News

Garthorne Road Nature Reserve Open Day

Saturday 9th April

2 – 5pm

We are opening the reserve earlier due to Easter and as a member we are inviting you to the Open Day, as spring is here and the birds start to nest and the spring flowers emerge come and explore what is about, Bring a picnic along. There will be some children activities such as hunting mini beasts as well a Tree Trail sheet as well.

Suggested donation £2 Please note there are no toilets on the site. Sorry No Dogs or BBQ’S please.

The Garthorne Road Nature Reserve is run wholly by volunteers. Any profits or donations are used to maintain or improve the Nature Reserve and provide educational events for the local community. Donations to the reserve is welcomed.

The Friends of Garthorne Road Nature Reserve conduct monthly volunteer days are on the second Saturday of each month and starts at 11am – 3.30pm. We meet at main entrance on Beadnell Road. The work ranges from controlling non-native species to surveying and recording the many wildlife species. if you wish to join us please reserve a place. Further information can be found on the Garthorne Road Nature Reserve Volunteering page. As per government guidance, Covid-19 restrictions ended on Monday 19th July 2021 across England. However, the Friends of Garthorne Road Nature Reserve will still maintain certain precautions across various areas of operation and Lewisham Council Nature Conservation managers have been given the choice to incorporate elements of previous guidance in order to make ourselves and volunteers feel comfortable and safe whilst volunteering.

How to find us: Main gate is at North end of Beadnell Road next to the alleyway to Garthorne Road.

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The Wood That Built London – Grab your copy!

Released last year author Chris Schüler, launched of his new book ‘The Wood That Built London’, which just so happens to be all about the Great North Wood! which covered from Deptford to Selhurst and from Streatham to Sydenham If you missed the virtual book launch, click here to watch a replay.

Sorry for the very late notice. We are holding our Annual General Meeting at 8pm tonight to elect committee members and discuss upcoming events and issues if you are interested. We are using Zoom here is the details. Zoom details:[https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84473967071…](https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/us02web.zoom.us/j/84473967071?pwd=NWFqd2xZOVVmNUR5TFg2b3pxUjRpQT09__%3B!!CVb4j_0G!AL31GAe7z5ZC46FifCE91B1QMaeinWjwGIVXWhK6pZufTb2CqBhBhGZAw2k1c-efmsL16NrD6A%24)Meeting ID: 844 7396 7071
Passcode: 006249

Tuesday 14th December

11am – 3pm

We are joining the London Wildlife Trust Great North Wood Project to do some management of the site. Help improve the remaining fragments of the Great North Wood for people and wildlife. About this event London Wildlife Trust Great North Wood volunteering-garthorne-road-nature-reserve-tickets or Friends of Garthorne Road Nature Reserve Eventbrite page

Tasks will include:

• Cleaning out Bird boxes
• Controlling clematis plant

Please bring lunch and drinking water and wear clothes you don’t mind getting dirty and sturdy shoes (preferably steel toe cap boots).There is no toilets on site you can find a bush if required

Tickets will be offered on a first come first serve basis. There will be a waitlist so if you book a ticket but something comes up and you can no longer attend please cancel your ticket on Eventbrite so that it will become available for someone else.

We’ll continue to maintain the following precautions: Volunteer numbers will be limited per session (may increase or decrease depending on site/activity).Please do not attend if you have symptoms of COVID-19 or have been asked to isolate by the NHS Test and Trace.If you do have Covid-19 symptoms or need to isolate and get tested, please inform me should you test positive after recently attending a volunteer session. I will then inform other attendees and advise/take the necessary safety precautions.

Hand washing facilities and hand sanitiser will be available.You will be given a pair of gloves if you don’t have any, as standard.You can be lent a pair of steel toe cap boots for the session if needs be and if I have them/appropriate size(s) with me.

We will maintain distance during tasks and refreshment breaks as much as possible, unless the specific task at hand requires closer contact, in which case, the use of masks is advised, but is ultimately at individual’s discretion.We will avoid congregating indoors or in enclosed spaces if possible, but if it is unavoidable, then as much fresh air should be allowed in as possible.

