Update, at last !

Since the last post in July we have held a meeting each month. As well as monthly litter picks we have been busy clearing footpaths, removing large logs and branches from the dipping pond (damselfly pond), We have now 'pinned down' the large logs to make it more difficult for them to be rolled into the water. Some fencing was repaired to the east of the main pond that had been damaged, probably by being climbed over. We've covered a bridge along the main bridleway, down near Lower Bedfords Road, with chicken wire as it was getting a bit slippery.

We've also been involved with 2 EWT events, Apple Day in October and their Christmas event. We had a table at each and sold cakes to raise much needed funds. We have to pay our own insurance and the money raised covers this cost for us.

July 2015 work day

12th July 2015. Today we installed a new step on a slope to the west of the main pond. This slope gets particularly slippery and difficult to negotiate in the wet weather. We may install  further steps here later in the year but this was our last usable 'step' so we need to buy some more sleepers. . Litter picking was also carried out as usual and some tidying up and watering in the Walled Kitchen Garden. Here are a few pics of the day's step building: The first shows the perils of allowing an inexperienced wheelbarrow pusher loose! More training required maybe. No one was injured.

Work party update

This year we've been carrying out various tasks in the park. Each month we've carried out a litter pick. Much to our disgust we collected over 150 bags of dog poo in the Northern end of the park, most from one area and we suspect this to be the work of one person, and presumably their dog, or dogs, as most of the bags were small Tesco ones. We've cleared fallen tree branches, repaired fences, cleared the ditch alongside the main bridleway down to Lower Bedfords Road.

What's been going on in Bedfords Park

Many apologies for the lack of information over the past few months. No excuse !!

Recent work parties have continued to litter pick, clear ditches, remove fallen trees from main track south of the visitors' centre and ditch. Repair fencing to the west of the main pond. We cleared the path in the south of the park that we built some years ago as this had become overgrown with brambles, nettles and a couple of fallen trees also had to be cleared. New steps were built to the north west of the main pond as the slope had become very slippery.

We had a cake stall at EWT's  (Essex Wildlife Trust) Easter Event which raised money for our funds.

We have also helped out at EWT's  11th birthday event in the park and we also had a tombola and cake sale which raised more money for our funds. In case you're getting the idea that we are making loads of money we ought to point out that most of the money raised goes towards out annual insurance that we have to take out as part of our agreement with the council when we became an approved 'friends group'.

Early Spring Butterflies in Bedfords Park

Here is the latest report from one of our members: (dated 17th March 2014)

In complete contrast to last year it has been a fine early spring. Most of the Prunus cerasifera (Cherry Plum) blossom has already gone over in the park and Prunus spinosa (Blackthorn) is coming out now. Many butterflies enjoyed nectaring on the former and also on Sallow blossom. Some of the sallow catkins have gone over already as well and one near the lake was covered with bees on 9th.

Bird news:  Daniel saw a Red Kite flying over the park on 8th March. March and April are often good months to look out for this majestic raptor, which usually involve passage/wandering birds. The first migrant birds are arriving in the park with 3 Chiffchaffs and 1 Blackcap all singing on 16th. The chiffs were in full song and had probably arrived a few days earlier. When they first arrive they tend to feed constantly (after a long migration in this case wintering in the Med) and sing more subdued or sporadically.

It has been one of the best early springs for butterflies, certainly in recent years.

Bedfords Park LNR  9th March (12.00-16.30):   32 Peacock, 15 Small Tortoiseshell, 15 Comma, 5+ Brimstones (4 male, 1 female) and 1 Red Admiral.

Bedfords Park LNR  16th March  (12.15-14.45):   20 Peacock, 18 Small Tortoisehell, 15 Comma and 5 male Brimstones. Also 1 Orange Underwing moth in Larch Wood.

All of the hibernating species had a good late summer and autumn last year and with this good start will hopefully continue to thrive in 2014.

Pam saw a White sp probably Small on 13th. If the warm weather continues the species which overwinter as pupa should all appear before the end of the month (this includes some Speckled Woods, Holly Blue and the other Whites incl Orange Tip). Watch this space!

I visited Havering Country Park on 12th - lots of butterflies here too including a total of 34 Commas!

The first four photos were taken in Bedfords Park on 16th March - two different Brimstones one with a little nick along the edge of the hindwing near the 'tail': the remainder in Havering Park .

