Sydenham Hill Wood Work

Clearing the Brook The main glade in the late summer sunshine.   During the two most recent workdays (22nd and 25th August), volunteers have worked hard to clear the banks of the Am Brook. The upper section between its source and where it disappears to feed the Dewy Pond, was cleared of vegetation, mainly brambles, which had grown up so  much that the stream was no longer visible. It is hoped that this clearance will allow other native species of plants to have a chance to grow and that it might cut down on nitrate enrichment which is causing eutrophication of the Dewy pond (see last post).    The work was hard and laborious and it was made even more challenging by the large amount of brambles which had to be cleared. A strip of bank a couple of metres wide has been cleared and this has opened up the channel of the Am Brook to show it is still flowing. The cut material was used to build a dead-hedge along the side of the footpath which runs parallel to the book itsel...

 Pond Life During the workday on 18th August, a group of volunteers carried out a survey of the Dewy Pond. This was completed a little later than usual and unfortunately the amount of pond weed made it difficult to see the organisms in the water. The sampling technique is familiar to anyone who has done pond dipping, as it involves scooping a sample into a white plastic tray of water and studying what might be there.      Thanks to volunteer Kate Lake for leading the survey, then processing and analysing the data.  Observations 1. There was only one predator species found, which was identified as a Small Flat Diving Beetle. The diving beetle found in the Dewey Pond. Photo David Ward 2. It was significant that no dragonfly larvae were found as usually they are fairly abundant, nor were there any water boatmen.    3. Daphnia or water fleas were numerous and in some samples, they were teeming. Furthermore, their colouration was red, which suggests low oxy...

July Work Update Summer is a a quiet time for working in the Wood. The bird nesting season from April to October means that cutting back invasive species like cherry laurel and rhododendron has to be put on hold. Therefore work concentrates on repairs and general maintenance. For example, during the previous two workdays, volunteers have worked their way along Sydenham Hill cutting back vegetation which has grown out over the pavement and pruned any branches that were getting in the way of pedestrians. Another important job was to clear out the drainage channel at the Crescent Wood Rd entrance , as the recent heavy rainfall has overwhelmed the drain on the road, sending torrents of water into the Wood.    Another very important job will be to skim the duck weed off the surface of the Dewey pond. The pond is fed by the Am Brook, which rises as a spring less than a hundred metres away. The water percolates down through the Claygate Beds which are made up of sand silt and clay a...