Manor Park, Green Flag Clean-up Sunday May 12th and Tuesday May 7th

With Green Flag judging looming for New Malden's Manor Park, the Kingston Greenspace Volunteers arranged two special clean-up sessions. Given the low numbers of volunteers on the Tuesday, it was decided to explore the lesser-known parts of the park, including areas dominated by elm suckers. It is noted in the 1992 Ecology Unit Handbook that this area of the park was formerly home to several large elm trees that succumbed to Dutch Elm Disease in the 1970s. However, at the inaugural meeting of the Kingston Biodiversity Network held on May 15th, we were reminded that elm is the sole food source for the increasingly rare white-letter hairstreak butterfly. As such, we'll be keeping a close watch out for these elusive creatures at Manor Park.
On the 12th we were fortunate to be joined by the girls from Marymount School in Kingston, which significantly boosted our ability to make a difference. The girls got to work clearing rubbish from along garden fence lines and then cut back brambles which were encroaching on the meadow area.
Another group worked to clear a fallen willow tree at the entrance to the park and removed a shopping trolley and other rubbish. An old pond liner was also uncovered in the bushes and was deposited in the trailer provided by Quadron Services.
With all the heavy and prickly tasks over, there was time to spend some time by the small pond which is alive with tadpoles, as well as to revisit the young woodland area where trees were thinned out last autumn. Already trees are sprouting side branches as a result of the increased light levels created by thinning the trees, and seedlings are emerging from the woodland floor.
Sadly, the park has been blighted by the insensitive actions of a private landowner. With total disregard for the integrity, wildlife value or aesthetics of the park, the landowner has uprooted  and burnt trees. As such, it is hard to see how any Green Flag judge in their right mind could give a favourable review of the park in its current state, despite the hard work of Quadron and the Kingston Greenspace Volunteers. A key concern is the proximity of the area to the pond which is a wildlife haven. The creation of the allotments may alter the hydrology of the area, and if pesticides are used on the allotments this could decimate the amphibians who call the area home.
Thankfully, the section of the woodland that is still part of the park is thriving. All concerned local residents are urged to contact their local councillor regarding this matter - Cllr. Howard Jones (howard.jones@councillors.kingston.gov.uk ), Cllr. Priyen Patel (priyen.patel@councillors.kingston.gov.uk ) or Cllr. Ken Smith (Ken.Smith@councillors.kingston.gov.uk ).

The Marymount girls clear bramble suckers from the wildflower meadow.

Then investigate the pond. 

Elliot and Gerrard armed with litter pickers.

The tranquillity of the pond with the fenced private land in the distance.

An old pond liner found amongst the bushes.

The message is clear.

Where once there was a mature woodland, now only stumps remain.

No, it's not burnt rainforest in the tropics cleared to make way for palm oil plantations, it's Manor Park in New Malden cleared to make way of allotments.

?

Bluebells defiantly blooming amongst the ashes. 

In the neighbouring area of woodland, an alder tree responds to increased light following last year's tree thinning. 

And, an ash seedling emerges from the leaf litter.

Older patches of woodland dominated by elm suckers can be found bordering the railway line.

Ivy-leaved speedwell (Veronica hederifolia) in woods near the cricket pitch.

A robin (Erithacus rubecula) sings in the area of young woodland at Manor Park, New Malden.

May 12th 2013.

 

Richmond/Kingston Thames Riverside Tidy - Saturday April 27th

The greenspace on the Surrey side (south bank) of the River Thames just upstream of Teddington Lock is perhaps the area's version of the DMZ, where an uneasy truce exists between the two borough councils. It's quite humorous that the dividing line is marked by the different grass mowing regimes and a different emphasis on street furniture along Burnell Avenue (Richmond TW10) and Dysart Avenue (Kingston KT2).
Hoping to inject some soft power into relations, the Environment Trust's Kingston Greenspace Volunteers teamed up with some of our Richmond-based regulars to hold a cross-border riverside tidy. We'd been asked by Kingston Council to trim bushes over-hanging the path and obscuring views across the Thames to ensure that this popular riverside path continues to be a safe and enjoyable place for locals and visitors to walk.
Starting by the river at Lower Ham Road in Kingston, our group walked downstream to Teddington Lock before retracing our steps back across the border into Kingston, pruning vegetation and clearing litter as we went. We were careful not to get too carried away for fear of disturbing nesting birds. There was also a surprising amount of rubbish lurking in the bushes, including a full jerry can of diesel labelled as belonging to the Albany Park Sailing Centre, that had presumably been purloined late one evening by someone after a visit to a local hostelry. The can was returned to the centre by one of our volunteers who happens to coach at the centre, thus preventing it from possibly ending up in the Thames and creating a horrible pollution incident. The boys from Tower House School joined us for the morning's skirmish, and did an excellent job clearing vegetation, including around the boundary marker. Another victory for the diplomatic skills of the Environment Trust's volunteers, for the local communities on both sides of the border, and a return to normal borough to borough relations.

A view of the Thames looking upstream towards Kingston Bridge. 

The point at which Dysart Ave. (Kingston) ends, and Burnell Ave. (Richmond) begins.

Volunteers immersed in their work trimming over-hanging vegetation. 

The missing bollard was found 100 metres along the path and was reinstated to fill a dangerously deep hole.

Boys from Tower House School in front of the Richmond/Kingston border stone, armed and ready to go into battle along the DMZ.

As the moon appears over Kingston (April 25th), common pipistrelle bats were spotted feeding on swarming insects.

