|
|
GAINS
FROM RAIN AS FOUR JOIN AND 335 FILL IN CARDS
Danson Show, Danson Park, Bexleyheath, Saturday 5 July and Sunday
6 July, 2008
Poor weather limited
the numbers of visitors on Saturday morning, but did not dampen
the enthusiasm of our volunteers as the showers drove families into
the environmental marquee. The weather improved considerably in
the afternoon and the visitor numbers increased commensurately.
175 name gathering cards were completed by an enthusiastic public
encouraged by John and Jeanna Turner. The bird identification competition
proved a great success with Stewart Banks encouraging children to
take part (with parental consent), and then offering name gathering
cards to the whole family as well as the opportunity to take part
in our two bird tombolas. Sales were in the capable hands of Maureen
Thompson aided by Patricia Kemball and Sylvia Say, whilst Brian
Fagg provided information to the curious. Julia Maynard arrived
to help at midday with name gathering and sales.
Sunday produced showery
weather and a smaller attendance. The marquee only became crowded
when the occasional heavy shower dropped. The name gatherers were
John Turner assisted by Alan Mayes and Jeanna Turner, and only another
160 cards were completed. The sales were in the hands of Jeanna
Turner assisted by Julia Maynard and Roberta Cave in the afternoon.
Brian Fagg was again in charge of the dissipation of information
and Stewart Banks threw himself energetically into promoting the
children’s competition, while Chas Parr looked after the tombolas.
The weekend resulted
in 335 name gathering cards being completed, 172 adults and 163
children, a slight decrease on last year but four new members were
signed up, an increase of 100%.
A total of £173
worth of goods was sold and an additional £195.90 raised on
tombolas and miscellaneous sales.
Congratulations to Jade
of Sidcup for winning first prize in the bird identification competition,
with Harvey of Welling winning second prize and Jade of Bexley third
prize.
I should like to thank
all the volunteers mentioned above for their time and efforts in
raising such a good sum for the RSPB and hopefully the interest
generated by the name gathering will result in some more new members.
John Turner |
JOHN
CARTER DIES
Tuesday 1 July 2008

JOHN CARTER, smiling as usual |
Longstanding
Group member John Carter died in Guy's Hospital on 26 June 2008
from pneumonia. He was 70.
John, from Maxwell
Road, Welling, first attended Group meetings more than 20 years
ago and will be sadly missed by his many birdwatching friends. He
assisted the Group by volunteering to deliver newsletters to the
homes of other members. John became a regular on Group coach outings
and also enjoyed weekly car excursions to reserves with his pals.
One of his favourite
reserves was Elmley where he and a group of friends volunteered
to help rebuild the Spitend hide under the direction of Bob Gomes,
warden at the time. John visited many reserves in England and Wales
where his enjoyment of birds and good company was evident.
He was born
in Brockley on 11 October 1937, attended Crofton Park School and
during the war was evacuated from the family home at Lewisham to
Barrow-in-Furness. On leaving school at 15 in the early 1950s he
worked briefly for a tea company but moved on after a year to begin
a printing apprenticeship with Her Majesty’s Stationery Office.
John spent the
rest of his working life there, helping to produce Hansard, a daily
report of parliamentary proceedings, and important government white
papers. He took early retirement at 58 when the company was privatised.
His apprenticeship had been interrupted by National Service, completed
as a teleprinter operator for the RAF in Guttesloh, Germany.
John's leisure
interests included cycling, walking, wildlife, genealogy and music
- from the rock band Queen to opera, as long as it was played loudly!
When he first
fell ill in December 2004 he was eventually diagnosed with vasculitis
which resulted in the need for regular dialysis. He spent a month
in Farnborough Hospital before being transferred to Guy's and a
planned five week visit to New Zealand with wife Eve had to be cancelled.
Although seriously
ill, John managed to win through and after being discharged enjoyed
holidays in Ireland and Norfolk with Eve. But he was struck down
again at the end of 2007, entering Queen Mary’s Hospital,
Sidcup, on Christmas Day before being transferred to Guy’s
where he remained until being discharged on 12 January this year.
He endured three trips a week to Guy’s for dialysis but seemed
to be getting stronger until complaining of feeling unwell again
in the early summer. Guy’s insisted on keeping him in on 10
June, diagnosed pneumonia and whisked him into intensive care.
