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| Crane Park Shot Tower |
We were kindly invited by warden Ian McKinnon to this London Wildlife Trust site, where we helped to manage hedgerow habitat.
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| Ian demonstrating hedgelaying |
By laying the hedge we thickened the cover for birds and small mammals to nest in, while encouraging new growth that will be rich in food such as berries and nuts. Shortening this overgrown hedge, will also mean that more sunlight will now reach the small meadow area beyond it. This will encourage an abundance of wildflowers to grow next year!
We even broke a record - the most plasters ever used on an Environment Trust event, all because of the Hawthorn!
Thanks as always to all the volunteers. We look forward to seeing you all in the new year.
(And thank you to Mandy Lamplough and Angela Kidner for the great photos)
As the draw-off continued, we spent a morning litter picking at Twickenham riverside...
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| Thanks to Yvonne Hewitt for all of these great photos |
...three ice skates buried in the mud, close to the site of the former Richmond Ice Rink, which was demolished in 1992!
The Trust's patron Bamber Gascoigne joined the volunteers to remove rubbish from the stretch of riverbed upstream from Richmond Bridge, an activity made possible by the annual Draw-off, when the Richmond half-tide lock undergoes maintenance and the river drops to ‘normal’ levels.
Blue skies, sunshine and a very low tide made for a perfect morning to be willow spiling on the Thames foreshore!
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| Low tide on the Thames |
The living willow stakes were planted about 3 years ago, and were in need of their yearly prune and weave. It is hoped that this living fence will provide a natural buffer to help stop the erosion that is occurring on the stretch of the towpath between Richmond half-lock and Kew - there are already signs that it is working.
Everyone was quick to get stuck in with the job at hand - pruning the long willow shoots, bundling them up with twine and finally weaving them in and out of the stakes.
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| Bundling up the willow shoots |
A lot was achieved in the space of a morning, and everyone went home satisfied and a little more muddy than before!
Thank you to all of the volunteers that came along - this valuable work wouldn't get done without you. We hope to see you at the next event!
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| The finished product |
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| Trust patron Bamber Gascoigne helping two volunteers from Tower House school |
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