On a nice warm winter day three volunteers arrived and once signed in we then go to the railway loop path where we was going to construct a dead hedge from the brash from the Network Rail work which was done to prevent leaves on the line. The volunteers also cut back regrowth of Ash, Sycamore and the invasive Holm Oak also cleared a large oak that had blown over on to the ‘live’ rail and could of caused a problem to commuters?. We tied it with rope and cut it back to the fence-line and incorporated the cut wood in to the dead hedge.
The Friends are restarting their Conservation volunteering after the break and we be extending the session to 2 per month during the winter and will be doing a range of jobs such as constructing dead hedges to clearing invasive species to improve the sites biodiversity if you are interested please click one of the button below to book your place for the forthcoming dates.
Saturday 8th January 2022
and
Saturday 22nd January
Please book your place go to Garthorne Road Nature Reserve volunteering page. Please bring lunch and drinking water and wear clothes you don’t mind getting dirty and sturdy shoes (preferably steel toe cap boots). Please bring own work gloves if you have your own?, as we have limited amount and will be washed after use.There is no toilets on site you can find a bush if requiredTickets 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.
Public Transport:
Nearest Railway Station: Honor Oak Park (10 mins), Buses: Honor Oak Park P4,P12 (10 mins), Brockley Rise : 122,171,171 (10 mins), Stanstead Road 185,122 (15 mins)
Lewisham’s parks and green spaces have been awarded their highest-ever number of Green Flags, the award given to the very best green spaces in the UK.
The latest green spaces in Lewisham to be given prestigious Green Flag Community Awards are Garthorne Road and Dacres Wood, managed by Lewisham Council with the help of the Friends groups.
In partnership with local groups Lewisham Council has also successfully retained its three existing Community Green Flags for Grove Park and Devonshire Road nature reserves and Albion Millennium Green, as well as its sixteen Green Flags for other parks and green spaces in the borough.
The Green Flag Community Award recognises quality sites managed by voluntary and community groups. Any green space that is freely accessible to the public is eligible to enter for the annual Green Flag Awards, which are based on a set of robust criteria, including accessibility, community involvement, cleanliness and biodiversity.
Friends of Garthorne Road Nature Reserve with their award,
Lewisham Council, in partnership with Glendale, manages 47 parks and 15 nature reserves in the borough – each with its own unique character and environment. The last 18 months have seen public green spaces play a vital role for residents as a place to relax, exercise and meet friends and family safely. Last year, the Council adopted a new Parks and Open Spaces Strategy, which aims to make the borough’s green spaces even better by improving community involvement, boosting biodiversity and getting residents – including young people – more involved in decision-making.
Cllr Patrick Codd, Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport, said:
“Gaining two more prestigious Community Green Flag awards is fantastic news for Lewisham. This achievement wouldn’t be possible without the huge contribution that Friends and volunteers of our nature reserves make. I would like to thank every single resident and community group involved in this effort for helping to give us all healthier and greener neighbourhoods.
“Our nature reserves are a key part of Lewisham Biodiversity Partnership’s new action plan, which the Council recently endorsed as part of our work to create a greener Lewisham for residents and wildlife. As an inner-city borough, we are very proud of the many nature reserves, parks and green spaces that have brought much needed happiness to our residents during the very challenging times of the pandemic.
“The news that two more nature reserves in Lewisham have achieved the Green Flag Community Award is testament to the hard work and dedication of the teams that make the borough’s green spaces sanctuaries that everyone can enjoy.”
Nick Lee, Treasurer of the Friends of Garthorne Road said:
“We are excited that Garthorne Road Nature Reserve has received the Green Flag Award. As volunteers who work to protect and develop it, and open it to others, we are pleased and proud to have received the recognition that the Award brings. We thank Lewisham Borough, the volunteers and committee members for the support that they give us in managing the Reserve.”
Paul Todd, Green Flag Award Scheme Manager, said:
“I would like to congratulate everyone involved in making Garthorne Road Nature Reserve and Dacres Wood worthy of a Green Flag Award. To meet the requirements demanded by the scheme is testament to the hard work of the staff and volunteers who do so much to ensure that these two nature reserves have high standards of horticulture, safety and environmental management and are places that support people to live healthy lives.”
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!
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.
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:
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.
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)
Ours Annual Bake-off and Cake sale was once again a success with very interesting entries from an edible flower cake to an Hungarian cheesecake. We had about 120 visitors and raised about £132.25 towards purchasing interpretation boards for the reserve. Which we had two entries an Adult baker and a Junior baker winners.
Help us to raise money for interpretation boards around the reserve.
There are two trophies to be won – Best Baker and Best Junior Baker. It would be helpful if you could email us in advance at garthorne.reserve@gmail.com letting us know if you plan to enter and in which category you want your cakes judged
• Entries can be either large cakes which we can slice on the day, or cupcake/muffin style cakes in individual cases or wrappers
• All cakes should be brought to the reserve between 13:30 and 14:00 on Saturday 18 September. Judging will take place at 14:00 and it will be followed immediately by a presentation ceremony at which the winners will receive their trophies
• We will be selling cakes during the rest during the open day (14:00-17:00) to raise money towards interpretation boards for the reserve
We was privileged to getting assistance from Network Rail and Mitie employees to clear the historically amount of fly tipped rubbish from behind Beadnell Road houses consisting from garden waste to bedframe to even an old oven and bits of motorbikes. We manage to fill a 10 yard skip which can take about 100 rubbish bags. Also some very angry wasps other wildlife found was several Slow-worms and a new species never recorded on the site Common toad and Sparrowhawk. A big thank-you to the team for all their hard work and Amanda from Network Rail for organising the event.
Common Toad
Common Toad
Female Sparrowhawk
Slow-worm
Slow-worm
Guarding the gate
The poser
One of a couple of dumped water tanks
Beadnell Road entrance
Bagging up old discarded books
More bagging up
Digging deep
Still on guard
Digging even deeper
The team
Workday and wildlife photos with kind permission from Amanda Holland
Garthorne Road Nature Reserve 