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Riddlesdown Residents
From: "Ashtead Common"
The latest news from the Ashtead Common team View this email in your browser
Ashtead Common e-News Issue 34, January 2014
Welcome
Welcome to the Ashtead Common e-Newsletter. The City of London Corporation has seven open spaces in South London and Surrey covered by three charities: Ashtead Common, Coulsdon Commons and West Wickham Commons. Each charity has its own e-Newsletter and you can now select the news that you want to receive .
Events
Sunday 11 January @Ashtead Common: Happy New Year, 10:00am Ranger Neil Sibley will lead a brisk 5 mile walk through the ancient landscape of Ashtead Common pointing out the fascinating history of the site whilst you work off the festive excesses! Booking essential, well behaved dogs on leads welcome. Wear sturdy footwear and waterproofs if needed.
Saturday 17 January @Ashtead Common: Homes for our feathered friends, 10:00am - 1:00pm Bring your family and join Ashtead Common Senior Ranger, Shaun Waddell, and his volunteers and build a wooden bird nesting box for your garden which will attract a number of our regular garden birds. Booking essential . Wear old clothes.
Volunteering
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If you would like to join the Ashtead Common Volunteers please get in touch. The group usually meets every Monday and Thursday.
For further information: Telephone 01372 279083 or email [email protected] Find out more about the City of London and its open spaces at: www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/citycommons
Photo by Richard Featherstone (Little Egret)
Wildlife update
December was reasonably mild and therefore not many winter migrants were spotted on the Common. Sparrowhawks, Kestrels and Buzzards have made regular appearances throughout last month and Fieldfares and Redwings have been seen on a daily basis. On 2 January, two Little Egrets were seen flying over Woodfield, right in front of the office. This small, white heron has only recently started colonising the British Isles. It first bred in the UK in 1996 in Dorset and since then it is estimated that 660- 740 pairs are breeding in the UK annually. It is likely that this pair were winter migrant birds since, during cold months, the population numbers increase with overwintering European birds.
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Volunteers coppicing hazel
During December, Ashtead Common Volunteers (ACVs) were coppicing hazel along Bridleway 33. January is a month of a MegaTask, which means that the ACVs will join forces with Epsom Common “EcoVols” and Lower Mole Project Volunteers to complete big tasks on Ashtead and Epsom Commons. We start off on Ashtead and we will continue with hazel coppicing along Bridleway 38.
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Trimming the crown
In December, the most iconic tree on the Common – King Oak (pictured before work), had its crown trimmed as part of the conservation work to extend the life of this beautiful tree. On the other hand, sadly in December one of the veteran oaks in Woodcock corner (junction between Bridleway 29 and 38) gave way to the strong wind. The offcuts of the branches are left next to the fallen trunk for saproxylic insects. A decaying stack of timber will create new homes for a variety of insects, fungi, birds, small mammals, amphibians and reptiles.
Work on veterans
In January, halo release work will be undertaken on selected veteran trees – clearing woody vegetation from around trees to minimise the competition for resources, such as water, light, nutrients and crown space between old veteran tree and young vigorously growing trees. This also supports ground flora, such as wild flowers and brambles. Bramble patches are an important habitat for nesting birds and dormice whilst the fruits are an excellent food source.
Facebook and Twitter
If you are an avid user of social media you will be pleased to know that our pages and feeds are back online!
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Copyright © 2014 City of London Corporation All rights reserved.
Our mailing address is: City of London Corporation Ashtead Estate Office Woodfield Road Ashtead Surrey KT21 2DU
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