was injured and unable to bring it down. Fingers crossed we get some rain-free Fridays and can catch up once we can deploy it again.
After everyone else had left, two of us reduced the height of more of the Blackthorn sucker 'hedging' along the main path and 'weeded' the Bee Orchid strip to favour the Orchids, though there was no sign of any yet. Some of the Lizard basking sites which were
getting too shaded were opened up a bit now we're into more autumnal conditions.
Photos: Sam Dhedhi, Chris Rose.
Chris Rose, Volunteer Site Manager.
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
Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.
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.
Author Archives: Chris Rose
‘Strawberry field’ on Belvedere industrial estate
Strawberry Clover (Trifolium fragiferum) is a rare plant in the London area, most frequently found in the lower Thames part of the capital. It is subtly different enough from the common White Clover on account of its slightly neater, pinker … Continue reading
Posted in Belvedere, Crossness, Plants in Bexley, Recording
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Bryony Ladybird reaches Crossness
The Bryony Ladybird (Henosepilachna argus) has been found at Crossness by Chris Rose. The GiGL dataset, and Site Manager Karen Sutton having been consulted, it appears to be a new site record for the species, which was first recorded in … Continue reading
Ringlet butterfly now at Hollyhill
Mike Robinson has sent us a nice shot of a Ringlet butterfly taken at Hollyhill open space this June. This was an expected species, having been seen at Streamway on the other side of Brook Street last year, but the … Continue reading
Posted in Bexley, Butterflies, Hollyhill open space, Recording
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‘Conservation grazing’ at Thames Road Wetland
It’s been a while since the local ponies were on the site when I was around, but last week (June 23rd) I was intently studying the spread of the rare Brookweed when there was a quiet rustling right behind me. … Continue reading
Nuxley Road, Belvedere, a Swift hotspot
There was a spectacular and heart-warming sight of 31 Swifts over the north end of Nuxley Road in Bexley village yesterday evening around half past eight, oftentimes swooping low over the buildings. One can imagine that in the past there … Continue reading
Posted in Belvedere, Bexley, Bird watching
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Bexley Council will still have your concerns at heart after you’re no longer with us ………
It’s good to know Bexley Council will continue to studiously pay attention to our interests once we’re no longer alive, as implied by this banner at Erith Cemetery, but ‘listening to you, working for you’ is, perhaps, somewhat beyond even … Continue reading
Hollyhill OS, new site record and Marbled White still present
Good numbers of the two small Skipper species were present in the long grass at Hollyhill Open Space, a Grade 1 SINC, this evening, with both Essex Skippers and Small Skippers eventually confirmed by getting close enough to a resting … Continue reading
Corky-fruited Water Dropwort confirmed present on Bexley part of Woodlands Farm
Rodney Burton, compiler of the 1983 Flora of the London area, was at Woodlands farm recently, and was able to confirm that Corky-fruited Water Dropwort (Oenanthe pimpinelloides) does indeed occur on the Bexley part of the farm, the greater part … Continue reading
Posted in Bexley, Plants in Bexley, Recording, Welling, Woodlands Farm
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Crossness Kestrels star on Newsshopper website
The pair of Kestrels breeding at Crossness, which recently featured on ‘BW’, have now made it onto the News Shopper website, complete with further fabulous photos taken by Richard Spink, following some media work by Site Manager Karen Sutton. http://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/13354210.PICTURED__Kestrels_have_returned_to_Crossness_nature_reserve__Bexley/ It’s … Continue reading
Posted in Bexley, Bird watching, Crossness Nature Reserve, Raptors
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