He was put on
a ventilator to assist breathing but continued to decline and passed
away on 26 June with Eve, daughter Suzie and sister Alma at his
bedside. John uncomplainingly and bravely dealt with his illness.
His cheerful personality and easygoing, helpful attitude affected
all who knew him, and will never forget him.
The funeral
will take place at 1.45 pm on Tuesday 8 July at Falconwood Crematorium
where Eve would be delighted to see any of his friends. It will
be followed by a celebration of John's life at Westwood Masonic
Hall, Bellegrove Road, Welling.
Eric Brown
|
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|
SPRING
PLANT FAIR INCOME HIGHEST FOR THREE YEARS
Saturday 3 May 2008
The weather
was kind to us this year and we were delighted to have a dry and
sunny day for our annual spring event which raised £700, the
largest amount for three years. After deducting expenses the surplus
available to support bird welfare and conservation was £644.
This figure has climbed from £608 in 2005. Total income last
year was £671 - £13 up on the previous Spring Fair.
Income from
plant sales actually fell for the third successive year with the
£300 total £120 down on the previous year and £144
down on the 2006 figure. Admissions also fell from £57 to
£50 but income from other sources increased. Our recently
introduced bottle stall took nearly £100.
Other contributions
were: Books £50, Birds Tombola £17, Teas £58,
Bric-a-Brac £23, Donations £69 and Commission from Craft
Stalls £38. A new member was enrolled to the RSPB. A super
result and many thanks to all concerned.
It would be
good if we could accurately forecast the weather 12 months ahead
but we just have to take our chance with everybody else. Likewise,
as far as our plant sales are concerned, we never know exactly what
people will donate.
Many of us do
our bit by nurturing some trees, shrubs or herbs in pots, usually
the kinds of things we like to grow in our own gardens. The majority
of these varied plants find a buyer, with the help of an enthusiastic
sales person, and most of those we have left over find a good home.
If you would
like to help in our fund raising efforts perhaps you could grow
something for next year’s fair? We really do need your support.
Tony Banks

Tables were filled with plants grown especially
for the event
Frances Banks puts the finishing touches
to a display of bargain books competing for space with our popular
bottle stall
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| ***********
|
Michael
Winship
7 October 1940 – 30 March 2008
Michael
Winship |
Michael Winship was a big man in every sense – big of stature;
big hair, big beard even the pen or walking stick (one of which was
almost always in his big hands) were bigger and chunkier than the
norm. Michael, who has died aged 67, was big in encouragement, praise
and support of others – there are many involved in wildlife
or environmental issues who owe much to his persuasive powers or quiet
counsel.
Michael’s death on Sunday 30 March 2008 came
as a great shock . He endured life threatening complications following
a fire at his home in August 2007, spent many months in Queen Mary’s
Hospital, Sidcup, and we all rejoiced at his eventual discharge
in February. We shared his optimism as he looked to rebuild his
health, his home and a new future with his family and friends and
re-engage his many interests, including environmental issues. Sadly,
heart failure cut short that renewed enthusiasm for life.
Michael shared with his late wife, Carole, diverse
interests in art, music, sport, political history and wildlife.
He was a member of Surrey County Cricket Club and supporter of Crystal
Palace Football Club. With Carole he was a busy volunteer at Somerset
House in London where collections from The Hermitage in St Petersburg
are housed. With Carole he sang in the choir at Christ Church, Sidcup,
and followed an active interest in theatre.
Purley-born Michael’s interest in wildlife
began at an early age in the Surrey hills under guidance from his
grandfather. After University Michael went into teaching which brought
him to Bexley where he could fulfil his desire to share knowledge
and enthusiasm with others – particularly the young. As Head
Teacher at his last school, Belmont Primary, Erith, he ran a Young
Ornithologists Group of over 100, long before he took up responsibilities
with the RSPB Bexley Group.
Michael and Carole married in 1963 and were founding
members of the Bexley Group in 1978. By the end of the 1980s he
had retired from full time teaching and became involved in more
voluntary activities. He assisted Carole as Group sales organiser
and they began to increase Group visits to events. Michael became
the third Bexley Group Leader in 1990. The Group was already considered
among the best in the country but Michael was not content –
he wanted to see an improvement in environmental issues and promote
the RSPB to a wider audience. Newsletter distribution grew from
around 2,000 to nearer 4,000 as he expanded the catchment area beyond
the Bexley boundaries. By 1991 the seeds of a YOC Group had been
sown and a programme of activities for under 16s began.
