Clitherow's Island April 19th, 2014

Today the Environment Trust's volunteers returned to Clitherow's Island at Boston Manor Park for another session clearing rubbish from the River Brent. Sadly, several fallen trees serve to trap numerous plastic bottles, footballs etc.etc. The river is also blighted by sewage pollution leaking into the river and a forest of the invasive and toxic giant hogweed. Today's photos were taken by volunteer photographer, Paul Franklin.

We 'kick sampled' for invertebrates, but only found pollution-tolerant species. Perhaps not surprising with sewage pollution coming from upstream, and burnt sofas in the river. As such, long-sleeved gloves are essential. 

The rubbish island had started to reappear, but Patrick and his canoe are the secret ingredient for shifting it...

... plus, a man with a rake. 

The familiar rubbish pile takes shape.

The Environment Agency say it could take five years to fix this diffuse pollution problem, which is five years too long. 

Rubbish left by rough sleepers on the island is paradise for a colony of brown rats. 

Still, the majestic trees ensure this place is still magical from a certain angle.

Together with this huge alder acting as a natural river engineer.  

There are also some wonderful bluebell patches that fill the air with perfume.  

Within a stone's throw of one of the most polluted rivers in London are multinational corporations such as GSK and Sky TV.

 

 

 

Pevensey Road Ponds, Thursday April 17th, 2014

The ponds at Pevensey Road have been designed as a refuge for fish and other aquatic life in the event of any pollution incident on the River Crane in west London. They also provide additional flood storage to protect downstream homes and businesses. The ponds also recreate habitat that would have been common along our rivers, formed as a river meanders with seasonal flooding, and then being occasionally replenished during periods of high water. In the past, rivers were straightened and deepened to channel water away, but this intervention was damaging to the ecology of our rivers. As such the series of ponds provide important habitat for a range of animals and plants, which had been lost. Since the ponds were dug a couple of years ago, the vegetation has responded well, and with some sensitive planting taking place last year, are now home to a wide range of species.
Today's task, in conjunction with Richmond's TCV group, was to dig out the channel linking the ponds with the river to enable water from the river to inundate the ponds at moderately high water levels, and thus serve the purpose of a refuge. Excess tree debris was also cleared from the ponds, to prevent them from becoming silted up.
Today's photographs were taken by volunteer photographer, Paul Franklin.

Dave literally gets stuck in, and digs out the silted-up channel. 

The team works to move barrow-loads of silt.

The re-excavated channel will form a better connection with the River Crane in the distance. 

Another barrow is filled with silt.

The ponds have become a little stagnant. 

Fallen trees provide excellent habitat for mosses and fungi.

A bracket fungus. 

A fallen willow sends shoots upwards. 

Several large alder trees can be found here.

Chris clears tree debris from a pond. 

The ditch-digging is completed and the channel is reconnected with the river. 

The delicate flowers of ground ivy.

Native bluebells are abundant in the nearby woodland. 

Marsh marigolds, planted in early 2013, are now in full bloom (Photo by Chris).

Just a short distance from the busy Hanworth Road, the nature reserve at Pevensey Road is very tranquil.

The scene in March 2013 is a contrast to 13 months later, below (Photo by Chris).

April 2014 (Photo by Chris).

 

 

 

 

 

Marble Hill Park, Chestnut Fencing Repairs, Saturday April 12th, 2014

After about a year of promising the rangers at Marble Hill that we'd organise a group of volunteers to help repair their chestnut paling fences, we finally did so. A small, but motivated group took on the task of removing old and rotten timbers from the fences that help protect woodland habitats from park users, and particularly their dogs. This was quite a technical task, requiring straight lines and precise measurements. Under the expert guidance of English Heritage ranger John, the Trust's volunteers got stuck into the task of digging new holes, lining up the railings, cementing the posts in, and finally nailing on the chestnut palings. The finished product looks suitably rustic to blend in with the woodland, and will hopefully remain in place for many years to come. Today's photos, apart from where stated, were taken by our volunteer photographer, Paul Franklin.

This fence has clearly seen better days.

John removes a rotten fence post.

Chris digs a hole for a new post.

Precise measurements and a critical eye are essential (Photo by Chris).

Ranger John inserts a railing.

The top railing is installed.

Ramal and Caroline secure the railing to the post.

Brackets, originally dumped over a garden fence in Kingston, were recycled in Richmond.

A guide hole is drilled for nailing on chestnut palings.

The finished article, minus palings.

Newly repaired fences blending in with their surroundings (Photo by Chris).

The fate of the old pavilion, the victim of metal roofing theft, is in doubt (Photo by Chris). 

Nearby, in the meadow area, a speckled wood is spotted (Photo by Chris).

As well as cowslips (Photo by Chris).

 

 

 

 

 

First Elvers of 2014 Recorded at Brentford

The eel pass at Brentford was switched on earlier this week, and today (Friday April 18th) we recorded the first three elvers using it. In 2013, the first year of operation, the pass was not ready for use until May 10th, so it is hoped that this year, even more eels will be recorded passing through Brentford and reaching the end of their 2,700-mile journey from the Sargasso Sea in the western Atlantic Ocean.
If you'd like to help with the monitoring, and live locally, we're holding training sessions on April 29th and May 14th in conjunction with the Zoological Society of London. For more details, please contact chris.cockel@environmenttrust.co.uk or joe.pecorelli@zsl.org

The first elvers of 2014

Wildflower Meadow Creation, Jubilee Wood, Malden Rushett, Thursday 3rd & Saturday 5th April, 2014

Now that the season for woodland work is passed, one task that is possible is the creation and maintenance of wildflower meadows. Two sessions took place to enlarge the wildflower area created at Jubilee Wood. Most of the meadow is composed of rather rank and coarse grass, but now a small corner of the meadow is flower-rich. Volunteers from Cisco and a group of our Duke of Edinburgh students and their parents helped to double the size of the wildflower area. With any luck, by late summer, the area will be awash with flowers and butterflies.

Cisco volunteers get to work expanding the wildflower area. 

The group, looking rightly satisfied with their afternoon's work. 

A few days later, D of E students and their parents enlarge the patch still further. 

Once the hard digging has been done to remove nutrient-rich topsoil, the ground is raked and levelled ready for seed. 

Seed is mixed with a little sand to assist spreading. 

By late summer, this muddy patch may look like the area below. 

The existing meadow area photographed in summer 2013. 

Despite a recent dry spell, the wood remains water-logged and blooming with marsh marigolds.

Stichwort can be found growing alongside the main pathway.

An old balloon, perhaps an escapee from Chessington World of Adventures, litters the woodland.