Our Facebook Posts
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
goo.gl
Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.
Author Archives: jonathanrooks1@outlook.com
Hall Place and Danson House face complete loss of Council funding.
The charity that runs Danson House and Hall Place house and gardens on behalf of Bexley residents is facing the complete loss of funding over the next four years in Bexley Council’s latest round of cuts. With 107,000 visitors a … Continue reading
Posted in Bexley Council, Hall Place
5 Comments
Meeting for anti-bridge campaigners
London Assembly member Darren Johnson AM (Green Party) will host a public meeting at City Hall on November 18th, starting at 9am for 9.30. To register your interest, please e-mail Rachel Carlill <Rachel.Carlill@london.gov.uk> and put ‘register’ in the subject line. … Continue reading
Posted in Belvedere, Bexley Council, Planning, River Thames, Thamesmead
Leave a comment
Thames 21 river conservation events October – December 2014
Events River Cray Catchment Thames 21 – October to December 2014. Here are the autumn early winter events for Thames21 on the Cray. We have now fully started the Veolia Environmental Trust funded project for the River Cray at Foots … Continue reading
Posted in River Cray, River Shuttle, Rivers, Thames21, Volunteering
Leave a comment
August 2014 was the hottest August on record
Global climate: August 2014 was the hottest August on record. The report for July 2014 Prime Meridian is published as part the outreach programme of the Ecospheres Project – Earth Campaign. The purpose of the Earth Campaign is to highlight the vital importance … Continue reading
Posted in Weather
Leave a comment
Winter programme of events at Crossness
Posted in Crossness Nature Reserve, Volunteering
Leave a comment
National House Martin Survey in 2015 – could you help locally?
The British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) will be conducting a national survey of House Martin nests next year in a bid to help understand their national decline. The BTO say “Volunteers have helped us to collect information about breeding House Martins on their … Continue reading
Posted in Bird watching, Recording, Volunteering
Leave a comment
Autumn wildflower gardening
Tips from the National Wildflower Centre for autumn activities for your wildflower garden. Collect Your Own Seed Look for the seed in your wildflowers going brown and dry (dessicated). Simply collect this ripe seed and either drop it straight back … Continue reading
Posted in Gardening for wildlife
Leave a comment
Analysis of this year’s Big Butterfly count
Butterfly Conservation do an annual summer survey of butterflies. here is their analysis of the over 44,000 returns they received.
Posted in Uncategorized
Leave a comment
BNEF Comments on the initial Erith Quarry development proposals
700 homes planned for a Grade 1 Site of Importance for Nature conservation Here is Bexley Natural Environment Forum’s general submission on the initial proposals from the developers, presented at a public exhibition in July. BNEF is the umbrella body … Continue reading
Posted in Erith Quarry, Planning, SINC
Leave a comment