Wildlife in Bedfords Park 2014

Following  info on wildlife spotted in the park so far this year:

Birds recorded in the park so far this year are listed below. Still a few common species lacking which I have normally seen by mid-January (eg Meadow Pipit, Tufted Duck). If the weather improves (less rain) I will try some dusk visits for owls, Mandarin Duck and Woodcock; also some early morning visits. The Peregrine Falcon was reported on the SE Essex RSPB site on 14th by two visiting birders - seen over Larch Wood. I still need this species for my BP list. I have seen Peregrines over Gidea Park on two occasions which is not far away and there is at least one previous park record; all presumably wanderers from Romford Town Centre.

The 2 Firecrests continue the regular occurrence of the species for the site (fifth consecutive winter since 2009). 

Mute Swan
Canada Goose
Mallard
Pheasant
Cormorant
Little Egret  (01/01/14)
Sparrowhawk
Buzzard
Kestrel
Peregrine Falcon
Moorhen
Coot
Woodcock
Black-headed Gull
Common Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull  )
Herring Gull                       } flyovers
Great Black-backed Gull   )
Feral Pigeon
Stock Dove
Woodpigeon
Collared Dove
Green Woodpecker
Great Spotted Woodpecker

Wren
Dunnock
Robin
Blackbird
Fieldfare
Song Thrush
Redwing  (150 on 15th)
Mistle Thrush
Firecrest (2)
Goldcrest
Long-tailed Tit
Coal Tit
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Nuthatch
Treecreeper
Jay
Magpie
Jackdaw
Rook
Carrion Crow
Chaffinch
Greenfinch
Goldfinch
Lesser Redpoll
Bullfinch


Hi all.

A few butterflies have already been seen this mild February at a number of sites particularly from the 16th. I finally caught up with my first in 2014 in the park yesterday.

2 Peacock

2 Small Tortoiseshell  (also 2 seen by a n other including 1 probably same individual as 1 of mine)

1 Comma

I also disturbed a basking Grass Snake which slithered off before I could take a photo, the earliest I have seen here out of hibernation.

With the mild weather it remains very quiet for birds wintering in the park but many are singing. The plant growth is so in advance of last years very late spring. Prunus cerasifera is out in full flower but I could not find any nectaring butterflies on it - a few bees.

February 9th 2014 Work Day

This work day, just for a change' we decided to continue mulching the areas near to the visitors' center and, at last, we've used up all the mulch! We also carried out our usual litter pick. The litter we collected this time included a TV which was dumped in the visitors' center car park, a printer, a bag of plastic toys and a box of drinking glasses. These were all dumped by the recyclable bins in the main car park. Why ??? The glasses fitted in the glass container anyway so we did what someone else couldn't be bothered to do. Some of the toys were taken to a local charity shop. The Council (that's you and me) will have the expense of disposing of the tv and printer. The rest of the rubbish was the usual sweet wrappers, plastic drinks bottles, plastic bags, drinks cans etc etc. Most of this could have been taken home, or at least put in the bins provided. Never mind, we really look forward to picking up other peoples rubbish every month.

December 2013 and January 2014 work days

December 15th 2013 was a combined work day and cake sale. Essex Wildlife Trust held their Christmas Event and we had a table selling home made cakes. We made a reasonable profit although it would have been higher if the weather had been better. This money will go towards our insurance costs. Although we are a voluntary group we have to take out and pay for our own insurance. The rest of us continued weeding and mulching in the areas planted with native shrubs and trees earlier in the year close to the visitors, centre. We did as much as possible until we were rained off. The pile of mulch doesn't seem to be getting any smaller!

Several hundred  bulbs have been planted each side of the track leading up to the Walled Garden which should provide a nice splash of colour later in the spring. Will also provide some much needed nectar for the insects. These were planted by the SEETEC guys who have been working with Havering Council for some months now both within the park and in the Walled Garden.

Our January work day was on  the 12th. Again we continued weeding and mulching. The pile of mulch still doesn't seem to be getting any smaller ! Also some pruning was carried out on the lime trees along the track that leads up to the walled garden. The 'epicormic' growth on the trunks and around the base of these trees hadn't been cut back for many years and was beginning to encroach on the track. In the afternoon we cleared away a couple of large branches that had fallen over the ditch and across the main drive that leads down towards Lower Bedfords Road. We continued south and around the main lake litter picking. The lake was, unsurprisingly, quite high due to all the rain we've been having.

Sunday 10th November work day

This, very sunny, Sunday we worked with worked with 'Froglife' to build 'Hibernacula' for reptiles wintering within the park. We built 2 in sunny, south facing, spots. These are basically piles of logs covered with vegetation that will provide a place for reptiles such as snakes and lizards, and amphibians that do not hibernate in water, such as newts and toads to over winter safely. These areas will also warm up quickly in the sun to enable snakes to bask and raise their temperature quickly.

