Wildlife Circus

see post  bats-and-lighting . The lights in London are getting brighter, bucking the trend across counties such as Norfolk and Leicestershire, which have moved to part-night lighting (mainly as a costcutter). This picture clearly shows the darkest areas in London and it is no coincidence that these are the  most productive when it comes to bat foraging activity:  London By night André Kuipers ESA/NASA  The darker areas are particularly important for bats of the genus Myotis such as the Daubenton's bats roosting at the Filter Beds, a declining species in the London Region (Briggs et al LNHS no. 86 2007). Although the Filter Beds suffer some light pollution from sources such as streetlights and accent lighting from nearby buildings, this is insufficient to prevent foraging by Daubenton's bats. However the planned lighting programme for the Filter Beds will be excessive with ten different types of lighting shown in this key. Some of these luminaires are so...

Ask yourself how many local people would  stand along a river and watch twists of silver foil being unloaded from a boat in the pouring rain. Could you imagine there would be sufficient number for such a group to then process their 'catch' to a nearby Square (dressed as sardines) and create a divine sardine barbeque feast for us all . Well such is the Power of Seething. The sardine festival held last Sunday can be seen here  http://www.surbitonpeople.co.uk/ For me, these were the best sardines.

Gemma Seltzer spent a year exploring the most peaceful places in London for her online project, Look up at the Sky , charting the quieter side of the city. Here are her 10 favourites http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/ This is what she says.... Barge Walk, Hampton Court Following the curve of the river from Hampton Court Bridge to Kingston is a tree-lined stroll, with clusters of swans, vine-covered walls and rowers aplenty. Halfway along, the land lifts to reveal Seething Wells , the marvellously named former water treatment works with pipes wide-mouthed over the river. Anglers here pitch their tents in a close huddle, so you might have to squeeze around the group to carry on your journey. The route does get busy, particularly near the palace, but is worth it for the pockets of peace you'll encounter further along the way.

The last 2 posts have been about this borough’s Core Strategy, which is our planning blueprint for the future of our borough, going forward into the next decade. It is important that the newly adopted document is sufficiently robust to repel inappropriate developments, especially at certain Key sites.  When the Filter beds were sold by their Australian owners (by the process known as asset stripping) it was marketed along with 20 other Thames Water sites across London  considered ‘hard to develop’. The 'easy' sites had long been sold off by the previous German owners, Kvaerner, and their new tenants were already sitting in their living rooms watching 'Eastenders' or gazing out over the London Wetlands Centre (the mitigation for the development of the reservoirs at Barnes).  Read the blurb about the likely planning outcomes for this site (emboldened below within the OLD For Sale notice) which was sold (relatively) cheaply on the basis that it would never realis...

Its a busy week for our new Local Development Framework, which is to have its own council meeting tonight where it will be recommended to councillors. There is a 6 week legal challenge period following the adoption decision by Council and consequently hard copy versions of the Core Strategy and Proposals Map changes will not be printed until after 29 May. For the present, hard copies of the changes recommended to the Core Strategy by the Council (the “Post Hearings Version”) are available in the public libraries together with a copy of the inspector’s report which supported the changes, with the addition of the inspector’s binding recommendation regarding the Hogsmill Valley. Make sure that you are happy with the content of this document which is our planing blueprint for the future and will be key in determining the fate of the Filter Beds. It will be expounded tomorrow at: Kingston Society Meeting 18 April 2012 at 7.30 p.m.Tiffin School The new Planning Polic...

Last week, Channel 4 showed the 1980's classic film  'Brassed Off', about a colliery band, featuring the late, great Pete Postlewaite quoting from Eric Morcambe, 'all the right notes but in the wrong places'. Scenes of  the rise and fall of his baton in front of their pit banner (interjected with effusive boardroom executives) were reminiscent of the banners at the Seething Wells Procession, which this year for the first time, included the Guild of Sardine Fisheries.  If the Filter Beds are developed for up-market housing, car and boat parking, I wonder if the new residents will join us in future  processions and what their banner might be.  Perhaps an Ark to represent that arketypal floating home and metaphor for lost industrial arkaeology?

