Dave Dawson's natural history notes for 19th April 2018:- Just one Black-headed gull left, so they have departed for their breeding areas. The importance of Ashen Grove Wood is shown by birds singing there and doubtless breeding: Blackcap, Blackbird, Blue tit, Chaffinch, Dunnock, Great tit, Mistle thrush, Robin, Song thrush, Wood pigeon, Wren and Stock [...]
Read our very own batman's fascinating article on Wimbledon Park's bat population first featured in the Wimbledon Society's March 2018 newsletter Dawson, D. 2018 The night shift
Dave Dawson's natural history notes for 21st March 2018:- Black-headed gulls have assumed their breeding plumage, with dark heads and are disputing amongst themselves in preparation for departure for the breeding grounds. The Common gulls seem to have gone already. Canada geese are departing to breed elsewhere. A patrol man with a border collie dog [...]
Dave Dawson's natural history notes for 21st January 2018:- The geese were out in the grass of the public park in the early morning but, as usual, with the arrival of dog walkers they made their way onto the lake at around 09:00. Hazel catkins were out. This is the best time of the year [...]
Join us for a family-friendly tree planting event on 24 and 25 February 2018, 10am to 1pm. We will be planting 600 more trees in Horse Close Wood to protect veteran Oak trees on the southern edge of the wood. See Flyer tree planting Feb 18-1 for further details. Hope to see you there!
Dave Dawson's natural history notes for 27th October 2017:- The geese were mainly on the Golf Course this morning, making it more difficult to achieve a full count. It’s not clear why they have shifted their early morning location away from the public park. There’s a large Caper Spurge just inside the Stadium fence right [...]
Dave Dawson's natural history notes for 24th August 2017:- Most of the geese were out on the grass of the public park until the first dog walkers sent them off to the lake at around 08:40.
Wandle Fortnight 9th September - Sunday 24th September 2017 Events Taking Place in Capability Brown’s Wimbledon Park Wednesday 13th September at 10.00am-1pm. a. A short talk on Horse Close Wood by Dave Dawson. b. Meet by Wimbledon Park Road entrance. c. Volunteers to carry out tree weeding, with a refreshment break. Thursday 14th September at [...]
Dave Dawson's natural history notes for 20th July 2017:- The Canada Goose moulting flock of 110 birds maintains the high numbers of recent years. There was a record July count of 85 Coots. The second highest was 80 in July 2014 in the lead up to the massive growth of Hornwort. Perhaps we’re heading for [...]
Dave Dawson's natural history notes for 16th June 2017:- The 90 Canada Geese and 90 Greylags were leaving the grasslands for the lake in the early morning. The Canada Goose number reflects both the slow increase in numbers over the last 30 years and the seasonal pattern: in June they move back from scattered breeding [...]