Group members took great pride when, in 1993, Michael
was elected to the RSPB National Council and after just one year
took over Chairmanship of the Education and Membership Committee.
Michael and Carole became regular attendees at RSPB Members’
days, annual conferences and Council functions where they established
a nationwide circle of friends.
Reading Michael’s newsletter editorials during
his leadership it is clear he had the desire and ability to translate
key national, even global issues to local relevance and ensured
that the RSPB usually had a voice on local issues. Representing
the RSPB he sat on local consultative groups to ensure birds and
other wildlife had a voice. Michael was thinking globally and acting
locally before it became the mantra of the 1992 Rio Earth Summit.
When Bexley Council developed their own Environmental
Strategy, eventually establishing a Local Agenda 21 Forum, Michael
was the obvious choice to become first Chairman of the Natural Environment
Focus Group – a forward thinking advisory body of voluntary
conservation groups. He often ruffled feathers with an eloquently
argued case against the Council. His wonderful use of the English
language left most of us in awe. He could also use his subtle sense
of humour to relax a tense atmosphere.

Carole's Wood |
Michael stood down from both RSPB Council and as Local Group leader
in 1998. Following the tragic early death of Carole in 2004 he stood
down from NEFG. His own health was beginning to concern him yet he
never switched off completely and was always available to offer support
and advice. He had recently returned to NEFG as Vice-Chair in a slightly
less demanding role.
Michael leaves a huge legacy of work achieved in
furtherance of wildlife protection along with great hope for a more
environmentally aware community through Local Agenda 21.
He leaves a gap probably far too big for any one
other person to fill. Our sadness at his passing must be countered
by our celebration of his achievements and the friendship he so
willingly bestowed upon so many.
Our sympathies go to his sons Jeremy and Dominic
and daughter-in-law Debbie.
Ralph Todd
April 2008
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|
ANOTHER
£1,500 FOR RSPB
Monday 14 April 2008
Another £1,500 was contributed by the Bexley
Group to RSPB headquarters last month. This brings the total raised
by the Group since it was founded in September 1978 to £62,500.
The latest sum was not raised at a single indoor
meeting as reported incorrectly in one of the local newspapers.
It was, of course, raised over some months from sources such as
raffles, coach trips, indoor meetings, the 100 club and Fairs. The
successful 100 Club run by Maurice Ewart will contribute over £700
this year. The Autumn Fair held in November raised £475.
Well done to everyone involved in any scheme to
generate cash for bird conservation and welfare.
Eric Brown
|
| ***********
|
MICHAEL
WINSHIP DIES AT HOME
Wednesday 2 April 2008
Michael Winship
has sadly died at his Sidcup home aged 67. He was found by his son
Dominic who had been staying with him. The cause of death was heart
failure.
Michael had
been involved in a serious fire at his home in August which resulted
in him being hospitalised for some six months including some weeks
in ITU.
He made remarkable
progress and was discharged in February and relocated to temporary
accommodation, a small flat, close to his home. When I last saw
Michael a few weeks ago he was in relatively good health, very upbeat
and looking forward to rebuilding his life and home with Dominic
who was also involved in the fire but with no serious health complications.
Others, including
his son, Jeremy and daughter-in-law had seen or spoken with him
as recently as Saturday evening .
Michael was
Group Leader of the RSPB Bexley Local Group from July 1990 until
June 1998. He also served on RSPB Council from 1993-98 and was Chairman
of the Education and Membership Committee from 1994-98.
Michael's funeral
will take place on Friday 18 April at 1p.m. at Christ Church, Main
Road, Sidcup. The family have requested no flowers - donations to
RSPB.
A full obituary
will appear shortly.
Ralph Todd
|
| ***********
|
STARLING
STILL NUMBER ONE
Thursday 27 March 2008
Results for the Big Garden Birdwatch survey held
over the weekend of 26 and 27 January revealed that the starling
is still the most numerous bird reported from Bexley gardens by
residents.
