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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
Corky-fruited Water-dropwort: a new record for this very scarce London species in Bexley
On 23rd July 2014 a number of plants of Corky-fruited Water-dropwort (Oenanthe pimpinelloides), a member of the carrot family, and a species of conservation concern for Greater London due to its rarity in the capital, were found in an uncultivated … Continue reading
Posted in Coldblow, Plants in Bexley, Recording
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Crossness records preview: April – June 2014
The next Friends of Crossness newsletter is imminent, but a preview of the April to June wildlife records that will be published therein has been circulated by Site Manager Karen Sutton. Karen does a massive job collating all the data … Continue reading
Posted in Crossness Nature Reserve, Recording, SINC, Volunteering
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The importance and management of heath and acid grassland – free lecture series
The placenames Bexleyheath, Northumberland Heath, Lessness Heath and road names such as Little Heath Road, Heath Way and Broomfield Road attest to the heathland heritage of large parts of the Borough of Bexley. Heather-dominated heath survives (with management) in Lesnes … Continue reading
Posted in Bexley Council, Heathland, SINC
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Largest (and rare) aquatic beetle in the UK is new record for Crossness
While carrying out habitat work on Crossness Nature Reserve recently, Karen Sutton, and volunteer Reg, stumbled across a specimen of the huge and incredibly impressive Great Silver Water Beetle (Hydrophilus piceus). This member of the Hydrophilidae family, was found wandering along … Continue reading
Posted in Crossness, Invertebrates
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Cray team tackles multiplicity of tasks, looks for Oct 2nd volunteers
Michael Heath writes: This last week had the team of regular Volunteer River Keepers on the Lower Cray at the Thames21 yard, sorting out the kit in the van, which was woefully untidy (even to by my standards), following a … Continue reading
Friends of the Shuttle clear 20 bags of litter
Mandy Stevens reports: Friends of the Shuttle carried out another successful litter pick along the Riverdale stretch of the river on Thursday 25th September. We collected 20 bags of assorted rubbish (including 8 bags of recyclables) and assorted bits of … Continue reading
Bexley RSPB Crayford Marshes bird walk, 23rd September 2014
Ralph and Brenda Todd write: Twelve members joined us for a 3 hour walk in glorious sunshine and warm conditions. We met in Moat Lane then walked past Howbury Manor and moat where 4 male Chaffinches were busy feeding. Twelve … Continue reading
Posted in Bird watching, Crayford Marshes, RSPB
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Thames bridges, traffic pollution and Bexley mortality
Public Health England, in a report published earlier this year, estimates an annual excess death rate in Bexley (based on 2010) caused by airborne particulate pollutants – much of which comes from road traffic – as 122, with 1,255 years … Continue reading
Posted in Bexley Council, Planning, Thames bridges
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Cray project maintains momentum as sun shines
Michael Heath writes: The river Cray project continued to bask in the autumn sunshine this week with two clean up events for the lower Cray on Tuesday 16th and Thursday 18th September. They involved a number of officer workers enjoying … Continue reading
FoCNR pressure improves Norman Road outlook – but major battles lie ahead
We have previously provided a partial report on the result of the Norman Road planning application. The following update has been written for the upcoming Friends of Crossness Nature Reserve newsletter, and contains the news that the developer has now … Continue reading
Posted in Bexley Council, BNEF, Crossness Nature Reserve, Planning
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