Rhododendron removal, Kingston University, February 23rd, 2013

Continuing the campaign to rid Kingston University's Kingston Hill campus of invasive rhododendron and cherry laurel, the Environment Trust again teamed up with the university's Biodiversity Group.  Where the group has worked previously, hazel has been planted and even a patch of bluebells is beginning to appear. (Photos kindly provided by Rachel).

Surely the winner of the funniest find award.

Another area now clear of rhododendron.

Ham Common Wood, Snowberry removal (Take 3), February 23, 2013

This was the third occasion that the Environment Trust's Richmond volunteers had visited Ham Common Wood to work on removing invasive snowberry plants, and this time I think we've cracked it. The only realistic method for getting rid of this North American plant that is a common invader of our woodlands, is to dig it out by the roots using mattocks and a good deal of sweat. So it was, that seven of our number took on this task. In January 2012 we cut the plants back, but they grew back. Then in January 2013, two of us tried (ironically in the snow), to dig the plants out with forks, but these really are tough customers. As such, this time we came properly armed, and in the space of three hours managed to dig out almost the entire patch. There are bound to be a few survivors to lure us back next year, but hopefully now native species can be allowed to recolonise this patch. Already, bluebells that were starting to be swamped by snowberry plants, are beginning to emerge. This year will be interesting at the pond by Richmond Park's Ham Gate, as the pond has been cleared of over-shading sycamore trees and de-silted.
And, the toad fence has appeared again around Ham Common to prevent migrating toads being squashed by cars as they cross the road look for mates in the spring. http://www.richmondandtwickenhamtimes.co.uk/news/8904441.Toads_crossing_forces_road_closures/
Don't drive, but get on your bike this year to help the toads!

Before pruning, January 2012.

After a morning of back-breaking mattocking, February 2013.

Feb. 2013, bluebells emerging where before there was snowberry.

Manor Park, footpath creation, Tuesday February 5th

Manor Park in New Malden is a Green Flag-winning park on the southern border of the borough of Kingston, not far from Worcester Park. To ensure the park retains this award, one of the key tasks was to pick up all the litter we could find. Luckily today we were joined by two officers of the law, who were happy to do their bit to improve the appearance of the park.
Our other task was to open up a new footpath through the woodland to allow local residents to enjoy the tranquillity of this young wood. Thinning of ash trees turned the woodland from a dark, rather forbidding place, littered with bottles and cans, into a light well-managed woodland.
The old wire fence, which had collapsed and was no longer serving a useful function, was removed and a new path created to lead walkers into the wood.
We also planted bluebell and native daffodil bulbs, wood anemone and lesser celandine, which hopefully will make an appearance in the spring. There was insufficient manpower to cut back vegetation from the pond, although rubbish was removed. Pond work will have to wait until the late summer.

The old fence had collapsed. 

PCSOs doing their bit. 

Elliot begins to open up the new path. 

Kingston Greenspace Volunteers have a few new recruits. 

Without the fence a natural path emerges. 

Now open to the public. 

And, another trailer-load of 'stuff', including a Tesco trolley.

Tolworth Brook, Coppicing, Sunday February 3rd

Each time our group of volunteers returns to work alongside the Tolworth Brook in Berrylands we're reminded that this area used to be home to the famous, and much missed Surbiton Lagoon, an outdoor swimming pool that opened in 1934, but closed in 1979, apparently for repairs (old excuse), and never reopened. The footprint of the old Lagoon complex is still visible in a Google Earth image from June 2003, highlighted in the photo below. Today, the area is partly a wonderful green open space alongside the brook, and partly housing, in the form of Meldone Close, which was built where tennis courts used to be.
The task for the Kingston Greenspace Volunteers today was to continue the hazel coppicing that was started at the end of 2012. Coppicing is a traditional form of woodland management, which involves cutting (mainly) hazel trees to ground level to allow more light to reach the woodland floor and thus promote the growth of an array of wildflowers. As bird-nesting season is not far off, this will be the last such event at this site until next winter. There's also quite a lot of sycamore saplings invading the area from nearby mature trees, so these were also cut back to prevent the woodland being totally taken over by sycamores, which are not as valuable for wildlife as trees such as oak, ash, hazel etc. Coppicing is normally carried out on a 7-10 year rotation, with the products of poles and bindings, being used for crafting hazel hurdles as stock fencing. The next coppicing session at this site will hopefully take place towards the end of 2013, when we'll tackle another hazel patch.
Thankfully, the forecast rain did not materialise and the group, including some new recruits, managed to create a small glade in amongst the trees. The area should quickly recover from any trampling and by April the woodland should be awash with bluebells.
Not surprisingly, we also carried away a lot of rubbish, most of which was children's garden toys, which had apparently been inconsiderately thrown over someone's back fence. Thanks to Quadron Services for providing the trailer to remove this waste which the offender should have taken to the tip or charity shop themselves.

The site of the former Surbiton Lagoon, close to the coppiced woodland.

Elliot, one of our Kingston regulars, takes a break, showing it's not all hard work.

Project assistant, Gerrard, sharpens poles suitable for fencing.

The end result, a small clearing to create a better diversity of habitats.

Here's one we prepared earlier (Dec. 2012), already starting to sprout new shoots.

Surbiton, PLEASE take your unwanted items to the local tip or charity shop, don't throw them over the fence for someone else to clear up. This is a public area, not an unloved wasteland!

That includes garden waste. An old favourite, red Cordyline australis, discarded over a garden fence. Be Plantwise. 

Another old favourite that's seen better days ...

... and books a one-way ticket to the local tip.

Talking of favourites, a wheelie bin retrieved from the Tolworth Brook.