09-07-2020: Kingston University Biodiversity Events - the slow road back :)

I spy with my little compound eyes something beginning with...

Hi all,

I hope you've been well? The lock down might have got you all noticing more wildlife then you normally would have, especially when the reduction in vehicular traffic, increased the bird song that we could hear, and also possibly, if lucky, drawn new wildlife to areas where you’ve not seen them before. I was lucky enough to see approximately 7-8 swifts feeding in the air over Penrhyn Road Campus, not a site that I recall seeing while at PR before.

Spot the birdie?

Nothing to see here, I'm just another chimney pot...move on

Plans Plans Plans

Helping to survey and report the wildlife that we see, really helps the conservation efforts. This has been a strange summer, as we have had to reduce and stop a lot of our normal volunteering work, to ensure social distancing, and also comply with the fact that a lot of our sites are closed to the public currently. 

Going forward, we are going to try to slowly bring back some events online, to run them in line with the government guidelines. As the guidelines are changing all the time, and as witnessed around the world, restrictions may come back at any point with local spikes; we will try to have a maximum number of participants of 6 people in total for a while, until the different restrictions change and advise stabilise out. 

At Knights Park and Middle Mill, we ran one balsam bash with 3 socially distanced households to removal the bulk of the invasive Himalayan balsam during mid June. We removed enough that any subsequent regrowth has been able to be managed with one person popping into the river bank. 

I had these unexpected helpers pop onto the KP terrace to ensure that any insects that I had pulled up during last week’s top up bash got cleared up quick smart. 

I was also lucky enough to spot a few more bits and bobs while next to the river. 

I have no idea of what chimneys you speak of!

  

What can you spot in the water? 

When I asked a family fiend that question (aged 6) he said bubbles :) which is correct!...but if you look a little closer through the ripples and riffles, and wait, you might see movement into the calm of species like chub, spotted in the Hogsmill

So onto the first few events on our slow return to conservation work on site – we have a brilliant event that you can do by yourself…this summer, we will be attempting to try surveying all of our sites for butterflies as part of the Big Butterfly Count run by Butterfly Conservation!

If you can see me, we need you!

We will be using the following survey safeguards for anyone who wants to sign up for these surveys with us, to minimise the risk of contracting Covid 19 and minimising the risk to our students and staff who are on site:

• As this isn’t a vital activity, we are asking for really local volunteers to take part, only those who are already living or working on one of these sites, or local volunteers who can walk/roll/ cycle to our sites.
• At most only 2 people can do a survey for us when they don’t live or work on our sites, to ensure easy social distancing. 
• A lot of our sites are still closed to anyone accessing them who don’t already live or work on our sites, so I have listed the sites by those which are open to all, and those only appropriate for those who live or work on the site, to help minimise social interactions. 
• Even if you can’t help us survey our sites, due to the restrictions in place, you can still help wildlife by downloading the big butterfly count app and surveying a local park, pocket park, or your own back garden/front yard if you have one. A survey as you walk to work or school would also be great to record the local wildlife. Details can be found here: https://bigbutterflycount.butterfly-conservation.org/about

When: these surveys can be done at any time, in good weather between the Friday 17 July to Sunday 9 August. Find out more here: https://bigbutterflycount.butterfly-conservation.org/

To sign up: Email biodiversity@kingston.ac.uk and I can send you more details of locations and get you signed up officially for our sites and then all you have to do is survey and email me the results :)

For all KU students- each survey counts as one biodiversity activity, for those who are looking for activities for their Kingston Award.

List of sites that we’re trying to survey:

Open to anyone who signs up, as there is room to manoeuvre around people and less people on site and nearly all are walk, wheelchair or cycling accessible. 

1. Stanley Picker Gallery, on the green bridge footpath next to the garden (standing in the garden to keep the path clear).  
2. Knights Park (locked site) – front of campus only – on grange road
3. Penrhyn Road front landscaping next to Penrhyn Road, accessible to all walking past. 
4. River House (locked site) pavement frontage, or the riverside planting opposite the site near the Thames
5. Hind Court frontage – pavement 
6. Roehampton Vale (locked site) – in front of the campus by the A3 or along Friars Ave
7. Tolworth Court (locked site) – in front of the gates and down the pedestrian lane next to our hedgerow – - please note that the path may not be even access, so may be tricky access for those in wheelchairs in places. 

Ideal only for those working on site or living in our halls, to minimise the risk to students living on our sites:

1. Kingston Hill’s Wildflower meadow – slopped meadow not easy terrain for a wheelchair, but there are alternative survey points on site. 
2. Kingston Hill’s memorial garden
3. Kingston Hill’s wildflower slope by the library
4. Middle Mill – near the eel trap
5. 75 Penrhyn road front garden
6. Seething Wells Halls of Residence
7. Clay hills halls of residence

 If you can help, pop me an email :)

All the best