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May Bexley RSPB events that still have places available.This content isn't available at the moment
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EARLIEST RECORDED RETURN DATE FOR BARNEHURST SWIFT NESTING ZONE.There were 3 Swifts circling over the northern half of Hillingdon Road this evening (29/4), the same place as the first ones I saw in this area in 2024. This was my first check of the year, so they could have got back even earlier.
Previous 'first dates' for this 'site' are as follows:
2024 - 1/5. None seen in an hour of circuits on 30/4
2023 - 2/5. My first check of the year so they may have arrived earlier. One reported at Crossness 28/4
2022 -8/5 (checked from 28/4)
2021 - 6/5 (had last checked 3/5)
2020 - 2/5 (first date checked)
2019 - didn't monitor
2018 - 7/5 (had checked every evening starting 1/5)
2017 - 4/5 (no prior daily checks)
2016 - 4/5 (no prior daily checks)
2015 - 6/5 (no prior daily checks)
The earliest Swifts in London this year were one at Rainham on April 14th, and another on the same date at Staines Reservoir.
Chris Rose
HELP CLEAN UP THE LOWER RIVER CRAY !Join FRIENDS OF THE CRAY AT CRAYFORD on FRIDAY 2nd May
to tackle litter along the banks of the lower Cray,
Meet 10 a.m. at the junction of Footpath 106 and Barnes Cray Road (see graphic below).
The plan is to go downriver along By-way 105 this week before the undergrowth gets too dense.
All welcome, no particular skills needed.
Equipment will be provided. Wear appropriate clothing for being out in the open and avoiding stings from Nettles and scratches from Brambles, and bring something to drink.
Best wishes
Sarah
CROSSNESS LATEST - PROTECTED AREA WILL REMAIN CLOSED OVER EASTER WEEKENDA brief update to advise that the Protected Area will remain closed over the Easter period - really sorry about this. As hard as we've tried, we can't get a new locking mechanism on the gate before next week, so it is currently padlocked shut so as to not leave us vulnerable over Easter.
I am taking advantage of the upcoming bank holidays to squeeze in some annual leave, so you will not get a notification from me about re-opening, however please assume that the Protected Area is likely to be re-opened by the following weekend.
Karen Sutton
Crossness Nature Reserve Manager
Free webinar on improving Bee 'hotel' design with Prof Dave Gouslon.Tuesday, April 22 · 1 - 2pm
Improving Bee Hotel Design: The Big Bee Hotel Experiment
www.eventbrite.co.uk
Join Prof Dave Gouslon to hear about how the Buzz Club are investigating the effectiveness of different bee hotels for UK bees.
Category Archives: Erith Quarry
Erith Quarry – work begins without Bexley Council’s promised consultation on biodiversity ‘management plan’
Bexley Council has failed to fulfil its written undertaking to consult Bexley Natural Environment Forum and London Wildlife Trust, prior to construction works beginning, about the biodiversity management plan for what little will be left of the important Erith Quarry … Continue reading
Erith Quarry – a response to ‘developer’ spin in the online News Shopper article
Reference the news Shopper’s latest Erith Quarry article: http://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/14762148.Hundreds_of_snakes_and_lizards_ca/ It’s very disappointing to see that an old, rather selective, photo giving the impression that the quarry site is an unkempt rubbish dump has been wheeled out again to contrast with the ‘developer’s’ artist’s … Continue reading
GLA committee seeks views on ‘growth’ vz environment – by 18th September
The Greater London Assembly Environment Committee is seeking evidence on the environmental pressures of London’s growth, focussing on: Energy supply, demand and distribution Water management Green infrastructure Deadline Friday 18th September. For details see: http://www.london.gov.uk/mayor-assembly/london-assembly/investigations/environmental-pressures-of-londons-growth There are already several examples … Continue reading
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
Home straight for Bexley SINC review?
The deadline for comments on the final draft of the 2013 Bexley Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation review document was about 16 months ago, so Bexley Natural Environment Forum recently wrote to Bexley Council asking when we could expect … Continue reading
More research shows lighting negatively impacts Bats – BNEF says Bexley’s proposed budget-driven lighting cuts present an opportunity to tackle the problem
New research has shown that the Common Pipistrelle Bat, often found in urban areas, has its foraging and thus feeding activity disrupted and constrained by artificial lighting, especially where there are larger gaps in tree cover: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3111115/Bats-disappearing-cities-Artificial-lights-creating-ecological-dead-zones.html Bexley Natural Environment … Continue reading
Posted in Andersons Group, Bats, Bexley Council, BNEF, Budget, Bursted Woods, Consultations, Environment, Erith Quarry, Light pollution, Mammals, SINC
Tagged wildlife corridors
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Getting to grips with plant characteristics at Crossness
Yesterday (May 20th) , Tony Wileman, from the London Wildlife Trust, came to Crossness Nature Reserve to educate us on the wonderful world of wildflower identification. Twelve people braved the dark skies and unexpected showers and learned tonnes by doing … Continue reading
‘Developer’ Andersons to cram Erith Quarry reptiles into less than half the required space
Under pressure from sharply critical submissions by Bexley Natural Environment Forum and London Wildlife Trust, the Anderson Group, which is seeking permission from Bexley Council to build over 75% of the 22ha Erith Quarry, a Grade 1 Site of Importance … Continue reading
Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation report ‘in the long grass’ for over a year – is Bexley taking biodiversity seriously?
Having recently been subject to considerable criticism over its vegetation management on sensitive wildlife sites, we would normally welcome Bexley Council’s apparent enthusiasm for some long grass, but not when it is (metaphorically) being used as a repository for the … Continue reading
Posted in Bexley Council, BNEF, Budget, Danson Park, Erith Quarry, Land sales, London Wildlife Trust, Open spaces, Planning, SINC
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