Wildflower Meadow Creation at Marble Hill October 28th

Recently the Environment Trust attended an event entitled 'Living Landscapes' organised by Transition Town Kingston that aimed to highlight the plight of Britain's pollinators and the need for us all to do more to protect bees and other pollinators by planting native wildflowers. While some people may think such areas look untidy, it is exactly these 'untidy' places that are likely to provide suitable habitat for pollinators. These insects are crucial for ensuring that our food crops, fruit trees etc. are pollinated and produce the harvests to feed us all. It would be a disaster if we were to lose our pollinators, as has happened in some parts of China, as summarised in this news report http://www.apinews.com/en/news/item/12780-china-hand-pollination

With this in mind, the Environment Trust welcomed the opportunity to join English Heritage at Marble Hill Park to expand an area of native wildflowers. Despite a rather disappointing turnout, a small group of volunteers worked to prepare the ground for sowing wildflower seed. Wildflowers flourish on low-nutrient soil and without suitable management can quickly be smothered by aggressive grasses. Using special turf spades, an area of grass, including the nutrient-rich top soil, was removed. After raking the area, described as a 'wildfllower handkerchief' by one of our volunteers, the seed was mixed with sand to allow better distribution, and scattered. Temporary fencing now surrounds the area to protect the seed from curious dogs. Now we must wait until spring to see what germinates. The reason for sowing the seeds in autumn is to promote germination of those seeds that require temperatures close to zero to break their dormancy.
Robert uses a turf spade to prepare the ground for the wildflower seed. 
A snoozing toad (Bufo bufo) was rudely awoken and carefully relocated. 
This robin (Erithacus rubecula) appeared to have an injured wing, but it turned out to have been in a dispute over territory and was soon chased away by a competitor. 
Mussel shells, dropped by birds, reveal the link between the nearby River Thames and the wider landscape. 
Cup cakes were bought from T.A.P.E., a social enterprise set up by Portsmouth University students to support a community in northern India.  
The 'wildflower handkerchief' is ready for seed. 
John secures the protective fencing. 
Fewer volunteers is not necessarily a bad thing ...

Bulb Planting at Fishponds Park, Surbiton, 21st October

Fishponds Park is at the heart of the community in Surbiton and much-loved as a place to exercise dogs, feed the ducks and enjoy a little bit of nature. Now the Environment Trust and its new Kingston volunteers are helping to make the park even better for local people and wildlife. For our first event at Fishponds, the Trust's volunteers planted native bulbs in woodland close to the upper ponds to bring a splash of colour to this area of the park in the spring. Despite the rather gloomy autumn weather, the enthusiastic group had spring in mind and planted English bluebells (Hyacinthoides non-scripta) at the woodland edges, wild daffodils (Narcissus pseudonarcissus) and summer snowflake (Leucojum aestivum) in the grassland, and lesser celandine (Ranunculus ficaria) at the pond edge. Of course, to complete the job the group also cleared litter from the park's nooks and crannies, and collected four full bags of assorted rubbish. Don't worry if you weren't able to join us on this occasion, we'll be back soon to help make Kingston's parks the places you would like them to be.
Brooklime (Veronica beccabunga) grows at the edge of the top pond. 
Muir Woods in California? No, Fishponds Park in Surbiton. 
It's thirsty work this bulb planting. 
A local family work together to plant wild daffodils. 
Common newts (Lissotriton vulgaris) were found nestling amongst the pond-side vegetation. 
Volunteers get busy planting English bluebells.

Crane Park habitat management October 14th

Mid-October and it's all go for the Enivronment Trust's voluteering section. Today, some of the Trust's volunteers joined the Friends of the River Crane Environment (FORCE) and The Conservation Volunteers down by the River Crane. The main task was to give a hedge planted a few years ago a bit of a 'hair cut'. By managing the hedge in this way, it'll become thicker and provide even better habitat for birds and other wildlife. As we were working, a couple of robins were spotted flitting between the branches, and then one cheeky bird sat within a few feet of us and sang its heart out to defend its territory. The hedge was thriving and bursting with guelder rose and spindle berries.
John gets to work giving the hedge its 'hair cut'. 
The team breaks for lunch and enjoys the sunny autumn weather. 
Fungi experts! By the side of a wetland scrape Lycoperdon depressum (?) was spotted. 

Saturday October 13th 'Living Landscapes - Making Space for Nature in the Urban Environment' with Transition Town, Kingston

The Environment Trust was represented at an event to encourage the planting of wild flowers and other pollinator-friendly gardening practices for the benefit of bees and butterflies, with one of our volunteers helping to promote the work of the trust. Speakers included Kathryn Lwin of River of Flowers (www.riverofflowers.org), Jacqui Weir of the RSPB, and Marie-Claire Edwards, Green Spaces Manager at Kingston Council. The Environment Trust will be joining forces with English Heritage at Marble Hill Park on Sunday October 28th 10-1, to help expand the park's wildflower meadow. See the calender to the right for details. Find out about Transition Town Kingston here.
It's not all back-breaking work ... why not volunteer with the Trust?
A river of flowers at the Olympic Park in September 2012, providing a valuable habitat corridor for pollinators and other wildlife.

Tolworth Brook, Surbiton Oct 9th 2012

With the autumn colours just starting to appear on the trees, our small band of Kingston volunteers turned out to help improve the green corridor along Tolworth Brook in Surbiton. This is our first project in the borough of Kingston, and already much has been achieved. As well as improving the paths through the oak woodland, the task today was to clear a 'window' across the brook to discourage anti-social burning of a mature oak tree. English oaks are particularly valuable for wildlife, and as such, it would be a real loss to this stretch of the brook if this majestic old tree was to be destroyed by ignorant behaviour of a minority. Slashers were the perfect tool for clearing a dense patch of brambles and nettles, which soon revealed enough litter to fill a whole bin bag. Several local residents paused while walking their dogs to admire the work and their comments were universally positive.
The intention is for local people in the Berrylands area to be involved in taking care of this important greenspace and feel a sense of 'ownership'. We'll be back for more in November, so keep an eye on the diary to the right. To get involved and to be added to the mailing list, send an email to chris.cockel@environmenttrust.co.uk We'll also be at Fishponds Park from 10-1 on Sunday Oct. 21st.
Living the dream in Surbiton. 
Teamwork soon opens the view across Tolworth Brook. 
Evidence of local widlife. Probably a fox.
Only the culvert spoils the view. 
From the other side. 
How biodegradeable is a Yankees baseball cap?
One of our volunteers came across one of these splendid spiders amongst the brambles, though sadly the thought of taking a photo didn't occur until after he/she (the spider) had been moved to safety.
According to The Natural History of Britain and Europe by Chinery (1982), Linyphia triangularis is 'abundant in late summer and autumn, forming hammock webs' and 'hangs below the hammock waiting for insects to collide with the scaffolding above and fall on to the sheet.' Luckily for the curious volunteer this spider is only 5-6 mm long and not as fearsome as the picture above - phew!