River Thames Draw-Off Clean Up, Saturday November 15th, 2014

The photos below were taken from the draw off clean up on Saturday November 15th 2014

D of E volunteers get stuck into removing rubbish from the River Thames at Twickenham. 

The lads from Tower House School show the meaning of teamwork. 

Previously, an invasive species survey was conducted in partnership with the Zoological Society of London. 

Mostly what was found were invasive Asiatic clams.

While native species, such as these, were less abundant. 

By the end of the day, a cage of rubbish had been collected.

Himalayan balsam removal at Elmbridge Meadows June/July 2014

Following on from the successful clearance of the majority of Himalayan balsam plants from the Tolworth Brook, we turned our attention to Elmbridge Meadows in Berrylands. Last year's efforts have paid off, and there is less in some places, but still there was more than our small group could cope with. One corporate grouped helped, but we'll have to try harder next year to 'crack this nut!' However, what we did achieve was to push the boundary of the invasion back towards the river, and remove plants that were growing along the footpath, and from which seeds could be transferred in shoes and on animal paws, to new sites.

Bill and Elliot get to work on a rainy day in June. 

It's always amazing to remember that this is an annual plant and can reach heights of two metres in a matter of months. 

Despite the onslaught, yellow iris plants manage to flower on the edge of a dried up pond.

By July, a return visit yields plants that were missed first time around. These are the key ones to remove, as they literally sow the seeds of a new population away from the core area. 

The result of work carried out by the corporate group. Let's see what's growing here next year. 

Often the question is asked, what's the value of removing Himalayan balsam? Bluebells are found in this area of wet woodland, but may be suppressed. Oak seedlings were also spotted appearing where balsam had been cleared last year. 

Enchanter's Nightshade, despised by some gardeners, produces beautifully delicate flowers. 

As does this toadflax, which is also likely to be a garden escape, but a benign one. 

Elmbridge Meadows is known for its abundant meadowsweet, which is overcome by Himalayan balsam in the damper shadier spots. The main threat in the open meadow areas is more likely to be encroaching scrub.

The most upstream source of the balsam in the Hogsmill Catchment is debated, but here are plants growing off Chalky Lane in Chessington. 

While the Himalayan balsam problem on the Hogsmill is pretty bad, there are taller plants on the River Brent in Greenford. 

One other issue, which we can all report by contacting the Environment Agency hotline on

0800 80 70 60, is this type of misconnected sewage pollution, most likely someone's washing machine, which will run into the Hogsmill, and then into the River Thames, and contributes to the poor water quality and poor ecological health of the river. Do you know where your pipes go?

 

Tolworth Brook, Himalayan Balsam Removal, Saturday May 24th, 2014

Continuing where we left off a couple of weeks ago, today the Environment Trust's volunteers continued walking along the Tolworth Brook from Raeburn Avenue down to the Hogsmill River removing invasive Himalayan balsam as they went. Unfortunately, after a night of heavy rain the water level was a little higher than was convenient, meaning that some over enthusiastic volunteers got wet feet. Still, plenty of balsam was removed, which will reduce the amount of seeds that will be released to travel downstream. The eventual intention is to reduce the volume of seeds produced so that areas downstream on the Hogsmill, such as Elmbridge Meadows and the nature park at the Thames Water Sewage Works will not be reinvaded.

The Tower House boys get to work removing invasive Himalayan balsam from along the Tolworth Brook in Berrylands.

Further downstream at Elmbridge Meadows the dominant nature of the balsam is all too evident. We'll be visiting this site a few times before the plants flower and release their hundreds of seeds. 

Along the Tolworth Brook, patches of yellow iris remain unaffected by the balsam invasion.  

In an area of woodland along the Tolworth Brook that was coppiced in 2012 and 2013, a speckled wood butterfly enjoys a sunny glade. 

Nearby a distinctive tree bumblebee (Bombus hypnorum) was spotted on a hazel leaf.

Sadly, at the Meldone Close car park fly tipping is still taking place, with a china sink dumped in the time that we were in the area. We'll be back to have another clear up later in the year.

 

 

 



Clitherow's Island and Boston Manor Park, Saturday 17th May, 2014

We've been to Boston Manor Park on several occasions, but today the house was open to the public, as were the lovely tea rooms run by the Friends of the park.

Our task today was to open up nature trail footpaths to lead walkers down to Clitherow's Island.

Girls from Marymount International School in Kingston worked to cut back vegetation that was growing across the path. Other volunteers removed six shopping trolleys from the river and from the island, removed a fallen branch from another path, and carefully cut back invasive giant hogweed plants.  