The first four places in the top 10 Bexley garden
birds remained unchanged in the survey conducted by the RSPB since
1979. Minor changes lower down the list involved blackbird hopping
above collared dove and feral pigeon flying higher from eight to
six. A total of 48 different species were reported from Bexley gardens
– three more than the 2007 total.
RSPB figures indicate that 28 per cent of land in
Bexley is devoted to private gardens. They say 115,102 gardens comprise
an area of 1,727.47 hectares out of a total borough area of 6,410.30
hectares.
Worryingly, numbers of birds seen in gardens nationally
was down – along with the number of people reporting them.
Bexley RSPB Group distributes newsletters to almost
3,500 homes yet only 923 adults and 62 children bothered to participate
in the survey – a significant drop from 1,165 and 141 in 2007.
This means probably fewer than a third of Bexley Group members took
part since the overall figure also includes the general public.
Weather may have contributed to the shortfall with
last year’s BGBW taking place over a wet weekend when many
stayed indoors while dry and mild weather this year will have encouraged
many to go out.
Yet surely it is not asking too much for people
to spare just one hour watching their garden over a WHOLE weekend?
I suspect good weather over the key 48 hours will
have meant few avian visitors to gardens. Maybe some people intending
to take part failed to return forms because no birds showed up during
the allotted hour. No shows, though, are vital to the RSPB in calculating
national trends.
Such disappointing participation figures surely
raise question marks over the whole future of this survey. The RSPB
hoped for at least half a million participants nationally but the
figure fell below last year’s 470,000. What is certain is
that bird numbers in gardens are dropping and the RSPB have called
on members to help by putting out bird food and gardening sympathetically.
For free gardening advice go to rspb.org.uk/hfw
ERIC BROWN
| BEXLEY |
| |
Adults |
Children |
Total |
Gardens |
No. of species |
Ranking by participation in London |
Participation 2006 |
| 2008 |
923 |
62 |
985 |
695 |
48 |
6 |
5 |
| 2007 |
1165 |
141 |
1306 |
824 |
45 |
6 |
|
|
| Species |
Average |
Frequency |
Rank |
Birds by Rank |
| 2007 |
2006 |
| Starling |
5.17 |
6.57 |
1 |
Starling |
Starling |
| House
sparrow |
4.58 |
64.84 |
2 |
House
sparrow |
House
sparrow |
| Wood
pigeon |
3.57 |
89.21 |
3 |
Wood
pigeon |
Woodpigeon |
| Blue
tit |
1.92 |
75.54 |
4 |
Blue
tit |
Blue
tit |
| Blackbird |
1.63 |
81.73 |
5 |
Collared
dove |
Blackbird |
| Feral
pigeon |
1.36 |
31.83 |
6 |
Magpie |
Collared
dove |
| Magpie |
1.33 |
58.85 |
7 |
Blackbird |
Feral
pigeon |
| Collared
dove |
1.31 |
50.36 |
8 |
Feral
pigeon |
Magpie |
| Robin |
1.07 |
74.39 |
9 |
Robin |
Ring
necked parakeet |
| Ring
necked parakeet |
0.90 |
27.12 |
10 |
Ring
necked parakeet |
Robin |
| Great
tit |
0.81 |
39.71 |
11 |
Carrion
crow |
Great
tit |
| Carrion
crow |
0.70 |
33.52 |
12 |
Great
tit |
Carrion
crow |
| Dunnock |
0.46 |
30.84 |
13 |
Goldfinch |
Greenfinch |
| Greenfinch |
0.43 |
13.53 |
14 |
Dunnock |
Dunnock |
| Chaffinch |
0.40 |
18.27 |
15 |
Greenfinch |
Chaffinch |
| Goldfinch |
0.37 |
12.81 |
16 |
Common
gull |
Long
tailed tit |
| Long
tailed tit |
0.29 |
1.37 |
17 |
Chaffinch |
Jay |
| Wren |
0.23 |
19.15 |
18 |
Long
tailed tit |
Great
spotted woodpecker |
| Coal
tit |
0.17 |
9.96 |
19 |
Coal
tit |
Goldfinch |
| Jay |
0.14 |
10.14 |
20 |
Jay |
