conservation

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Fishing in Glassmill!

Netting the fish

As part of the refurbishment project, on 21st March the water level in the pond was drastically reduced. Beforehand however a specialist contractor was on site to collect all the fish in the pond, they were recorded then released safely downstream. Altogether some 140 three-spined sticklebacks, 2 small roach and 3 eels, the largest being 79cm long, were collected.

Large eel caught

The water flow was carefully measured. Then with the weir boards removed the water level reduced rapidly at first, exposing more of the silt deposited over many years.

Exposed silt, with river channel bottom

The newly exposed silt now will be allowed time to dry out, before contractors are able to move in to excavate and reuse the silt to recreate a working river channel and a separate pond, that fish, eels etc can thrive in.

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Successful Tree Planting Event

As part of #NationalTreeWeek volunteers recently attended a @BromleyGreenGym event in College Green #Bromley, to plant thirty native tree saplings, as well as a couple of fruit trees. It was sunny and dry, and so with their help all scheduled tasks to were duly completed.

Family to the ready
Volunteers planting saplings

Also volunteers prepared the ground for a new improved willow dome, which will be completed in the next few weeks.

Digging up turf for new willow dome

Afterwards the volunteers were able to celebrate all their efforts over a hot drink and biscuits. Everybody mentioned what a good time they had.

The saplings were provided by Mayor of London, and the fruit trees were bought by Bromley Green Gym themselves.

Bromley Green Gym, who help maintain this park, run sessions in College Green, College Road BR1 1PA – every Friday 11am-2pm and welcome anybody to turn up and take part.

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Butterflies Need Help

Steven Lofting (RSPB/idVerde) leads a butterfly walk around a meadow.

Butterflies, along with much else of our natural world, is finding it extremely difficult with threats from climate change, agricultural intensification, etc. It is increasingly important therefore to provide suitable habitats in our parks, where possible. So it was with great interest that three of our members (Chris, Julie and Jeff), along with members of other Park Friends groups, yesterday attended an introductory butterfly course at High Elms Country Park yesterday. Led by Steven Lofting (idVerde/RSPB) we learnt how to tell them from moths, as well as their life-cycle, habitat requirements and the many current habitat threats they face. We then had a practical session walking through an adjacent flower-rich meadow. Here we tried out our newly acquired skills, identifying eleven species of butterflies.

We left the course each inspired to search for butterflies in each of our own parks, and where possible to make them more butterfly friendly (not to mention other insects, etc).