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Lesnes Abbey Woods conservation work session, Sunday 1st November. Ffi: www.friendsoflesnesabbeyandwoods.com/
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
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Author Archives: jonathanrooks1@outlook.com
FOI request reveals a £10 m valuation on sale of parks.
A Freedom of Information request by Caroline Ellis has revealed the Council expect tom gain £10 million by selling off parks. *** Following your alerting us to the proposed disposal of park and open spaces, I put in a Freedom … Continue reading
Campaigners give views on Bexley’s list of 27 open spaces up for the chop
Coverage in This is Local London. http://www.thisislocallondon.co.uk/NEWS/11814720.Campaigners_give_views_on_Bexley_s_list_of_27_open_spaces_up_for_the_chop/ Campaigners give views on Bexley’s list of 27 open spaces up for the chop. On Friday (Feb 20) News Shopper revealed Bexley Council had published the list of 27 plots of land up for the … Continue reading
Posted in Bexley Council, Land sales, Parks, Planning, River Shuttle
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New Housing Zone on Thamesmead ‘brownfield site’
More homes in Bexley. There’s ‘brownfield’ and ‘brownfield’. Some brownfield sites are important wildlife areas. What’s on the site at the moment? Do you think Public Open Space will be incorporated into the development at the same time as Bexley … Continue reading
Posted in Bexley Council, brownfield, Thamesmead
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Comments made on Council Budget Consultation
The Council’s second consultation on its budget proposals closes today. A good number of our friends have made comments. Here are mine related to the parks sell off. 7. Grounds maintenance: Bring forward 2016/17 saving of an extra £113,000 to … Continue reading
Posted in Bexley Council, Budget, Land sales, Open spaces, Parks
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Weather and Climate report for December 2014
Latest Prime Meridian newsletter covering weather and climate, globally and locally, for December 2014 and annual review. 2014 has been cited by the UK’s Met Office as the warmest year in Britain since 1659. The Met Office reported that with the exception … Continue reading
Posted in Climate, Weather
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Former Mayor tells Bexley Wildlife that Danson Park not on Conservatives’ ‘Parks for Sale’ list
Commenting on one of our Facebook posts, Conservative Councillor and former Mayor Sharon Massey accused campaigners of scaremongering for having their photos taken in Danson Park and revealed that Danson is not one of the 27 public open spaces to … Continue reading
Posted in Bexley Council, Land sales, Parks, Planning
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Danson Park bird records for January 2015
Our regular update from John Turner from his weekly visits to Danson Park. Interesting to note the small numbers of ring-necked parakeets in his day time observations now that Danson is becoming a regular night time roost for around 2,000 … Continue reading
Posted in Bird watching, Ring-necked Parakeet
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Do you subscribe to Bexley Bulletin?
It seems these days that we have to keep a very close eye on the activities of Bexley Council – consultations, planning applications affecting important wildlife sites etc. The best way is probably to follow the Council’s weekly Bexley Bulletin. … Continue reading
Posted in Bexley Council, Consultations, Planning
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Is failure to replant street trees damaging local property values?
TREES IN BEXLEY. David Webb comments on Bexley Council’s cut backs in street tree planting. *** photo: During the summer of 2014 some trees along Berkeley Avenue were removed due to safety and disease reasons. These trees will not be … Continue reading
Posted in Bexley Council, Trees
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