The Craig telescope was built on the Common in 1852 ahead of the Great Exhibition. Unfortunately it never met the aspirations of its designer and engineer and worked imperfectly for only a short period. Nothing is left of it today except the name, given to the so-called ‘Scope’ area of the Common (see our heritage trail) where it stood. Greg Smye-Rumsby gave one of our first ever talks after the launch of the Friends in 2018. He has an encyclopaedic website about the telescope and we welcomed him back to speak to some old and some new faces. You can read more on his website and there’s a section devoted to the telescope in our book. Our film of his talk is in the usual place on our website.

It’s the time of year when you never know what bird you’ll find on the Common as the winter migrants start arriving or just passing through. Barbara Littlechild hosted another of her popular birdwalks and found more species on the Common (30) than in her subsequent walk in Richmond Park. We must be doing something right. Birds spotted included nuthatch, coal tit, jay, mistle thrush, woodpecker and of course, after the walk had ended, a goldcrest, little grebe and buzzard. Barbara also spotted a rare firecrest recently. As a member of the Friends you get exclusive invites to all our walks which are not advertised more widely because of our large membership.

It’s been a busy month for meetings, with not only a routine Friends committee but also meetings with the Council about the new contracts for managing the Common and also the future of the Neals Lodge complex in the middle of the Common above Skylark cafe. Watch this space.