Hot and cold water/tea/coffee and most importantly, biscuits, will be available. Please bring your own reusable cup/bottle to minimise my contact with used receptacles when washing up, though I will bring some cups with me just in case.

Contact with shared items (including tools) should be minimised and where possible, I will be doing the hot drink making and biscuits may be individually-wrapped.If you have any questions please get in contact with either Ernie Thomason (Chair of Friends of Garthorne Road Nature Reserve email: garthorne.reserve@gmail.com or Chantelle Lindsey London Wildlife Trust Great North Wood Project officer on 07891837120 or at greatnorthwood@wildlondon.org.uk.Many thanks and see you soon!

Ernie and Chantelle

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Saturday 11th December

11am – 3pm

The Friends of Garthorne Road Nature Reserve will continue their monthly conservation workdays throughout the year. We will be doing different tasks ranging from invasive species removal to dead hedge creation.

If you are interested in joining us, please reserved a place https://garthorneroadnaturereserve.com/2020/06/19/reopening-of-the-reserve/

Please ensure you have protective footwear with steel toe caps if possible

We are Covid safe and have prevention measures in place. Please follow these guide. Because it is a closed site to the public making it easier to maintain social distancing. We’ll be running volunteering a bit differently to keep everyone safe and will be maintaining the following precautions:

Please do not attend if you have symptoms of COVID-19

Please avoid using public transport if you can

Hand washing facilities and hand sanitiser will be available

Please bring your own gardening gloves if you have them? otherwise we will supply you with an clean washed pair of gloves.

We won’t be providing hot drinks or biscuits so please bring your own if you would like to

We will be maintaining a 2m distance at all times

We will be limiting volunteer numbers to 11 including the leader per workday

We will disinfect tools before and after each session

Please wash clothes that you wear to the sessions regularly

We have be doing some heavy tasks and will require steel toe footwear and they will also be some tasks available that don’t require these but if you have some please bring them.

Please bring lunch and drinking water and wear clothes you don’t mind getting dirty and sturdy shoes (preferably steel toe cap boots).

Please note there are no toilets on the site but you are welcome to find a bush!

Tickets will be offered on a first come first serve basis. There will be a waitlist so if you book a ticket but something comes up and you can no longer attend please cancel your ticket on Eventbrite so that it will become available for someone else.

Many thanks and see you soon!

If you have any questions please get in contact us:

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Garthorne Road Nature Reserve is pleased to announce and been recognised and awarded as a Green Flag Award Community Winner. This is a key criterion for the Green Flag Community Award as it looks to how well the site relates to and encompasses the local and wider community.

• Welcoming Place
• Healthy, Safe and Secure
• Well maintain and Clean
• Environmental management
• Biodiversity, Landscape and Heritage
• Community Involvement

After 18 months that have seen our parks and green spaces play a vital role for people through lockdowns as a place to relax, exercise and meet friends and family safely, the news that Garthorne Road Nature Reserve has achieved the Green Flag Award is testament to the hard work and dedication of the Lewisham Council Conservation team and the reserve’s volunteers in maintaining and open the reserve that make the green space a great space that everyone can enjoy.

The reserve joins Darces Wood in Sydenham as well wider diverse sites as the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, Woodhouse Park in Peterlee and Chiswick Old Cemetery in London.

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Saturday 16^th October

2 – 5pm

The Friends are opening the reserve for the last time this season. Come and explore and discover the wildlife. We have a self guided tree trail or a children’s mini beast hunt.

Also author Chris Schuler will also be at the reserve to launch his new book about the Great North Wood which Garthorne Road Nature Reserve was once part of it and contains historic maps and environmental evidence, The Wood That Built London charts the fortunes of the North Wood from its earliest times: its ecology, ownership, management, and the gradual encroachment of the metropolis.

Copies will be available for sale at £15 normally £19.99. (cash only please)

3 –  5pm

For further details contact us:

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