Bird news in Bedfords Park

March migrant news:-

First spring migrants noted in the park - Chiffchaff on 19th March, two Swallows and Willow Warbler on 30th, male Blackcap on 31st.

The wintering Firecrests(3) which were first seen in November 2009, made it through the coldest winter for 30 years and were last seen together on 10th March,with one(the female) remaining to 19th. The two at nearby Havering-atte-Bower were last seen on 14th March.

April Work Day - Sunday 11th April 2010

Our next work day is on Sunday 11th April 2010. Meeting as usual in the visitors' centre for a 10 am start. Wet weather gear and wellies might be a good idea !

See you then

Easter Event @ Bedfords Park

We will have two tables at the Essex Wildlife Trust's Easter Event on Sunday 4th April in the Visitors' Centre from 11am, where we will be selling cakes and advertising the park and our Friends group. Please come along if you can to support us, and 'man' the tables to give others a chance to go to the loo !

Next meeting at The Town Hall

Our next bi monthly meeting is on Thursday 18th March 2010, at 7.30 pm, at Romford Town Hall. Everyone is welcome but if you are not a member of the Friends can you please let us know you wish to attend so that we can ensure adequate seating. Contact us on tel. 01708 704619 or email fobp@hotmail.co.uk .

Work Day Sunday 7th March 2010

Yet another glorious sunny day. Just right to get wet and muddy ! Today we 'reinstated' drainage channel/s from the lower pond in Nursery Wood into Valley Marsh. We also cleared part of the existing 'ditch' to enable the water to drain quicker into the marsh. Hopefully this will stop some of the waterlogging at the north end of the marsh which is one of the two main ways in/out of the Wildflower Meadow.

Water flowing from the pond in new channel

Clearing the existing ditch

The wet area we hope will be drained

One man and his bog !

Local Students Help in the Park - Friday 19th February 2010

We were very fortunate to have some help from students of Havering Sixth Form College in clearing litter and debris left behind by people who had been taking advantage of the snowy conditions recently. As well as the usual bits of plastic 'for sale' signs there were the remains of various plastic box lids, some of which were quite hard and almost like pieces of glass. The pictures show some of the 'rubbish' collected during the morning. This 'event' was organised by Benjamin Sanderson, Countryside Projects Officer Environmental Strategy from Havering Council. Many thanks Benjamin and the students for their help.

March Work Day

Our next work day is on March 7th, which is the FIRST Sunday so that we do not clash with MOTHERS' DAY on 14th. As usual meet at the visitors' centre for a 10am start.