Capital Clean-up, Elmbridge Meadows, Berrylands, Sunday April 14th, 2013

With the spring sun shining on us at last, it was the perfect day to be by the Hogsmill River in Berrylands, even if we were there to clean up someone else's rubbish. This event was part of the Lord Mayor's Capital Clean-up 2013, and our task was to remove several years'-worth of rubbish thrown over a back fence of a house in Surbiton Hill Park. With council services stretched more than ever, this was just the job for the Kingston Greenspace Volunteers. The team laboured for about four hours to clear away, three bed frames, a sofa, two bicycles, a large pile of roofing felt, a door, and 18 bags of miscellaneous rubbish, including several bags of rubbish cleared from the banks of the Hogsmill. (According to our partners at Quadron Services, we shifted a whopping 700 kg of rubbish!)
We had intended to remove invasive Himalayan balsam plants, but we had more than enough work to keep us busy, plus the recent cool weather means that the plants are still on the small side. However, we will be back soon to do battle with the balsam. There's also more work to be done to convince some residents with gardens bordering Elmbridge Meadows, that it's not acceptable to simply throw rubbish and garden waste over the back fence, particularly as the council tip at Villiers Road, Kingston is less than 2 miles away and is open seven days a week.
Despite the annoyance at clearing up someone else's mess, this was tempered by the discovery of some fascinating wildlife, including four slow worms and two frogs. Plus, the river banks were full of people and their dogs enjoying the sunshine on the warmest day of the year so far. It was also evident that the wildlife was enjoying the warm weather with chiff chaffs merrily chiff chaffing, bumble bees busily buzzing, a black two-spot ladybird beetling, and even a peacock butterfly seen flitting about. If you're still in doubt, it's official - spring has finally arrived!

 This was the task.

Here's Kingston's Capital Clean-up team. 

 Here's the afternoon shift.

This litter-lout had a taste for vodka and Polish pickle.

Our team could be described as 'Transformers'  - More than meets the eye.

The trailer full to overflowing.

There was no room in the trailer or hours left in the day to remove all the dumped rubble. 

The frogs were a hoppin'.

Slow worms were moving at their own pace. 

This one's a female.

With rubbish cleared away, lesser celandine is revealed in all its glory.

Some residents still don't get it - dumping waste is illegal! 

Jubilee Wood Bat Roost Repair and Wildflower Meadow Creation Tuesday April 2nd

This was our second visit to Jubilee Wood in as many weeks thanks to funding from Kingston Council. Again we were working with our local partners the Lower Mole Countryside Project to finish off the work to restore the bat roost in an World War II pill box, sow a patch of native wildflowers in the meadow, and install new benches. We also wanted to put up a tawny owl box, but due to health and safety concerns involved in climbing a ladder and the lack of a cherry picker, this will have to wait. For now, the bat roost is again ready for bats and a new area of native wildflowers has been sown to improve habitat for butterflies and other insects in the meadow. Later in the year we hope to return to Jubilee Wood to do some bat surveying and hopefully to reinstate the second pond, which is slowly being taken over by willows and other woody species. We will, of course, keep an eye on the meadow as it develops, so watch this space for all the latest news!

The team gets to work preparing the meadow for seeding.

The meadow isn't much to look at yet, so here's the team instead.

Meanwhile, another team from the Lower Mole Project works to install new benches. 

Lovely job!

Now there's somewhere to sit for lunch.

The bat roost with newly bricked up gun ports.

Gerrard, of the Kingston Greenspace Volunteers, attaches reclaimed bat roosting tiles. 

And, then seals up the remaining gun port.

Nick's excellent work on producing a new door, although a second coat of paint is needed to cover the finger prints.

Jubilee Wood, Bat Roost Repair, Sunday March 24th

The project to restore the bat roost and improve the wildflower meadow at Jubilee Wood Local Nature Reserve has been made possible thanks to local people voting for the project in the 'Your Money, You Decide' scheme. The Environment Trust has teamed up with the Lower Mole Countryside Project to improve the reserve for wildlife and local people. The award of funding from Kingston Council allowed a new metal door to be installed to prevent a repeat of the previous vandalism and anti-social activities. The roost is located inside a World War II pill-box. The gun-slits are bricked up, leaving a small entrance for common pipistrelle bats to enter. Reclaimed roofing tiles attached to the internal walls, will provide a humid and safe environment for the bats to roost. All bats are protected by law, which includes their roosts. (UK bat legislation).
A new sign was also fitted to the gate of the reserve on Fairoak Lane, as even some local people are not aware of the existence of the reserve. New benches will be located near to the ponds, a tawny owl box, made at the nearby Headley Court Defence Medical Rehabilitation Unit, will be put up in a tree, and a new interpretation board will be installed at the reserve entrance.
Other tasks include: improving the wildflower meadow by seeding, plug planting and reinstating a more traditional mowing regime to lower the fertility of the soil and improve conditions for native wildflowers. Later in the year, the reed-beds will be cut back and a second pond, now largely overgrown, will be opened up again.
Our first session at Jubilee Wood was regrettably cut short by the freezing temperature, leaving even more to complete at our next event at the reserve just after Easter on Tuesday April 2nd. Why not join us and work off that Easter egg while improving a local nature reserve.

The Jubilee Wood pill-box 

 Gun slits with remains of old bricks

Elliot cleans away old bricks in preparation for ...

...Pamela to add bricks. 

Not bad for a first try, including small gap for pipistrelle bats to enter.

Pamela cleans out the inside of the pill-box - not a pleasant job.

Meanwhile, Ted prepares the entrance for a new sign, as Connor and Reuben supervise.

The new sign in place.

The pond at Jubilee Wood Local Nature Reserve.

This is how it looked in 1996.

The meadow. 

And, in 1996.

Connor assembles the tawny owl box.

The wet woodland is home to interesting plants, such as marsh marigold. 

And, yellow flag iris.