Autumn at Sydenham Hill Wood (DG) In this issue: Open Day blockbuster Volunteers clean up mess Wildlife sightings The Crystal Palace High Level railway And winter bird walk Contact: [email protected] 0207 252 9186 Twitter Facebook Protecting London’s wildlife for the future Registered Charity Number: 283895 Follow London Wildlife Trust on Twitter and Facebook Sydenham Hill Wood News Volunteers clean up after double arson attack After suffering a double arson attack on our fencing storage at Sydenham Hill Wood in August, it was left to volunteers from the local community to clean up the debris and piles of charcoal. It is not unusual to have to deal with minor incidents of vandalism and attempts to damage fencing, sometimes with fire, but this was nd different. The first arson attack took place on Saturday 2 August and the second on the following Monday. The fire brigade was called in to put out both fires. Thank you to the London Fire Service for all their work in doing so. One of the main concerns, apart from damage to property and equipment was the protection of bats which use the tunnel to roost and hibernate. We know that bats swarm in the tunnel in summer but they are unlikely to have been harmed as the tunnel has another point of exit for bats on the southern, Lewisham end. In September Southwark Council covered the damaged façade with steel sheeting to stop anyone gaining unlawful access to the tunnel in future. The tunnel was built in the 1860s as part of the Crystal Palace High Level railway but closed in 1954. The tunnel was accessible for decades afterwards. The tunnel is now a registered bat roost. The Met Police are investigating the incidents. 1000 people join in to discover local wildlife Our Open Day took place on Sunday 14th September and was a huge success, far beyond our expectations. We approximate that over 400 visitors attended to enjoy pond dipping, bug hunting, cakes made by volunteers and a tombola with items donated by people from the local community, as well as a bird and tree walk. You helped us to raise over £700 to support London Wildlife Trust’s management of the Wood, thank you to everyone who attended. One of the most pleasing additions to the event was live folk music from a local collective of volunteers led by local resident Amanda Tuke. It was wonderful to have the sun dappled woodland lit by the sound of fiddles, flutes, and other acoustic instruments. The biggest thanks is reserved for the 22 volunteers who came along to volunteer their time in support of London Wildlife Trust. Without your dedication, knowledge and expertise none of our work would be possible. This success meant that by November 2014 approximately 1050 members of the public have attended our events in the local area this year. Thank you to everyone who has made them so enjoyable. It’s clear that people really do care about wildlife. Follow London Wildlife Trust on Twitter and Facebook Common darter (DG) Wildlife sightings It was a good summer for the bats of Dulwich while in the autumn firecrests arrived fo their third consecutive winter residency A member of the public observed a hedgehog on Cox’s Walk on 3rd July and a female stag beetle was recorded on the 4th. On the 13th July over 200 swift were seen over the golf course and in the evening common and soprano pipistrelle and Leisler’s bat were recorded during a transect. On the same evening we discovered that Egyptian geese have replaced Canada geese as resident breeders on the golf course. A silver-washed fritillary was seen on 24th. During a bat transect on the 29th we saw a sparrowhawk hunting noctule bats over the golf course, whilst a tawny owl later passed overhead. Leisler, common and soprano pipistrelle were also recorded during the transect. On 1st August a migrant hawker dragonfly was laying eggs at the Dewy Pond. On the 7th a ruddy darter dragonfly and silver-washed fritillary were present. Yellow pimpernel was found to be increasing on the 21st. A moth survey on 24th recorded Jersey tiger, yellow shell, lesser broad bordered yellow underwing, footman, large yellow underwing and rosy wave moths. A male tawny owl was heard calling. The final bat transect of 2014 on the 27th August recorded common and soprano pipistrelle and noctule bats. In September tawny owl was present again on 10th and 28th when a kestrel was also seen. Hen of the woods appeared on 24th. A bat roost survey on 25th September with Huma Pearce found soprano pipistrelle, Leisler’s and a hornet on the wing. A buzzard was mobbed by crows on 2nd October. On 8th a common darter dragonfly (pictured) landed on a London Wildlife Trust hoodie, when a tawny owl was heard again. Firecrest were recorded in varying numbers on 30th September, 2nd, 15th, 23rd