Jubilee Wood Pond and Meadow Management, Sunday August 11th 2013

As it's been a few months since the bat roost was repaired and the meadow patch was sown, it was time for a return to Jubilee Wood Local Nature Reserve in Malden Rushett on the southern-most tip of the borough of Kingston. The ponds, created in the 1980s, are fast disappearing under a growth of reeds, so today's task was to remove some the reeds, to retain a patch of open water. This is particularly important for dragonflies, that rely on open water to lay their eggs.
The second task for the day was to weed out docks and thistles from the patch of wildflowers that was planted earlier in the year. As well as dragonflies over and around the pond, a number of butterflies were spotted, including a peacock, meadow brown,  and perhaps the elusive white-letter hairstreak. It is hoped that the meadow patch might be expanded on our next visit.

Gerrard and Elliot get to grips with the reeds in the large pond. 

Meanwhile, Martin and Susan 're-discover' the small pond. 

A southern-hawker dragonfly rests on an road cone removed from the large pond.

A broad-bodied chaser shows off its distinctive markings. 

An undetermined darter also makes an appearance.

The meadow patch before weeding ... 

...and after.

A non-native poppy blooms in an area of the meadow that was reseeded after underground pipework.