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London Wildlife Trust News
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Nature Nurtures
We are thrilled to be partnering with Spread the Word, Black Girls Hike - UK and London Youth to deliver our new project 'Nature Nurtures'. It will work with 600 young people and partners to develop a new model for youth volunteering at the Trust, using creative nature writing as an innovative way to get people excited about wildlife. The project will focus on young people from under-represented groups, from Black and Asian and minoritised ethnic heritage, who are not currently accessing volunteering. Find out more about Nature Nurtures here. |
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Walthamstow Wetlands
Highlights over the last month have included the arrival of our first garganeys, two drake and one female, visiting for a day and another stayed for a few days, while the trees have been filled with chiffchaff and blackcap song.
The reedbed and marginal reeds are beginning to bubble with life; the arrival of reed and sedge warbler are starting to fill the reserve with their jangling calls, adding to the distinct calls of the earlier arriving blackcap and chiffchaff. Willow warbler and their cascading song has also been reported to us. A few waders have been spotted including common and green sandpiper, lapwing and a row of five avocets (above) resting on Lockwood one morning. The common terns are increasing in numbers, with up to nine seen feeding on the Lockwood and East Warwick reservoirs.
Migration has been slow going but the hirundines have started to trickle through, sand and eventually house martin have arrived, albeit in small numbers along with the odd swallow. Other notable sightings were little gull and two male whinchats (one below) - both stunning birds.
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It goes without saying that spring at the Wetlands means an explosion of Canada and greylag goslings (Canada gosling below) which always bring visitors joy this time of year. Interestingly, the barnacle goose pair that seemingly failed to nest last year are back on reservoir five, lets hope for success this time!
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The signs of spring are not limited to birds at Walthamstow Wetlands. Orange-tip, small tortoiseshell and brimstone can be seen fluttering around the reserve and the first banded demoiselles have started to emerge. The first grass snake of the year was spotted in the Coppermill stream, and further downstream there were plenty of water vole signs during a survey which was encouraging to see!
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Lastly, we visited our historic heron colony with the Southern Colour Ringing Group to count the number of active nests (28) and colour-ringed six chicks. Please keep a lookout and report any sightings to us so that we can learn more about these birds.
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Beyond the usual spring meadow cutting this time of year volunteers tried their hand at painting common tern decoys (above). Hopefully, the decoys will encourage our breeding terns to nest on the West Warwick rafts this spring.
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Woodberry Wetlands
March saw the first brood of Coots on the New river, while many other birds are sitting on nests all around the site. A lot of butterfly species have benefitted from the sunny spells we had in the last few days, species that have been spotted so far are, Brimstone, Peacock, Comma, Small white and Red admiral.
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Great North Wood
Whilst tidying up the tunnel entrance our team came across this gorgeous herald moth. This is a species of moth that hibernate overwinter and the tunnel provides the perfect sheltered spot for them. We put it back where we found it to continue its hibernation though it may not be long now until it emerges. The larvae feed on willow and poplar leaves and the adults on ivy blossom and overripe berries such as blackberries.
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At New Cross Gate Cutting, we spotted the fungus wonderfully named King Alfred's Cake (Daldinia concentrica). The story goes that 9th century King Alfred, hiding from the Vikings in a peasant woman's house, forgot to watch the cakes cooking by the fire and was scolded when they burnt. Aptly named, they do resemble burnt buns!”
Our Festival of the Great North Wood is back this year in-person! Taking place on Saturday 18th June at Streatham Common, join us for an exciting day of activities including guided walks, family activities and much more. When we have the full programme ready, we will share it with you all. There may also be voluntary opportunities too. Please do pop this date in your diary - it'd be lovely to see you there!
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(comma butterfly at Sydenham Hill Wood)
The Big Give
Thank you to everyone who donated to Sydenham Hill Wood’s match funding campaign via The Big Give this year. In total we managed to raise £23,000, which included £5K of match funding from The Big Give and £5K of match funding from our friends at The Dulwich Society. This money will go a long way towards helping restore the path network in the Wood which helps protect vulnerable wildlife as well as make your visits easier. Our target for this work is £50,000 so there’s still a way to go - if you’d still like to contribute you can go to our website to do so. |
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Work for Us
Communities & Youth Communications Officer
You’ll be working with young people aged 11-25 from communities underrepresented in nature conservation, to celebrate their achievements, promote their journeys, and empower others like them to take action for nature.
We are looking for someone will have extensive experience in creating content and telling stories to effectively engage target audiences in innovative and exciting ways.
This role is part of the new Nextdoor Nature movement, that will see thousands of people across the UK empowered to lead action for wildlife within their communities, reclaiming and creating new green spaces for nature in rural and urban places on their doorstep.
Full time, permanent contract
Salary: £26,854 per annum
Application closing date: Tuesday 3rd May
Click here to find out more and apply
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Get in touch with Nature
Every week we'll be sending you some snapshots of London's wildlife, wildlife news, and suggestions on how you can connect with nature.
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In the news
(News articles linked to are meant to be informative and do not necessarily reflect the views of London Wildlife Trust)
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London Wildlife Trust Events
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| I’ve selected some specific events to highlight, but you can also browse the full range of London Wildlife Trust events by going to our events page here. Make sure to bookmark it so you can come back easily! |
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🌳 Eid Celebration at Walthamstow Wetlands
Sunday 1st May, 11:30am-2:30pm, Free
Join us for some fun activities to celebrate Eid - We'll have pond dipping, minibeast hunting, make Eid cards and have a go at making your own moon viewer.