October and 10th November suggesting that they are staying for a third winter in a row. The first migrant redwing were observed on 15th. On 18th October two new fungi were discovered for the Wood and only for the second and third time respectively in London: wood bolete and cobalt crust. White-tailed/buff-tailed bumblebees were still active on 29th. A red admiral was seen basking on 1st November. A mistle thrush could be heard singing on 12th. Sightings submitted by LWT staff and volunteers, new fungi records determined by Dr. Mark Spencer, London Natural History Museum London Wildlife Trust secures £1.5million for Woodberry Wetlands - new nature reserve in North East London A Stoke Newington Reservoir, closed to the public for nearly 200 years will be transformed by London Wildlife Trust into a new nature reserve called Woodberry Wetlands, opening in 2015. The new reserve will be based at East Reservoir, originally constructed in 1833. The site has since developed into a hidden wildlife haven which will soon give people an opportunity to enjoy nature in the heart of north-east London. Funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, site owners Thames Water, Hackney Council and Berkeley Homes; a new bridge, boardwalk, café and visitor centre will provide public access whilst minimising disturbance to wildlife. Visiting school and community groups will learn about urban wildlife and volunteers will gain new skills in practical nature conservation. Carlo Laurenzi OBE, Chief Executive of London Wildlife Trust, commented: “The creation of Woodberry Wetlands shows that we can bring nature back into people’s lives, even in the heart of north east London. A new visitor centre and walkways will give free access to large parts of the site and we will significantly increase areas of reed bed and wildflower meadow to enhance the wildlife habitat.” The reservoir is an important habitat for many birds including reed bunting, song thrush, kingfisher and the occasional bittern; and also provides valuable foraging and roosting habitat for bats. The site provides important winter shelter for wildfowl and is a key ‘stepping stone’ for large numbers of migratory birds as they move to and from the Lee Valley Special Protection Area. Bats, butterflies and bakes! Surveys and events took priority as summer reached its height with an impressive showing from volunteers at Open Day Volunteers rolling back the years (DG) The summer to autumn period can be the busiest for volunteers at the Wood. The summer events season is rounded off in September with our annual Open Day. 2014’s event was one to remember. Volunteers made cakes, led pond dipping and bug hunting sessions, walks and talks, and performed live folk music for a captivated audience. With the help of our volunteers we raised over £700 for wildlife. Thank you to all our volunteers and to everyone who attended. Our Dulwich Common bat transect survey ended in August and this year showed a good deal of activity, particularly from larger bats such as the noctule and Leisler. In July volunteers witnessed a sparrowhawk hunting noctule bats on the private Dulwich and Sydenham Hill Golf Course where the transect begins. The sparrowhawk swooped several times at a pair of noctules but failed by the slightest of margins, before slipping back into a small area of oak trees. the slightest of margins, before slipping back into a small area of oak trees, perhaps to mount another attack. Our strict transect meant we had to keep moving. In autumn bird breeding season comes to an end and we once again begin coppicing and clearing vegetation. We are often asked what we’re doing when cutting down trees but visitors usually depart with a smile when we inform them that this ancient practice is to provide timber to protect the Wood, and will mean that many of the trees live indefinitely if coppicing continues. It’s also time for volunteers to don waders and get into the ponds. Volunteers pulled the grasses and vegetation from the Dewy Pond which has harboured the first frogspawn seen for many years after the successful Ambrook and Dewy Pond project. This will all regrow and provide the same habitat for amphibians and invertebrates again in 2015. Clearing the Dewy Pond (DG) Follow London Wildlife Trust on Twitter and Facebook Walk the line In September London Wildlife Trust’s Mathew Frith led a 60th anniversary public walk along the route of the old Crystal Palace High Level railway Christening the new Brenchley Gardens footpath (DG) 2014 has been a great year for events at Sydenham Hill Wood and the surrounds, not least a walk of the Crystal Palace High Level railway led by London Wildlife Trust’s Director of Policy and Planning, Mathew Frith on Saturday 20th September.