Posts

Southborough School application for 3G pitch and floodlights

This will be a resubmission of a proposal originally submitted in 2024 (24/02369/FUL) seeking permission for a 3G pitch and associated floodlighting. However, the scale and height of the proposed floodlights are significant and raise serious environmental concerns  Project proposals Key changes to the revised scheme include: - Removal of built structures from within the river buffer zone to safeguard local ecology - Relocation of the non-turf cricket wicket and outfield further south - Reduction in car parking to 25 spaces, set further from neighbouring boundaries - Additional soft landscaping, buffer planting and watercourse enhancements This proposal should be considered in the context of Kingston’s recently adopted Biodiversity Action Plan. The Species Action Plan for bats explicitly states that ‘there should be no new lighting near rivers’ due to the sensitivity of bat species to artificial light. Bat surveys submitted with the previous application recorded eight spe...
Post a Comment
Read more

Seething Wells: Surbiton Neighbourhood meeting and AGM

Image
  It’s that time of year when Seething Wells features at council meetings (see below) and the SWAG AGM 10.3.26. News in brief  Kingston Council expects a speculative (“chancer”) planning application for around 300 homes , following recent changes to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF)  [Although the owners have been trying to sell the land since last year]. SWAG has proposed an alternative plan : approximately 20 homes built on the existing hard-standing area (mandated at EGM May 2025). However, there is concern that the Mayor may not support such a small scheme , on the basis that if Metropolitan Open Land (MOL) is to be released for development, the expectation would be for a much larger housing yield . There was also discussion at the meeting about wider strategic issues affecting the area, including the River Thames Scheme and the future of the Thames Barrier , both noted as relevant to flood management and longer-term planning along the Thames corridor....
Post a Comment
Read more

Chessington Golf Course 25/02953/OUT

Image
                                                                  One of two ponds Chessington G.C. 2018 A planning application has been lodged to develop the former Chessington Golf Club site with 256 units between 2.5 and 4 stories high on 11.6 Ha of land. Objections need to be lodged before 9.2.26. Paragraph 2.1 of the Design and Access Statement, describes the site as a “poorly performing Green Belt site” , on the basis that it is enclosed on three sides by development. Enclosure by development does not , in itself, indicate poor Green Belt performance. Under the NPPF (2024), the assessment turns on how land performs against the five Green Belt purposes , particularly openness, prevention of sprawl, and safeguarding the countryside from encroachment. Sites at settlement edges commonly perform these functions pr...
Post a Comment
Read more

Brown Hairstreak in Kingston Cemetery

Image
                      Brown Hairstreak egg on Blackthorn 1 of 4 found by P. Snevets.   Kingston Cemetery Nature Group are a group of volunteers meeting once a month at the Cemetery to carry out a range of practical tasks that support nature conservation. The cemetery is a Grade 1 Site of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINC). The groups tasks are relevant to the designation and include: tree and hedge planting, litter picking and some bramble clearance.  Previous posts on this blog highlight the significance of the CHEGD and mycorrhizal fungi that have been recorded see  Cemetery fungi  2020     2025   2019  2016     2014  . There are also posts on other taxa such as trees Cemetery Trees  orchids and Slow Worms.   Y esterday I photographed these Brown Hairstreak eggs, kindly shown to me by Paul, who found them recently. The photo below shows two orange eggs, o...
Post a Comment
Read more

Ecology reports: Transparency, Competency and Codes of Practice

Image
    Biodiversity Checklist Hook park, Ecologist qualifications Kingston Council and Ecology Requirements Kingston also references professional competence in its ecology-related planning guidance , often aligned with: The NPPF Natural England standing advice BS42020:2013 Biodiversity – Code of Practice These documents collectively emphasise that ecological information must be prepared by a competent professional , which Kingston interprets as: An ecologist who can demonstrate competence, normally through CIEEM membership and relevant experience In professional practice, CIEEM guidance is interpreted as requiring that: Ecological reports name the author(s) The author(s)’ qualifications and/or CIEEM membership grade are stated This information is normally included: On the report title page, or   In a “Personnel” or “Author details” section Failure to do so can be challenged as non-compliant with CIEEM guidance, particularly in planning and appeal contexts.   ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Richard Jefferies in Tolworth & Radio Swindon broadcast

Image
Brown Hairstreak butterfly Tolworth Court Farm ‪ Richard Jefferies in Surbiton & other Surbiton highlights www.mixcloud.com/swindon1055/...  * see below “The beauty of the hill is spoiled, not by nature, but by man’s neglect. The very ground seems sick.”— Richard Jefferies, diary Jefferies Lament  https://on.soundcloud.com/AKVkRrrdyHJDGVrOuY Mid-century Surbiton presented a contradiction: a rapidly developing suburb marketed for its beauty, yet one whose sanitary arrangements were dangerously inadequate. The 1854 General Board of Health report —rediscovered by Bob Philips and published in The Story of Tolworth —records in stark detail how many of Surbiton’s new roads and houses relied entirely on cesspools , often left until “the ground around is all saturated.” Westfield Road was singled out as especially alarming, its back-garden pits receiving “all the filth, without any proper drainage away from the premises.” The Minutes of Inspection confirm that twenty-five newly b...
Post a Comment
Read more

Celebrating Trees: recent talks, aftercare, planting

Image
                              Note bark strips with access hole retained at the top I recently attended a talk at Bruce Castle Museum, a short bus ride from Seven Sisters, where Russell Miller, of the Ancient Tree Forum, spoke about the conservation of an ancient Oak in the grounds. We also saw a video by wildlife film maker, Ian Phillips, showing how the team has cared for the tree over the years. One of the major challenges has been dealing with large voids inside the hollow trunk. These cavities have been used —three or four times—to light fires, which has seriously endangered the tree. After trying various solutions, the team decided to cover the voids to reduce the risk of further damage. They built a wooden framework, covered this in chicken wire and secured bark strips using special screws. If you look closely at the photo below, you can still see some of the underlying structure.      ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Local light pollution: rivers and wildlife

Image
   I was asked to speak on Light Pollution and Wildlife at the fourth tranche of   Richmond Biodiversity Action Plan   launched at Hampton Court Palace 29.9.2025. The event, hosted by the Richmond Biodiversity Partnership , celebrated an updated plan, aiming to reverse environmental damage including actions encouraging dark skies, and saw the launch of an Action Plan of that name. The launch also featured inspiring talks, art, and other activities involving community groups, local authorities, and other partners. This leaflet, printed a decade ago, shows Council's intent to educate others on the issues that LP causes.   Most of the scientific information delivered in my talk came from commentaries written for the London Naturalist (2006, 2012) updated to include local information on the following headings: Light pollution in London is there more or less? Recent policy changes and the launch of initiatives by the Welsh Government; How do we manage wild...
Post a Comment
Read more