Coal
tit |
| Great
spotted woodpecker |
0.11 |
9.01 |
21 |
Great
spotted woodpecker |
|
| Common
gull |
0.10 |
2.82 |
22 |
Wren |
|
| Song
thrush |
0.05 |
4.23 |
23 |
Black
headed gull |
|
| Siskin |
0.05 |
2.54 |
24 |
Song
thrush |
|
| Nuthatch |
0.03 |
3.10 |
25 |
Green
woodpecker |
|
| Sparrowhawk |
0.03 |
3.10 |
26 |
Nuthatch |
|
| Green
woodpecker |
0.03 |
2.82 |
27 |
Pied
wagtail |
|
| Stock
dove |
0.02 |
1.13 |
28 |
Sparrowhawk |
|
| Mallard |
0.02 |
0.28 |
29 |
Grey
heron |
|
| Mistlethrush |
0.02 |
0.85 |
30 |
Stock
dove |
|
| Blackcap |
0.01 |
1.41 |
31 |
Mallard |
|
| Pied
wagtail |
0.01 |
1.13 |
32 |
Blackcap |
|
| Jackdaw |
0.01 |
0.56 |
33 |
Lesser
spotted woodpecker |
|
| Goldcrest |
0.01 |
0.85 |
34 |
Redwing |
|
| Rook |
0.01 |
0.56 |
35 |
Tree
sparrow |
|
| Lesser
spotted woodpecker |
0.01 |
0.56 |
36 |
Goldcrest |
|
| Fieldfare |
0.01 |
0.56 |
37 |
Moorhen |
|
| Pheasant |
0.01 |
0.56 |
38 |
Siskin |
|
| Hooded
crow |
0.01 |
0.28 |
39 |
Chiffchaff |
|
| Moorhen |
0.01 |
0.28 |
40 |
Mistlethrush |
|
| Chiffchaff |
0.01 |
0.28 |
41 |
Reed
bunting |
|
| Tree
sparrow |
0.01 |
0.28 |
42 |
Grey
wagtail |
|
| Bullfinch |
0.00 |
0.28 |
43 |
Kestrel |
|
| Grey
heron |
0.00 |
0.28 |
44 |
Lesser
black backed gull |
|
| Grey
wagtail |
0.00 |
0.28 |
45 |
Willow
tit |
|
| Herring
gull |
0.00 |
0.28 |
|
|
|
|
|
| ***********
|
MICHAEL
OUT OF HOSPITAL
Thursday 28 February 2008
Michael Winship is getting on with life after a
long spell in hospital.
The former Group leader left Queen Mary’s
Hospital, Sidcup, in early February after having treatment there
for six months.
He suffered breathing problems and later developed
pneumonia after being rescued from his burning Sidcup home by the
Fire Brigade in August. Michael is living in a Sidcup flat while
repairs to his house continue. We wish him well for his recovery.
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| ***********
|
BEXLEY
DONATIONS TOP £60,000
Tuesday 12 February 2008
The Group has donated another £3,000 to RSPB
central funds. A total of £61,000 has now been donated in
this way by the Bexley Group since it was founded in September 1978.
A request for the latest contribution to be used
towards development of Cliffe Pools reserve has been approved by
the RSPB. Group Leader John Turner received a letter from South
East Regional Office outlining a change of policy to limit donation
requests to a category of habitat.
The two categories that cover North Kent reserves
would be lowland wet grassland and intertidal zones. Chris Corrigan,
South East Regional Director, confirmed that the donation will go
towards development of Cliffe Pools.
Mr Turner said: "This is good news making our
total contribution to this reserve £15,000." The Group
raises funds through such schemes as raffles, the 100 Club and events
such as coach trips to reserves, indoor meetings and fairs. It is
indebted to everyone who has participated, attended or volunteered.
Eric Brown
|
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|
MICHAEL
ON RECOVERY ROAD
Wednesday 30 January 2008
Michael Winship has made a remarkable recovery after
being rescued by the Fire Brigade from his burning Sidcup home in
August.
Michael, a former Group leader, is nearly ready
to leave Queen Mary's Hospital, Sidcup, after a stay of almost six
months. He was seriously ill after suffering breathing and heart
problems as a result of the fire, underwent a tracheotomy and also
had pneumonia. Yet his incredible willpower has pulled him through.
