Barnes Common

Thanks to funding from the Big Give fundraiser, we were able to purchase several “Extractigators” specialist tools designed to remove encroaching saplings from the acid grassland. These have proved very popular with volunteers, making the work far easier (and kinder on backs!) than using a mattock.

Our conservation volunteers have been busy last month. They worked on coppicing/pollarding willows at Leg O’Mutton, creating glades & dead hedges on Barnes and East Sheen Commons’ to improve woodland structure to benefit wildlife, and helping to restore the lowland acid grassland on Barnes Common.

Looking for family activities for the half term or after school? We've got plenty going on, from family growing sessions to our Yaffles Family Nature Club - book on our website to secure your place! www.eventbrite.co.uk/cc/family-ac...

We are delighted to share the news that our SmartRivers, Beverley Brook citizen science volunteer group won the SmartRivers Group of the Year 2025 Award! Read more here: barnescommon.org.uk/our-smartriv...

Our trees can now get on with growing a good crop of apples and pears for the year. We will be harvesting them for our next big community event, the Autumn Fayre on October 17th, where we’ll be pressing the apples for juice. See you there!

A big thank you to all the people who helped make this happen: our lovely volunteers and cake bakers; the fantastic @ageukrichmond.bsky.social Patch Ukulele Group and our amazing wassail master James Lloyd Pegg and his Minstrel, Joe.

Thank you for coming to our Wassail on Saturday! We were delighted that so many of you took part in our community event, enjoying the walk through the woods, the singing and the music, and toasting the trees with hot mulled apple juice and cider.

Our trees can now get on with growing a good crop of apples and pears for the year. We will be harvesting them for our next big community event, the Autumn Fayre on October 17th, where we’ll be pressing the apples for juice. See you there!

A big thank you to all the people who helped make this happen: our lovely volunteers and cake bakers; the fantastic Age UK Richmond Patch Ukulele Group and our amazing wassail master James Lloyd Pegg and his Minstrel, Joe.

Thank you for coming to our Wassail on Saturday! We were delighted that so many of you took part in our community event, enjoying the walk through the woods, the singing and the music, and toasting the trees with hot mulled apple juice and cider.

Some of our Friends sent us questions about the Barnes Green project after our latest update. Here we explain why the Green was recently flooded (hint: it involved a large branch at Ashlone Wharf), and how the new river channel works to alleviate flooding barnescommon.org.uk/why-the-gree...

Our February newsletter is out! Read about our upcoming Nature Journaling walk and workshop, the Barnes Green project, and how we use our new 'Extractigators' here:
us12.campaign-archive.com?u=23dbf39897...

Workshop: Getting started with growing We’ll look at what equipment you’ll need, how to understand the conditions in your growing space and how to make a planting plan.

We'll be kicking off this year's series of workshops on 21st February, with 'Getting started with growing'. The workshop will give you some simple pointers on how to get growing. You can book via Eventbrite. www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/workshop-g...

In November last year, we ran a growers' workshop on how to grow your own mushrooms. Participants used coffee grounds recycled from the community cafe as a substrate for Oyster mushroom spawn. One participant has just sent us this photo - the mushrooms are starting to grow!

Our wassail is coming up on the 7th of February!

To celebrate #WorldWetlandsDay our friends at @wwtworldwide.bsky.social are giving away free tickets to their sites. A great excuse (not that one's needed) to visit our local #LondonWetlandCentre
www.wwt.org.uk/wetland-cent...

All tools and equipment are provided - just wear suitable clothing for the weather. This session will take place in the polytunnel and/or in our growing area at Vine Road Rec.

Photo by @valeriyasoleil.photography on Instagram

Three children and an adult holding gardening tools next to a raised growing bed

Looking for a fun and free activity for the holidays? Come along to our family-friendly growing session on Monday 16th February. There will be a chance for your children to get their hands dirty with lots of different gardening activities: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/family-fri...

Eurasian Jay

Are you taking part in the @rspb.bsky.social Big Garden Birdwatch this year? Share your sightings with us!

#biggardenbirdwatch #birding #birdwatching #citizenscience #wildlife

Greenfinch

The most spotted birds last year were: House Sparrow, Blue Tit, Woodpigeon, Starling and Blackbird.

Local photographer and BCL volunteer Andrew Wilson @wildlondonpics has kindly shared his photos of some of the birds that visit his garden, Barnes Common and the Leg O’Mutton...

Great Spotted Woodpecker

You can download a handy ID sheet from the RSPB website when you register to take part. Record the highest number of birds of one species that you see at any one time. Do the survey any time between 23-25 January. You can submit your sightings online before 22 February...

Dunnock

...in a park, in a nature reserve such as Barnes Common or the Leg O’Mutton, or you could even just watch your street tree from your kitchen window. This will add the benefit of easy access to tea and biscuits, very important perks of citizen science...

Taking part in the survey is very easy, you just need to spend an hour this weekend watching birds in your chosen patch, and record the birds that land. You can do this in your own garden...

Blue Tit and Great Tit

Last year over 590,000 people took part and counted a total of 9.1 million birds! Over the decades of the survey, bird counts have shown a huge drop: for example, last year’s number one bird, the House Sparrow, has shown a 60% decline in numbers since 1979...

Blackbird

Take part in this year’s Big Garden Birdwatch and help the @rspb.bsky.social build a picture of how garden birds are faring. The Big Garden Birdwatch is the world’s largest garden wildlife survey according to the RSPB, and has been running since 1979...

Great Tit

It’s always lovely to see wildlife thriving in the middle of winter, even in urban areas like ours. Make a conscious effort to spend some time birdwatching and you can not only improve your own mood but also help nature conservation...

Nature Journaling Walk + Workshop (16+) A monthly walk in South West London noticing nature and getting to know the species around us through the practice of Nature Journaling.

Thanks to the great photos to Andrew Wilson. If you’d like to get active and get to know our local nature better, then our Nature Journaling walk on Saturday 24th is the next great opportunity.
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/nature-jou...

...and we were able to investigate & identify more than a dozen local trees including Hazel, Horse Chestnut, English Oak (pictured - brown buds), Wild Cherry, Silver Birch, Bird Cherry, London Plane, Turkey Oak, Blackthorn, Hawthorn, Cherry Plum, Common Lime (pictured - reddish bud), Ash & Sycamore

Blue Monday? What Blue Monday?! We had a fantastic time today on Paddy’s Winter Tree Walk, despite the grey skies and the insistence from some marketers that today is the most depressing day of the year. Thank you for everyone who joined us - the rain held off...

We love nothing better than seeing the next generation of orchardists inspired to have a go!