supporting nature in southwark
Sophie from Southwark Council’s Community Gardening team gifted SNAV/ECG with some wildflower seed mix. We added more yellow rattle, courtesy of Jenny, to the mix, to help the flowers compete against the grasses, then borrowed some rakes, exposed some soil, raked in the seeds, and are hoping for the best! NB, long grasses are still …
The over-paved block bounded by Hopewell, Picton, Elmington, and Brisbane streets is the focus of Southwark Council’s innovative new Great Estates program, with potential support from Thames Water and other sources. The Elmington Community Gardens group is spearheading the direction for improvements. SNAVer Anna has been contracted to help with design coordination and is working …
At the beginning of September, SNAVers Susan, Anna, Jenny, Dave, and Simon met with Jon Best, Southwark’s Biodiversity Officer, and Alan from Complete Ecology to discuss maintenance of the Burgess Park’s blackberry meadow, which has attracted some fantastic birds in recent years, including blackcaps, whitethroats, and chiffchaffs. Some of the best-practice maintenance principles we identified …
Southwark Council has submitted a planning application to build 22 council homes on Lomond Grove in Camberwell, part of the Elmington estate, behind 61-91 Brisbane Street. Inside this walled-off area, currently padlocked and neglected, is a pocket of urban woodland with at least 20 mature trees – mainly sycamore but also ash, crab apple and cherry. All of the trees …
Article from Trees for Bermondsey spring newsletter Southwark’s tree-planting contract includes checking that all new trees are adequately protected and cared for during the first three years after planting. This includes watering between March and October. If a tree fails during this 3 year period, the contractor must replace it. For reasons that we have …
A new woodland, and several new wildlife hedges, are being planted in Burgess Park. Friends of Burgess Park is working with SNAV and idVerde, the Southwark Council park’s maintenance contractor, and Jon Best, Southwark’s Ecology Officer. Planting of the woodland will be at Neate Street, alongside the Sports Center, every day this week, 15-19 March …
Keeping a record of the birds in the park and lake gives us an indication of the natural health of our precious green urban space and allows us to understand the changes that occur seasonally within nature. The winter profile of the lake is one of gulls, cormorants and wintering ducks seeking, believe it or …
Species Highlights during the Winter at Burgess Park Lake Read More »
Some of you might be familiar with this place – a salvage shop and carwash at the entrance to Burgess Park. Many people don’t know that this is Metropolitan Open Land, and earmarked since 30 years to become part of the park. Now Southwark wants to let developers build a 7-story tower block on it …
SNAVers Speak up to Reclaim Metropolitan Open Land for Nature Read More »
Jenny and Anna of SNAV met with Joy and Louisa to walk through the Brandon 2 Estate last week. The grounds offer a huge amount of potential to increase biodiversity We talked about wildlife-friendly plants, signage for community engagement, reducing mowing while keeping a mown border along walkways – as is being agreed on the …
Volunteers from the Elmington Estate and from SNAV helped to plant blackthorn, hawthorn, hazel, dogwood, and raspberry on Sunday. Two birdhouses and two batboxes were installed, flowers planted, and an informational sign posted. Hoping to receive an order of mulch any day now!