For a second year we organised two days of end of term activities for year 10 pupils from Emanuel school. These included a follow-up of last year’s dog survey; a talk on the plastic problem by Connected Planet, followed by a litter pic; our first moth breakfast since the pandemic; and a mapping of the desire lines on the Scope. All these exercises are useful for the managers of the Common.
Richard and Laila Tillet organised the moth breakfast, where moths that fly into a moth trap overnight are identified, recorded and released. They also led a second popular butterfly walk.
Roy Vickery led two wildflower walks, on the least known area of the Common - Prison Banks - the narrow strip between Trinity Road and the prison. This unprepossessing strip of land has over 50 species of wild flower and is also a butterfly haven.
Mick Green, Enable’s biodiversity officer, led a walk on the Scope on the hottest day of the year, starting early in the morning and sticking to the shade!! We learned how that area of woodland is being managed to encourage biodiversity - creating glades, more relaxed mowing, preventing excessive tree and bramble encroachment, allowing dead wood to go undisturbed and discouraging desire lines.
Our stall at the Northcote Road fair was a busy and successful venture, allowing us to engage with local residents about our objectives and activities and sell our book and leaflets. Thanks to all our volunteers who helped out.
On the Heritage side, Sue Demont repeated her very popular ‘East Side Story’ walk along Bolingbroke Grove. Meanwhile, our Oral History Project moves on apace. About 20 individuals who have lived near the Common most of their lives have been selected for interview, starting in September. The interviews will be recorded and filmed and then edited down into a film and booklet for wider dissemination. Transcribing the interviews will be time-consuming and we are interested to hear from any volunteers who are prepared to help.
Last but not least, in this hot, dry spell, much attention has been devoted to making sure the Common’s new plantings are watered regularly. Watering frequency and amounts have been increased. You can help by reporting any struggling tree to trees@enablelc.org