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What’s happening to the seasons?

With the impact of global warming the traditional seasons seem to be getting a bit mixed up, with plants in flower when we least expect them! This will seriously impact insects and other creatures dependent on them for their sustenance e.g. pollen/nectar. If they cannot either adapt to synchronise their food plants, or find alternatives, they will be seriously impacted. Also birds, etc which predate such insects and will also be impacted.

So it was therefore very relevant to take part in a survey on New Year Day to find any such plants in our local parks. Led ably by our very own Andrea Deri, this was part of the national New Year Plant Survey organised by the Botanical Society of Great Britain & Ireland. Nationally this year they found 663 different species in flower.

More locally our stalwart team, duly wrapped up, braved a cold New Year Day very slowly wandering around both Church House Gardens and Martins Hill carefully looking for this plants in flower, some of them very small, Our findings, once duly identified, were then uploaded to a dedicated BSBI database, so contributing to the national figures.

New Year Plant Hunt attendees

During our survey we found some 38 different species in bloom. The most surprising one perhaps was the Broom plant found in flower. This is normally expected to be blooming in late April/early May!

Broom in flower in December on Martins Hill. Taken by Andrea Deri.

We hope to continue monitoring the plants found in our parks over the coming months.

You can find out more about the national figures HERE.

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Successful Volunteer Event in Historic Park

We had a wonderful work day in Bromley Palace Park on Saturday 15th February. With a good number of volunteers there, we were able to achieve a lot. Installed; ornamental grasses, ferns, and a couple of small trees in the Fernery. Also re-sited another bench here, which combination has transformed this small peaceful area. Elsewhere further bramble, ivy etc was cleared back along the Carriage Drive, in preparation for much shrubs to be planted. We have some 80 such shrubs to be planted, so a lot still to plant!

Volunteers also installed some spare paving stones. This, along with improved signage, has improved the path to the Rafford Way entrance. Preparations for the later installation of interpretive boards was also undertaken.

So thanks to all the volunteers that turned up. This included; Kerry, Phil, Jan, Jeff, Moira, Kristen, James, and all the rest…….. Much remains to be done.! Our next work party takes place on Saturday 8th March, anytime 10 am – 4 pm. Part of our ‘Love Bromley Palace Park’ project. So please come along and make a difference.

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Celebrating St.Blaise & Bromley Palace Park

Last Sunday there was a ceremony marking the connection between Saint Blaise, a 4th century christian bishop & martyr from Lower Armenia in modern Turkey, with this town centre park. He is celebrated as the patron saint of animals, healing of throats, infants, wool workers, etc, etc.

The above spring-fed chalybeate (iron traces) well was established a long time ago in the grounds of the Bishop of Rochester’s former palace – now Bromley Palace Park. To celebrate this an event to bless the current well by the Deacon at St.Joseph’s RC School, Bromley, along with the Mayor and Mayoress of Bromley in attendance, plus approximately 40 members of the public.

In opening the event the Mayor mentioned how Saint Blaise was connected to the healing properties of water and speculated how Bromley might have become a spa town, perhaps rivalling Royal Tunbridge Wells! However he would not recommend anyone drinking the spring waters today. He also pointed out the many wonders of this park which, while so quiet and rural feeling, was only some 400 metres from the busy High Street.

The Deacon of St. Joseph’s then conducted a brief service and official Blessing of the well and its associated spring, with the attendees taking part. After the ceremony people were encouraged to tour the park which, despite the sell-off of the northern parts of the site, was still fully open to the public. To find out more about this park and how you can help the ongoing efforts to restore the park please HERE.

Volunteers are carrying out further work to further improve this historic park. Next work session is on Saturday 15th February, any time between 10am and 4pm.

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A Big Catch on Glassmill!

In the second Thames21 work party on Glassmill Pond 22nd November, we had quite a haul recovering 3 shopping trollies and 4 traffic cones! Some 8 volunteers braved a sunny but very cold day to carry out more vegetation management, as well as picking up rubbish including even small bits of plastic polluting the pond.

However the biggest items of rubbish were undoubtedly the trollies and cones. The former were well stuck in the silt and required a lot pulling on the ned of a rope, up to four people in one really difficult case. Some intrepid volunteers also waded in and collected up to 500 golf balls from the river bed. We estimate as many still remain to be collected. These have been identified as coming from an upstream golf driving range, and the site owners have been contacted by Thames21, about halting this source of pollution.

Others were heavily engaged in clearing some dead trees and other invasive vegetation. This is necessary in order to encourage suitable vegetation to have space to thrive, and so enhance the local biodiversity.

Much remains to be done, so why not take part? The next work party is scheduled for Sunday 8th December 10am-2pm. To find out more and book a place please click HERE.

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A Great day on Glassmill

The work party last Sunday (17th), organised by Thames21 on the Glassmill Pond, was a great success. With some 15 volunteers attending, our primary task was to repair a serious leak, that if not resolved, may have impacted pond levels in the medium term. This task involved people getting dirty pushing ‘puddling clay’ into the gap and ramming it in really hard, thereby forming a good seal. While it involved others moving the clay to where needed, Nick and Christine had the important job of ‘puddling the clay’ itself.

Other activities involved cutting back some invasive foliage, litter picking and collecting loads of golf balls located in the water, wash down from an upstream driving range!

Finally it required a large number of volunteers to move the still very heavy clay to within the fenced off area, ready for later use. Phew!

A great day on Glassmill!

The end of a very satisfactory day indeed, thanks to all those taking part………..

However there remains more work to be done. If you are interested in taking part in future Thames21 organised work party events on this site, the next two events are on Friday 22nd November and Sunday 8th December. There will also be three further events early in 2025. To find out more about all these events and how to book a place, please goto https://www.thames21.org.uk/events/ and look for Glassmill Pond.

You can find out more about our work on this site HERE