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.