Urban ecology was first quantified in a beautiful book published in 1989 by O.L Gilbert. In it he described the fauna and flora of our urban habitats particularly railway line sides, urban woodland, cemeteries, lakes, rivers, waterworks and water pipes. He discusses the links between people and wildlife, successional processes and urban planning, in a most detailed and interesting way. River wall, old boats provide niches for birds, fish, macrophytes etc He praised Fitter’s outline account of the flora and fauna of waterworks (1945) and regales with tales of the removal of 90 tons of zebra mussels from 400m of water main at Hampton, Middlesex. With further tales of Asellus, Gammerus, and the parthenogenic (meaning sans ow’s ya father ) Potamopygus jenkinsi, living in water pipes, the mind boggles at the fauna that could be found colonising natural, sweet water left for many years without any chemical interference. But we shall remain boggleless , as the invertebrate sur...

Light pollution is a complicated issue for some bat species. It was dealt with unsatisfactorily within the Hydro Environmental Statement, with little reference to literature and no citations of the relevant bat studies, particularly those undertaken in the last 6 years. There has been  overall an unsatisfactory survey evaluation, due to a poor understanding of URBAN ECOLOGY, coupled with a determination to employ many different types of light arrangement  at the  FB's regardless of the survey findings, in order to ensure the Health and Safety of any future riparian residents. 2012 Bat Surveys commissioned at the FB's, should record how bats use the basins for foraging purposes. This habitat could be protected under European Law if it is found to be a significant feature that bats rely on in order to  feed and nurture their young (see earlier post on Habitats Regs). The timing of these surveys is CRITICAL. Surveys carried out during the full moon for example sho...

Natural England's main interest in the Hydro planning application is to ensure that the EUROPEAN AND UK LAW PERTAINING TO BATS enshrined within the Habitats Regulations are upheld. The issues pertaining to the aspirations within the Core Strategy, Biodiversity Strategy, Heritage etc.  should be determined locally (at Planning committee meetings). If a bat roost is to be affected by development activities, a licence from Natural England will need to be obtained.All species of bat are fully protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended) through their inclusion in Schedule 5. All bats are also included in Schedule 2 of the Conservation (Natural Habitats, & c.) Regulations,1994. The Act and Regulations make it illegal to:   intentionally or deliberately kill, injure or capture (take) bats;  deliberately disturb bats (whether in a roost or not);  damage, destroy or obstruct access to bat roosts;   possess ...

More key measures of the Localism Act 2011 have come into force from 6 April. Described as the ‘Government Revolution’ to hand power back to local council’s and communities. Provisions now in effect include the so-called Community Right to Build and the new general power of competency.  The former gives communities a new way to deliver development they want. Under this measure communities will be able to build family homes to sell, affordable housing for rent, sheltered housing for older local residents, or low-cost starter homes.  In respect of the latter, all English local authorities, can innovate and legally do anything an individual could do unless specifically prohibited by law.  New neighbourhood planning powers which give local people a major say in helping to shape the look and feel of their areas. This means that the future of the Filter Beds should reflect the wishes of the local community.  See the DCLG website http://www.communitie...

Hydro have engaged a new ecological consultancy, EDP, to undertake this seasons ecological surveys at the Filter Beds. Natural England have advised that 'the consultants should demonstrate how bats are using the basins as a foraging area at optimal conditions'. The council have engaged their own expert from Baker, Shepherd and Gillespie to advise on the process. This means that the Filter Beds should be full of natural water and the early surveys should achieve adequate spring temperatures and not these inclement <10 degrees we are currently experiencing. It is up to us to monitor the level of water in the basins, by  maintaining an accurate record of photographic evidence. The previous consultants produced misleading reports showing summer bat surveys with basins full of water, yet there were no leaves on the trees in the photographs. It is likely that the new surveys and tweaking of the design (emphasis on a dark corridor for bat foraging) will be presented in A...

