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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
A future for parks in the face of further Council cuts?
Think tank, Policy Exchange, have just published a report on the importance of public open space and the particular threats in the face of repeated Council cut backs. “Our report highlights the importance of parks and other urban green spaces … Continue reading
Posted in Parks
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Thames Estuary Airport impact on birds.
BTO reports on plans for the Thames Estuary airport British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) ecologists have recently reported on controversial proposals to build an airport on the Isle of Grain in the Thames Estuary. The study shows that this development … Continue reading
Danson Park July records
Last month’s records of wildlife sightings in Danson Park from John Turner. We are always pleased to receive records of observations. Email to JonathanRooks@virginmedia.com. We keep copies of reports in a cloud folder at https://app.box.com/s/b9fbraryiqo4h4wblbf6 04/07/2014 07/07/2014 15/07/2014 21/07/2014 a.m. … Continue reading
Posted in Bird watching, Recording
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Reintegrating Bexley’s Rivers
An interesting opinion piece published on the Thames21 website by Theo Thomas in which he discusses the need for Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS) and how they can be retrofitted giving us more environmental areas, cleaner rivers and reducing the risk of … Continue reading
Posted in Rivers, Sustainable housing
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Thames Tideway Tunnel will reduce pollution
There are interesting videos on the Thames Tideway Tunnel website explaining the need for this major engineering project which will reduce the pollution of the Thames. With sewage and other rubbish in the Thames taking weeks and sometimes months to … Continue reading
Posted in Rivers
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Danson Park wildlife reports June 2014
Latest records from regular Danson Park visitor, John Turner. We are always interested in receiving reports if you are regularly visiting a particular site. 06/06/2014 17/06/2014 26/27/06/14 a.m. a.m. a.m. Great-crested Grebe 2+2juv 2+2juv 2+2juv Little Grebe 1 1 … Continue reading
Posted in Bird watching, Recording
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Cattle in parks in Havering
Havering Council are showing some initiative in the management of the grass in Bedfords Park. Undoubtedly motivated by the £300,000 saving they expect to make over the next ten years, but the use of grazing animals to manage vegetation is widespread … Continue reading
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Bexleyheath Broadway Shopping Centre takes action on water conservation.
It is good to see a local commercial organisation taking action to reduce its environmental impact. Unfortunately Bexley Council’s planning officers seem to keen to accept excuses from developers and not even apply there onwn policies on environmental aspects. So, … Continue reading
Posted in Environment, Planning, Uncategorized
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Warmest May globally since 1880
Latest Prime Meridian newsletter covering weather and climate for May 2014. It can also be downloaded at: https://app.box.com/s/d59zruolzq5bmf5o2c8a Prime Meridian is published as part the outreach programme of the Ecospheres Project – Earth Campaign.
Posted in Weather
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Tigers in Bexley
I have been lucky enough to have the Jersey Tiger Moth in my garden. This is a day flying spectacular moth. Although I have only ever seen one at a time, I have seen them over the last three years. … Continue reading
Posted in Butterflies, Gardens
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