Earlier this week, former committee member Jerry Avis reviewed the footage of the camera that we have installed in the woodlands.  It’s motion-sensitive, so it picks up movement and records what was happening.  The photos show 2 foxes having a “tussle” in the Oak Glade.  London is a significant stronghold for foxes with much higher population densities than in the countryside.  The availability of shelter, food sources (typically from humans) and allotments or gardens, make urban locations a super habitat.  With larger population numbers, this also means that there are often fights for territory.  Although normally seen as a nocturnal animal, they can be equally active in the daytime.

The first volunteer morning took place a week later than our normal due to the New Year festivities.  The 2^nd Sunday in January saw an excellent turnout of both Westcombe Woodlands’ committee members and volunteers.  Perhaps the rather mild and calm weather persuaded people to get their boots on! 

Wildlife speaking, we are in the middle of winter, but it’s the perfect time to inspect, clean, make new bird boxes and repair the existing ones.  There are several dotted around the woodland and as you can see, they are being used.  The delicate nests, made with a mixture of moss, twigs and small leaves are an incredible construction.

Using our ladders we inspected the boxes and recorded any activity.  Some bird boxes had eggs inside which must have failed to hatch.  Once cleaned, they are now ready for warmer times.

The pond is now full again.  We have recently constructed a tarpaulin which will direct rainfall towards the pond, hopefully keeping the water levels topped up.  Later this year, hedge plants could be planted around it to provide new wildlife habitats. 

Additional maintenance tasks will include step repairs and step construction to make the more central parts of the woodland a little more accessible. Only holly berries and ivy flowers are present at the moment, but already bluebells are emerging, a sure sign of warmer and brighter days ahead.

Saturday, the 6th of December is our last Westcombe Woodlands volunteer morning of 2025, how time flies! In addition to reminding everyone of the event (starting as usual at 10 o’clock), on the same day from midday until 2pm, we will be hosting a local honey sale in the Seren Park Gardens’ car park. We’ll be selling honey from Mudchute City Farm on the Isle of Dogs – £10 a jar & profits going to the Woodlands.

Also on sale – copies of local history books: Greenwich Peninsula & Marsh (Mary Mills) & Walking Westcombe (Neil Rhind).
Please note that our bees made enough honey for themselves – but none sadly to share with us humans. However, two of our beekeepers are regular volunteers at the Mudchute Apiary, so we are delighted to share honey with you from across the Thames. It’s delicious!

https://clt1770821.beeurl.co/132FE67F

November’s volunteer morning was one of the most attended for quite some time! Around 20 people were onsite, tackling many different small projects, all to create a better environment. One of the annual tasks is to dredge the pond. This year, the pond has been often below its water capacity.

This can create the environment for plants that normally live on the pond’s edges to take over the central areas. This has made the annual event even more important so that the grasses don’t choke up our precious water resource. We were fortunate, once again to have Lieve Reckers to volunteer her time and to put on the waders and gloves. As the photos show, the water level is quite low, but this helped Lieve’s task of removing the vegetation that’s quickly growing in the centre of the pond.

Another ongoing project is the creation of some steps in the interior of the woodland. The steep slopes have previously made access difficult for tree maintenance. Under the supervision of committee member Don Albrecht, more progress can be seen.

The wood has been previously donated. It’s great to see this being put to good use.

As ever, weeding, notably of aggressive bramble plants took place. The soil and open environment seem to create perfect conditions for the plant, with stems growing so thick that even secateurs can’t cut these plants back. We were very fortunate in having several volunteers from the local “Good Gym” onsite to help with this.

According to one of the Good Gym regular volunteers, Marta Campos, it’s been 4 years since the first Good Gym visit, quite a milestone!