David James, another former Group Leader, visited
Michael regularly and after one visit at the end of January he said:
"Michael is pretty much back to normal although there are concerns
over the heart condition he had before all this. The transformation
in him at the start of the new year was amazing. You certainly wouldn't
think he'd had a tracheotomy. His character and will power have
been phenomenal and he's basically just awaiting a release date."
Michael kept himself busy listening to CDs of birdsong
and music and wading through a huge pile of reading matter before
being cleared by the hospital to undertake brief walks. He now awaits
a release date.
Longstanding Group member John Carter briefly joined
Michael in Queen Mary's at Christmas. John suffered a recurrence
of kidney problems and was rushed into the hospital at 5am Christmas
Day. Within 48 hours Welling-based John was transferred to Guy’s
Hospital, London Bridge, where he spent two weeks having treatment
before being released. He returns to Guy's three times a week for
dialysis.
Eric Brown
|
| ***********
|
CHILDREN
ENJOY CHANCE TO SEE BIRDS
Saturday 26 January 2008
The group decided
to encourage local participation in the nationwide Big Garden Birdwatch
and attempt to influence more people in Bexley to take part.
A total of 1306
forms were received by the RSPB from Bexley last year and we hoped
to increase this to 1500.
Fortunately
the day dawned bright and sunny, after a period of gloomy weather.
On arriving at Hall Place to set up two telescopes and our stall
it was gratifying to see that the feeders, which we topped up, were
being used by a variety of birds.
We started
the morning with six volunteers – John and Jeanna Turner,
Tony Banks, John Hawkins and Sylvia Say and Stewart Banks, and we
were soon joined by Bernie Jordan and later Anthea Reynolds. After
midday, Gill Page and Julia Maynard arrived.
We were able
to engage with about 100 people, distributing 44 Big Garden Birdwatch
record cards and a membership form and the sale of pin-badges, bird
food and feeders raised £37. Publicity in two local papers,
on our website and in local libraries produced results in that several
people arrived specifically to collect a form or to use the telescopes.
It was gratifying to see the pleasure that children and young people,
as well as adults, gained by looking through a telescope at the
birds on the feeders.
Birds seen
at various times on the feeders were blue tit, great tit, ring-necked
parakeet, house sparrow, greenfinch, chaffinch and goldfinch, while
on the ground were blackbird, robin, starling, dunnock and woodpigeon.
Other birds seen in the vicinity were mistle thrush, carrion crow,
magpie and moorhen, with feral pigeon and black headed gull flying
over.
We thought
the day was successful and enjoyable and thanks are due to all volunteers
who helped on the day.
John Turner |
| ***********
|
KEITH
GRIFFIN: 1933 – 2007
Tuesday 29 January 2008
Keith Griffin, one of
the Group's longest serving members, died suddenly shortly before
Christmas aged 74.
Keith, from Bexleyheath,
collapsed in Lewisham while waiting for a bus and could not be revived.
Keith William Griffin
was not quite a founder member of the Group but joined in the first
year. He participated in Group events and enjoyed birdwatching walks
with family and friends.
Originally employed at
British Oil and Cake Mills, Erith, he underwent a complete career
change to become a teacher at Erith School where he also advised
pupils on future careers.
In his younger days Keith
was an all-round sportsman, playing football, cricket and table
tennis to a high standard. He was also a qualified football referee
and was never reluctant to offer the presiding official advice while
watching Welling or Charlton Athletic.
More recently he helped
run an indoor bowls club in Erith.
Many of his former sporting
friends packed Christ Church, Bexleyheath, on December 28 for a
thanksgiving service. The lesson was read by Peter Sussex, a personal
friend and one of the Group founder members.
Our sympathies go to
Keith's daughters Jackie, Allyson and Vivienne and his son David.
ERIC BROWN
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|
What’s
happening on the North Kent Marshes?
How
did the RSPB come to inherit a building used by Winston Churchill
during the War and how will a £1.7million cash injection be
spent? RSPB Area Manager Alan Johnson explains work in progress
and projects planned to improve the marshes for birds
Shorne
Marshes
A series of new
dams, sluices and an automated pumping station mean we are better
placed to take advantage of water coming through the system. Shorne
has the best water supply of all our Hoo Peninsula reserves and
we are hoping that in future it will be the best site for breeding
lapwing, redshank and wintering wildfowl. We have installed access
control barriers around the reserve to try and reduce the number
of motorcycles using the tracks. Experience at Cliffe shows that
weak spots will be exploited by persistent bikers and repairs will
be required. Persistence at Cliffe has worked, but I expect Shorne
to take longer because of its proximity to Gravesend. We have already
had the first instances of vandalism near the rail crossing.
