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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.
DARTFORD HEATH - GUIDED WALK AND HEATHER SEED COLLECTION FOR HABITAT RESTORATIONWe are holding a Heather Seed Collection & Restoration Event on Dartford Heath on Tuesday 27th October, 13.30-17.00.
The event will include a guided walk to learn about Dartford Heath, the wildlife it supports, and the restoration work taking place on the site. We'll then collect heather seed from across the heath before sowing some into pots for growing on and we'll spread seed directly onto recently restored areas.
If you would like to attend, you can book your place here:
www.eventbrite.com/e/dartford-heath-heather-restoration-tickets-2003598820006
All the best,
Nina Skinner <Nina.Skinner@kent.gov.uk>
Partnership Officer | North West Kent Countryside Partnership
Dartford Heath Heather Restoration
www.eventbrite.com
Join us to help restore Dartford Heath! Collect heather seed and sow it into trays to grow future plants for heathland restoration.
Category Archives: Uncategorized
Stag Beetle Survey 2015
The first Stag Beetle reports for the year are coming in. In addition to letting us know you can support the national survey run by the People’s Trust for Endangered Species. http://www.stagbeetles.co.uk/reportasighting.htm If you want to know what you can … Continue reading
Posted in Beetles, Uncategorized
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Some Shuttle wildlife observations, June 4th – another Hairy Dragonfly range expansion?
Call it a bit mercenary, but I helped out on the BETHs stretch clean-up so I could cover a part of the river I’d not done before for the Water Vole survey I’m leading, without having to make special arrangements … Continue reading
Posted in Bexley, Bexley Woods, Bird watching, Butterflies, Crossness, Dragonflies and Damselflies, Friends of the Shuttle, Hollyoak Wood Park, Lamorbey, Marlborough Park, Parish Wood Park, Parks, Plants in Bexley, Raptors, Recording, Reptiles and Amphibians, River Shuttle, Rivers, Sidcup Golf Course, Uncategorized, vegetation management
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Guide to caterpillars
Butterfly Conservation charity has published a guide to Caterpillars. The guide can be downloaded here: https://app.box.com/s/cd6v8qyuwejlj834ecsrtf7yz0uro5p9
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Crossness – latest newsletter highlights massive importance of this jewel in Bexley’s wildlife crown
Karen Sutton, Nature Reserve Manager and Thames Water Biodiversity Team Leader says …. I am pleased to make available our latest Friends of Crossness newsletter, packed full of great wildlife information and photos from the site – at the foot … Continue reading
‘Under new management’ – big FotS turnout for first Danson Old English Garden maintenance session
There was an impressively large turnout of Friends of the Shuttle members for the inaugural working party in the garden yesterday morning (April 23rd). The group has taken over management of the pollinator-friendly flower beds which the Council was threatening … Continue reading
London National Park Campaign takes next step
The Thames Estuary Partnership has joined the Make London a National Park Campaign. Their latest e-newsletter says: To make London the first city national park in the world might seem a bit silly until you stack up some of the … Continue reading
LACV announces packed programme for rest of year
Lesnes Abbey Conservation Volunteers, which does habitat management work in Lesnes Woods, has published a list of events for the rest of 2015. Events are free and run 12 – 3.30pm. No particular skills or great levels of fitness are … Continue reading
Posted in Environment, Uncategorized, Volunteering
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Birds in a Bexleyheath garden
John Arnold writes: ‘Dunnock and Robin ….. always at war with one another around the feeders. The Robin always starts the trouble but does not always win the battles ………….. and then the Starlings arrive and nothing else gets a … Continue reading
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Bexley Council asks residents to sponsor trees
Street trees are shown to have positive impacts on health, wildlife and property values. Unfortunately many trees planted by the council fail. It is reported that the Council will plant trees when they are ‘sponsored’. Hopefully this is in addition … Continue reading
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