The Jacobean Boston Manor House.

http://www.hounslow.info/arts-culture/historic-houses-museums/boston-manor-house/

The stables, now private residences. 

Away from the grandeur down on the Clitherow's Island, invasive and toxic giant hogweed is taking over. 

And, rubbish left by rough sleepers is getting worse. 

The murky water of the River Brent is complimented by a discarded shopping trolley. 

Local volunteers worked to remove offensive graffiti, which neither the council, TFL nor the Highways Agency were able/willing to do.

Many magnificent mature trees, such as this sweet chestnut, can be found in Boston Manor Park. 

The Marymount girls work to cut back encroaching vegetation. 

A branch which had fallen from a mature ash tree was removed from the path.

Trolleys awaiting collection by Trolleywise.

 

 

 

Silverhall Park, Isleworth, May 11th, 2014.

The Environment Trust always likes to work in partnership with other local groups, so it was today that we teamed up with the Friends of the River Crane Environment (FORCE), the Isleworth Society, the Conservation Volunteers (TCV), and the Friends of Silverhall Park, to give Silverhall Park in Isleworth a good clean up. Except where stated, today's photos were taken by volunteer photographer, Paul Franklin.

You can read more about Silverhall Park and the Hall, here http://www.londongardensonline.org.uk/gardens-online-record.asp?ID=HOU049

and here

http://www.hounslow.info/libraries/local-history-archives/an-a-z-of-isleworth/an-a-z-of-isleworth-3/

An unassuming park next to a busy road is a haven of peace and tranquillity.

Although looking as if it's been here forever, the Duke of Northumberland's River is manmade, albeit almost 500 years ago (Photo by Chris).

This mature sweet chestnut tree dominates the centre of the park (Photo by Chris).

What could be so interesting to volunteers over this wall?

The answer: a conglomeration of rubbish.

Other volunteers collect rubbish removed from the river downstream. 

The river is so full of plastic bags that almost every pond dip was fruitful. 

Other volunteers helped to improve the ornamental side of the park.

By the end of an exhausting day, a mountain of rubbish is displayed. 

A bike, a set of golf clubs, a street bollard, two office chairs, a television, and a shopping trolley, were just the most obvious 'prizes' (Photo by Chris).

Tea and cake (fig and almond) provided by a local resident was very welcome - and delicious! (Photo by Chris).

The Silver Hall, used to stand just inside this gate, but was sadly demolished in the 1950s (Photo by Chris).

This is where the house used to be (Photo by Chris).

Also in the park is the remains of an old ice house (Photo by Chris).

The ice house a Silverhall Park can be compared to this 18th century one in Marble Hill Park, Twickenham (Photo by Chris).

The ice house of Moseley Hall in Birmingham was restored a number of years ago and is now opened to the public during the summer. Could the ice house at Silverhall be similarly restored?

http://www.moseley-society.org.uk/the-ice-house

 

 

 

 

 

Tolworth Brook, Himalayan balsam clearance, May 6th, 2014

It's Himalayan balsam season again, so the Environment Trust's volunteers in Kingston took to the Tolworth Brook to remove this invasive plant. Thankfully, as a result of removal last year, the stretch of the brook from Alexandra Recreation Ground to Meldone Close was almost clear of the plant. However, disappointingly, well intentioned guerrilla gardening of two of the most invasive plants, bamboo and rhododendron, has the potential to undo the work to naturalise the brook. Not only is such action inappropriate ecologically, it could be construed as criminal damage.

See these links for further information http://www.forestry.gov.uk/pdf/fcpg017.pdf/$FILE/fcpg017.pdf

and

http://www.ecosystemgardening.com/most-hated-plants-bamboo.html

Volunteers wade ankle-deep searching for Himalayan balsam to remove. 

Frustratingly, guerrilla gardening serves to reduce the ecological value of the river bank, by introducing inappropriate and invasive garden plants, bamboo and rhododendron. 

Rhododendron in flower, will eventually disperse its seeds locally and along the water course.  

Such inappropriate planting will threaten native species such as lesser celandine. 

 As well as, caterpillars of the red admiral butterfly, which rely on common nettles for its food plant.

Himalayan balsam can often be confused with the native water figwort, pictured.

Volunteers enjoying a day in the sun.

Aquilegia on the river banks is more evidence of urban garden escapes. 

Damsel flies also making the most of the sunshine. 

Although the water quality is relatively poor, in stream macrophytes are present.

Later, the Environment Trust joined the Zoological Society of London to monitor the water quality of the Hogsmill River at Elmbridge Meadows in Berrylands. 

Compared with the River Brent, the Hogsmill is paradise. 

Even bullhead fish can be found here, as evidence by eggs found under a rock, which was quickly replaced.