Shornemead
Fort has had a much needed clean up, with damaging tree growth removed
and earth banking restored. This was tricky as great-crested newts
hibernate underneath the rubble around the fort. We installed newt
barriers to hold them back near the breeding ponds while we constructed
new hibernacula along the Southern edge of the fort. The hope is
that, rather than being an eyesore and a liability, Shornemead Fort
becomes a well visited heritage asset. It is well used by little
owls!
Plans for the
remainder of the year include removal of scrub on the East of the
site, pumping to create surface flooding, the building of a cattle
pen to aid stock management and interpretation for the fort. We
also need to manage a project by National Grid to install a major
gas pipeline across the middle of the site.
Cliffe
Pools
We have secured
funding from SEEDA and HLF, the latter to the tune of £1.7
million. This is the starting pistol for work over several years,
including car parking, trails, hides, interpretation, toilets and
education facilities. New staff will help create a flagship reserve
to act as the first point of call on a visit to North Kent marshes.
If the first stage of development is successful and attracts sufficient
numbers of visitors, we will look at the possibility of taking the
site to the next level, with a visitor centre and expanded facilities.
We hope to have a car park and a new Assistant Warden in place before
the end of March.
Northward
Hill
Volunteers have
created new rides that will benefit butterflies and birds and new
areas of regenerating scrub that will provide homes for nightingales,
lesser whitethroats and other lovers of dense, dark vegetation.
Warden Paul Hyde has been managing a project on the grazing marsh
aimed at maximising use of scarce water resources. The works, including
the installation of sluices and culverts, bunding, ditching and
rill-creation, mean that what water we do get will be well used.
The long standing
lease with CSA ended, meaning an extra field for wetland management
coming back into our portfolio and an additional building, the "CSA
Building." This has historical value, as it was used by Churchill
to communicate with Roosevelt during the war.
Elmley
Marshes
The warden team
have managed over the last year to eke out every bit of habitat
value at this site. Lapwing numbers were up in 2007 and, with a
new water supply available from adjacent Windmill Creek, 2008 should
be better. Lots of work has gone in to raising bunds and stops,
installing pipes and cutting back sea-club rush. Upcoming tasks
are to trial electric fencing (to prevent predation of eggs and
chicks), colour ringing and radio tracking young (to build a picture
that will influence how we manage for the species) and to alter
the grazing management of some of our fields (godwit chicks like
to glean insects from long vegetation, so we will ease up on the
grazing in key fields).
Seasalter
We have undertaken
ditch management, but the main job over the next year will be to
try and buy the numerous plots of land sold off to all and sundry
in the 1970s. It may take up to five years to acquire sufficient
number of these plots to make viable management units, but when
complete, I am confident this will be one of the best wildlife sites
in Kent. |
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MOBILE
MICHAEL JOINED BY JOHN
Friday 4 January 2008
Michael Winship’s condition has improved enormously
although he remains in Queen Mary’s Hospital where he was
joined by John Carter on Christmas Day. Former Group leader Michael
is now in rehabilitation and able to move about the hospital freely
as he recovers from the effects of smoke inhalation and complications
following a serious fire at his Sidcup home in mid-August.
David James was amazed by the improvement in Michael
when he visited on New Year’s Day. He said: "The transformation
from the last time I saw him was phenomenal. He was as bright as
a button and walking with the aid of a stick."
Michael even made it down to the hospital lobby
when David went to get the car for wife Clare. "Michael wouldn’t
have been able to do that a month ago" added David. "I
could hardly believe the difference in him."
Michael still awaits a release date but keeps busy
listening to CDs of birdsong and music and wading through a huge
pile of reading matter. Longstanding Group member John suffered
a recurrence of kidney problems and was rushed into Queen Mary’s
at 5am Christmas Day. Within 48 hours Welling-based John was transferred
to Guy’s Hospital, London Bridge, where he is having treatment.
Eric Brown
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