Kingston University, Saturday November 16th, 2013 and December 7th, 2013

It's always a pleasure when the Environment Trust teams up with the Kingston University Biodiversity Group as so many fascinating habitats can be found at the Kingston Hill campus. On this occasion, our combined efforts were devoted to maintaining the small pond. The volunteers worked to cut back sedges that were threatening to swallow the pond up again, plant a few yellow flag iris, create log piles for invertebrates and amphibians, and later turned our attentions to removing more rhododendron. After only a couple of seasons of rhododendron removal, the campus woodland is recovering from decades of darkness, and the sound of small birds can be heard amongst the oak and young hazel trees. We'll be back at Kingston Hill on December 7th for a full day of rhododendron removal work. Please join us, if you can.

Rachel from Kingston University, briefs volunteers.

Half the group donned waders and got to work removing encroaching sedges. 

In the afternoon, the group turned their attention to cutting back invasive rhododendron plants.

A bold fox surveys the pond. 

A puffball fungus (Lycoperdon depressum). 

Recovering woodland at Kingston Hill, minus Rhododendron ponticum.

Compared with this photograph from Nov. 2012, when the rhododendron was being cleared.

Nearby, a tree house has been toppled by the recent storm.

 

Rhododendron Clearance Saturday December 7th, 2013

 

Environment Trust and Kingston Biodiversity Group volunteers work to remove invasive rhododendron plants from the Kingston Hill Campus. 

Kingston Biodiversity Group volunteers getting into the festive spirit.  

Volunteers stand triumphant after digging out a massive rhododendron root.