Nature Near London: Tolworth Brook/Surbiton Stream Woodland Sunday December 9th

Today, the Environment Trust's Kingston Greenspace Volunteers gathered at the Raeburn Avenue car park to continue the task of coppicing hazel to increase the floral diversity of the woodland and reduce competition and shading of the young oak trees in the woodland. Wood chip was also laid on muddy paths, and, of course, rubbish was cleared from amongst the vegetation.
Although the woodland near the car park seems quite young, there are areas of hazel coppice that are evidently older, and although it's only December, some bluebell shoots were spotted already appearing. As yet, it's too early to tell whether they're English or Spanish bluebells. Spring will be here before we know it.
Also, for the first time the group was able to use the facilities at the Surbiton Pet Club - thank you.
In conversation with representatives from the Environment Agency earlier this week, it soon became clear that they were not familiar with the Tolworth Brook. According to a report published by the National Rivers Authority (NRA) in 1993 (the Strategic River Corridor Survey of the Hogsmill Catchment), the brook is referred to as the Surbiton Stream. So, it all depends which map you refer to.