September: Apples shining redly on dewy grass. Michaelmas daisies opening wide in welcome of late –flying butterflies... and just a hint of autumn colour in the leaves.
Our great news this month must be the presentation of the Cup and Coolings garden vouchers as 1st prize in the Best Outdoor Community Project in Beautiful Bromley 2008, for our work in reclaiming the rose bed and the Copse. This little wood, once neglected and rubbish-filled we cleared of litter, dead brambles and overgrown shrubs and were then rewarded in the spring with a great carpet of bluebells.
To receive official recognition of the Friends’ hard work at a most enjoyable evening event is fantastic. We must sincerely thank all those who contributed to our success, including not only the Friends who turned out regularly and uncomplainingly throughout the year, but also those behind the scenes maintaining membership lists and money etc., and the Council support staff who demonstrate endless patience with our many, sometimes odd and persistent requests for assistance.
We also received a beautiful bright new flag, a first aid kit and a certificate in recognition of our achievement in People for Parks 2008.
So, what else has happened this month? Well, we started with a grand clear up of King George VI Avenue. Thirteen willing pairs of hands were at that work party on the 6th, and the heavens were kind with just a couple of downpours, from which we sheltered under the lime canopy. Of course the rain continued somewhat under the trees after the sun came out but were we downhearted? No! (Just a wee bit damp maybe!)
Five brand new volunteers joined us that day and I do hope they will come again as they were very welcome! Thanks to them, and thanks of course to all our steadfast regulars!! Also to one of our Council friends who was able to join us as well!
Perhaps one day the self-sown shrubs, mostly elderberry, will be removed completely and the Avenue returned to its original grand state, planted presumably in 1936 for the Coronation of the King?
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The sign received a good wash and brush up. We even invested in a new bucket in the King’s honour!
Some Friends almost got lost in the undergrowth.
So much to do but coming along nicely.
Before the work... gloomy and overgrown.
After... much lighter and cleaner.
Copse News
Strolling through the Copse the other day we remarked on the good work our litter-picking dog walkers are doing as evidenced by the lack of rubbish along the track. Then (horror of horrors!) we came upon black rubbish-filled bags and heaps of garden waste in the nettle beds and along by some of the garden fences. How truly disheartening! Does anyone have any idea how to persuade these fly-tippers to use the facilities provided at Charles Darwin School on a Saturday and Sunday and leave our lovely Copse alone? Suggestions welcomed (non-lethal and legal preferably!)
On a happier note, have you noticed the fungi on the “chair” stump?
How pretty is that!
Though we have searched for the name of these “toadstools” we can’t find it.
And whatever is this nestling at the beech tree’s base?
Though we may be mycophiles we are certainly not mycologists and would be pleased if someone who is could name them for us.
New Dog Disease in Biggin Hill Area
If you are a dog owner you have probably received a letter from your Vet warning of the dangers of Lungworm, which is a potentially fatal disease of dogs. It is caused by worms that enter the dog’s intestine via the mouth, travel to the heart and lungs (where the damage to the animal is done), are coughed up and then swallowed again before passing out of the dog in its faeces to re-infect grass, slugs and snails. Any passing dog that eats anything contaminated by them will be affected. Treatment both curative and preventative is available at the Vet but this is yet another and urgent reason for clearing up after dogs. Bags, as you know, are freely available in the library.
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By the way, have you been out blackberrying yet? The hedgerows have been heavy with fruit round our way this year but the time is fast approaching when picking must cease. At least, that is, if you believe the legend which is that on 29th September (Michaelmas Day) Lucifer was kicked out of heaven and fell into a blackberry bush where he was so badly scratched that in a fit of temper he spat on the berries and spoiled the fruit, and has been doing so ever since. Don’t say you haven’t been warned.
Car park news.....none yet.......watch this space
Next Working Party
Saturday 4th October
Meet at the rose bed at 9.30am
Our intention is to weed and tidy the rose bed in preparation for the winter. If time and numbers allow we may give the Rec and/or Copse a clean as well. There is always a problem with broken glass on both the hard surfaces and the grass so strong gloves and litter pickers are essential. Bags, jackets and litter pickers are available and although some gardening tools are provided do feel free to bring your own if you prefer.
Next Meeting
The meeting on 23rd September had to be cancelled because of lack of numbers so this month’s meeting took place on;
Tuesday 30th September
7pm at the Spitfire Centre
Queries, complaints, comments or suggestions about this newsletter to; bhfotp@googlemail.co.uk
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Finally, we are delighted to include this article written by one of our members for the Newsletter.
We are sure you will enjoy it as much as we did!
Nature Notes from the Copse
Although only a small copse with a mixture of trees, it is surprising the amount of wild life that can be found. Perhaps the first signs of early spring are the tiny dark green shoots of the bluebell leaves just showing through the leaf mould, followed by the cheerful shining faces of celandine – in some places making a veritable carpet of yellow. Following on and complementing them come the delicate wood anemones and then the bluebells, this year making a beautiful show all the better for the hard work of the Friends of the Park clearing brambles and pruning bushes.
We look forward to seeing if the white woodruff flowers again next year, planted by Jean in place of the Spanish bluebells. The wood is next misty with cow parsley. I think it could almost be like a wild gypsophila. Has anyone ever used it in a wedding bouquet? I expect the smell is too unattractive! Some pretty pink cranesbill seems to have popped up by the nettles. I suspect this is a garden throw-out, but very welcome.
The song thrush and chaffinch had started singing in late February and then our neighbourhood blackbirds and sometimes the loud voice of the wren could be heard, followed by a visiting migrant – the blackcap. The different voices of the collared dove and woodpigeon are always there. Woodpeckers seem to have a brief stay. The great spotted woodpecker has a couple of favourite trees for drumming, but always seem to stop when you go looking for him!
I heard a green woodpecker on two or three occasions – a very distinctive loud laugh. Long tailed tits are sometimes to be seen, usually in family parties.However, this year there seem to have been fewer tits in general.
This is also true of butterflies, apart from the usual cabbage whites around the edge of the wood (caterpillars feeding on the allotments I expect!) The speckled wood seems reduced in numbers. However I have seen a comma, holly blue and a lovely view of a red admiral sunning itself on the allotment fence.
I was once lucky enough to see a fox trotting down the path. I wonder if it was the one that passed by my house for a few weeks in the winter regularly between 6 and 7, morning and evening, giving sharp barks. Perhaps it was looking for a mate.
Coming out of a meeting at the Spitfire Club one evening just as it was getting dusk we saw a bat fly past. Could it be roosting in a hole in the dead tree in our copse?
Now autumn is upon us and we will see acorns, hawthorn and holly berries and ash keys, hazel nuts along the path by the cemetery pleasing the ever-present squirrels. There may even be blackberries now that the brambles have re-grown. But blackberries from woods seem to have more pips than fruit and not the same flavour as those from the hedgerows. Already the bright red spikes of berries of the wild arum are showing through the brambles. The weird flowers with their green spathe must have been hidden by the undergrowth. Later our copse will undoubtedly be a picture of different colours when the trees close down for the winter. And snow? I have never seen it under a snow blanket, but it may be interesting to look for animal tracks.
I am only an amateur observer, walking through the wood occasionally, but perhaps a more expert nature lover will have seen more interesting things. Let us know!
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