Click here to find out more
🦋 Brilliant Butterflies at Grosvenor Square, W1K 2HP
Saturday 7th May, 11am-3pm, Free - ticketed
We'll be running activities to learn more about butterflies and create a feeder to attract them to your garden, patio or window ledge! You can drop-in any time to make your butterfly feeder, you don't need to book.
Click here to find out more
🐤 Dawn Chorus Walk at New Cross Gate Cutting
Saturday 7th May, 5am - 6:30am, Free - ticketed
The birdsong that erupts early in the morning telling us that a new day has begun is at its peak in Spring and is called the dawn chorus. From wrens to robins, tits to finches, come and hear the birds singing in one of nature's best concerts and explore this wonderful nature reserve
Click here to find out more
✍🏽 Wild Writing in Walthamstow
Saturday 7th May, 10:30am-1:30pm, £60
An opportunity to connect to the environment, explore nature writing techniques and produce a story rooted in your local area. With award-winning writer and founder of Write By You, Sarah Tinsley
Click here to find out more
☀️ Summer Woodland Wildlife Walk in Dulwich Wood
Saturday 21st May, 1:30pm- 3:00pm, Free
As part of the Dulwich Festival, London Wildlife Trust is leading a summer wildlife walk in Dulwich Wood and Sydenham Hill Wood to explore the summer wonders of these fascinating habitats and raise awareness of these important ancient woodlands.
Click here to find out more
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Urban Tree Festival
14th – 22nd May
This year, the Urban Tree Festival events are both online and in person! Click here to find out what's happening - and there's more to come!
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Hedgehog Awareness Week
1st – 7th May
The British Hedgehog Preservation Society’s awareness week runs at the beginning of May.
Hedgehogs are a bit of a rarity in London these days, though the one above was spotted at our very own Walthamstow Wetlands – if you do see one (or hopefully several) we’d love for you to report your sightings to us here. This helps us build a picture of their distribution and see where our help is needed most.
Find out more about how you can help hedgehogs here.
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Chelsea Fringe guided walks
21st May
Join community gardeners around Walthamstow on 21 May for three guided walks around the borough, to marvel and be inspired by the diverse community garden spaces and locals' creativity - from roadsides through verges to raised beds.
Click here to find out more
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Big Meadow Search
The Big Meadow Search (BMS) is a citizen science project which aims to encourage people to record plants in an area of grassland of their own choice. The idea is to get them outside, look at what they’re walking through, and learn to identify the plants they find, thus raising awareness and interest in grasslands and their importance. It began last year as an initiative by the Carmarthenshire Meadows Group in West Wales, and was at first only intended to be carried out within our county. But it generated interest from outside Carmarthenshire, and outside Wales too, so they are now looking for participants all over the UK.
You can find lots of information on their Facebook page Big Meadow Search, or twitter @bigmeadowsearch, or you can get in touch via email on bigmeadowsearch@gmail.com.
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Pint of Science Festival
9th -11th May
Discover what's new in climate and environmental research at the Pint of Science Festival
Meet UCL researchers at your local London pubs where they share their exciting discoveries with you! Tickets are only £5 and no prior knowledge required – everyone is welcome!
9th May “Earth, Wasps and Fire”
Why do volcanos erupt and how does that effect the environment? What’s wrong with Ant-Man and do wasps even exist?
10th May “Crashing Waves, crashing climate”
Discover how, in a changing climate, water can be both our enemy and saviour – including findings from the world’s first pneumatic laboratory tsunami generation facility
11th May “Look up! The changing skies above”
Why do birds migrate and how does climate change affect their behaviour? Can an artificial dust layer help to fight global warming?
11th May “Powering the future”
How can we transition from fossil fuels to clean energy?
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Wild London
Thanks as ever for continuing to send in your photos and videos, we love seeing them.
We may share your photos in our newsletters/magazine and on our website and social media (with a full name credit) unless you tell us otherwise.
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| Lynda spotted these cosy slow-worms in Winsford Gardens, Penge |
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| Kath saw her first coot chicks of the year this month! |
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| Tony photographed this peacock butterfly feeding off a willow catkin on Wimbledon Common |
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Brian sent in these whitlow grasses from Walthamstow Wetlands – “I find these two little Whitlow-grasses diagnostically very distinct in the field. They grow together on mats of saxicolous mosses on the concrete bank of the East Warwick Reservoir. I have known them here for over 20 years.”
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Another peacock butterfly spotted by Jan at Chingford Golf Course – lovely 😊
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Paul photographed this female wheatear at Walthamstow Wetlands back at the end of March
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Woodberry Wetlands ranger Hadi photographed this blue tit really showing its colours - keep your eyes peeled on our social media as our nest box cameras are starting to see some action!
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Marie says “I was at Rainham Marshes on Monday and I got my first ever sighting of a Cetti's Warbler! I was absolutely thrilled! The photo's not that great, but I don't care!”
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Mike saw this magpie taking an interesting approach to apple-eating!
We have a long-standing partnership with Vine House Farm, giving you the chance to buy wild bird foods that are grown on its own conservation award-winning farm. If you buy food from them using our link, 4.5% of the sale will be donated to London Wildlife Trust – great for the birds and us! They also sell a variety of different feeders, and even bird baths, so there’s everything you need to get started.
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With best wishes for the spring,
Ildikó
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