A grass snake was spotted nearby while we were working so should be a good spot.

Also spotted in the park, or more accurately, over the park was a Red Kite, one Sparrowhawk, one Kestrel and 4 Common Buzzards. The Buzzards are regularly seen over the park. Also Common Darter Dragonflies were still on the wing.

                                                                      Red Kite

                                                     Common Darter Dragonfly

'Apple Day' Sunday 20th October 2013

Essex Wildlife Trust had their annual Apple Day today. There were apples for sale and you could taste and try before you buy! Also apple juice on sale. The apples and juice were supplied by Lathcoats Farm ( www.eapples.co.uk )  in Galleywood, Chelmsford.

The Walled Kitchen Garden was also open and fresh produce was on sale. Produce will also be on sale on Thursdays from around 10 am.

We had a visit from a group from the  Havering Museum who arrived in style - in a 1960's Routemaster Bus, complete with ticket collector! They had included Bedfords Park in a tour of the Borough and visited the Deer Enclosure, the Visitors' Center and the Walled Garden. Apart from the heavy rain, which delayed their departure, they appeared to have a good time.

Work day Sunday 13th October 2013

Unfortunately due to the very wet weather this work day was cancelled

Latest in the Walled Garden

Saturday 21st September was a great success. Lots of 'new' visitors to the garden. BBQ'd sweetcorn were really tasty. Was great to see so many people enjoying just walking around and looking at what's been achieved in a relatively short time. The garden was only accessible for planting in April this year. We had several stalls, one from Stewart Avenue Allotments in Upminster selling their wonderful jams, chutneys, soups and crumbles. There were teas and cakes and soup on sale. All proceeds were either for The Walled Garden Project or The Friends of Bedfords Park. Also our 'resident' beekeeper was present explaining about the bees and he also had several types of honey  for tasting. Several members of the Walled Garden 'team' were available to answer questions. We also had a group from the 'Challenge Network' giving away free seeds and going taste tests!

All in all a good day.

This week has seen several hundred school children in the park. A collaboration between Havering Council, Essex Wildlife Trust, Clear Village (walled garden) and the Friends of Bedfords Park has seen Heavy Horse log pulling demonstration and talks, petting zoo with various animals, talk with E.W.T and a tour and talk around the Walled Garden. Again a great success.

Bedfords Park Walled Kitchen Garden open 21st September

There is an Edible Gardens Open Day as part of The Capital Growth programme of national events, at the restoration of the Georgian  Bedfords Park Walled Garden Local Foods project on Saturday 21st September.  2pm noon until 8pm.    Come Long and see what we have been up to since the Spring!    Visit our amazing Maize Maze and see 'Cinderella' our huge pumpkin growing quietly getting ready for Halloween.

Work party Sunday 8th September 2013

About time!" did I hear you say? Many apologies for the lack of information posted. No real excuses. Will try to do better.

During the year we've been repairing fencing, litter picking, attempting to keep paths clear, repairing dipping platform, planting saplings and hedging etc. etc.

Today we've been weeding,and mulching, one of the recently planted areas near the Essex Wildlife Visitors' Center which we, together with local Scouts, planted with native shrubs.

This Sunday we had help from 'The Challenge Network' ( www.the-challenge.org) who run youth and community programmes that have the central aim of mixing diverse groups of people with each other. Not only did they help us with the weeding and mulching they also helped in the Walled Kitchen Garden.

We also did an inspection of the 'Round Pond' which has, thanks to all the rain, turned back from a 'bomb crater' into a pond once again. We plan to put a seat, for the use of the public, near to the pond using the money we were granted from Havering Council for successfully retaining our 'Official Friends Group' status with the Council once again.

Easter Sunday 31st March 2013

Apologies, due to a technical hitch, whose name shall remain a secret, this should have been published in March but remained in 'draft' form !?

Sunday 31^st March 2013.  Not our usual work day but we were asked to plant some additional trees in the newly cleared area near to the deer pen and visitors’ centre. 5 of us planted approx 50 trees although we were hampered by the stones and old ‘pathway’. Mattocks were used to break through but some of the area was not suitable. We will have to rethink this.

Also the Essex Wildlife Trust held their  very successful ‘Easter Eggstravaganza’ with crafts and an Easter Egg hunt. We had a table at this event selling home made cakes.

We also did a minor repair to the fencing to the east side of the lake and did some ditch clearance and put some hogging on a wet are of one of the footpaths.