The new Bat Survey Guidelines are available from the Bat Conservation Trust here  Bat Survey Guidelines These specifically wanted to  end the practice whereby some consultants (and sometimes SNCO's and LPA's) concentrated on the number of surveys (insisting on three) rather than the seasonal sampling of bats throughout the active period (Spring, Summer, Autumn). In the previous (2007) case a consultant could say that they had complied with the three survey requirement, having actually only carried out three surveys on consecutive nights. This is not a reasonable sampling effort. The new Guidelines make it clear that a dusk and dawn survey in a 24 hour period is one survey, not two as some have interpreted. Given that the level of scrutiny from LPA's on methodology is  limited  and some consultants seem to have been keen to try and 'get round' things as there are many incentives to do so, BCT hopes that this will clarify matters.  Also new: Analysi...

  The   Seething Festival Procession 2012 was bigger than ever, with a parade around the streets of Surbiton on Sunday afternoon.    This annual event is to celebrate the fable of the goat boy Lefi,  which is based around the Seething Wells area of Surbiton.                                       Biggles the Bat Photo L. Pekarova Watch the  The Official Video of the procession 2012   see here for the coverage  on the Surbiton People website see  Biggles flying technique  and What the Surrey Comet said more to follow...........

Bats build up their fat reserves in autumn by foraging at locations where insect biomass is readily available in shed loads (such as at riparian sites, standing water, sewage works). They need to sustain themselves for torpor/hibernation over the winter months, when there is little or no food available. Insects generally do not fly (or are less available) when temperatures fall below 10 degrees centigrade (or during and after periods of heavy rain). Optimal winter  roosting conditions are the opposite of those sought in the summer. Bats require cold and humid conditions. They hibernate as singles. They are not seeking warmth, but require cold conditions as they do not want to wake up to no food  as this would be high cost to their limited energy budget. Bats are very vulnerable in torpor and can take >30mins to wake up and fly. Very little is known as to the whereabouts of our London hibernation sites: some bat species are known to migrate to European caves; or use gree...

A letter (9.2.12) has been sent to residents of Thames Ditton Ward, regarding proposals to 'regenerate' Thames Ditton Marina  exploring the possibilities of new buildings, restaurant, offices and residential accommodation and a public consultation has been launched. It is not possible to visit any part of the site except the Shop. For Health and Safety reasons the river frontage, the Portsmouth Road embankment, the Boat yard and shed cannot be visited and so the current historical/ecological value of the site cannot be assessed. A Phase 1 Habitat Survey of the site has been undertaken, but unfortunately is not in the public domain. It should be the findings from the survey, which guide any new proposals. Without this basic information it is difficult to assess what would be appropriate. However this is an opportunity to undertake ecological improvement at this location  (e.g a relaxed mowing regime of the grass bank, rationalisation of the lighting, biodiversity roof...

Photo's C. McCormack 8 members of the Richmond Biodiversity Partnership joined us for a site tour on a cold Monday morning 30.1.12. Standing Water is a National Priority Target Habitat and also features in the London Mayors Biodiversity Action Plan. The Plan states that there should be 'no net loss' of priority habitats. We viewed some of the subterranean links to the small pumping station on the wharf , such as the main intake. see more  underneath Lambeth's Pumping Station 40 lapwings were noted feeding around the pools at FB 6. A green sandpiper was seen briefly.

The hearing of Planning Application  11/16502/FUL Surbiton Filter Bed Site  has been postponed to an unknown date. Kingston Council cannot determine the application without all the relevant survey information. If they determined an application, which did not fully assess the bat interest, the council could be in breach of the law. The consultants retained by the council have advised (as have Natural England, the Bat group etc) that the survey information is incomplete. This is due to the developers: a. completing only 2 surveys per year (dawn and dusk count as one); and that b. surveys were undertaken when the filter beds were not ‘in their normal state’. The applicant must demonstrate to a high degree of certainty that the development will not result in acts which could be an offence under the Habitats Regulations. This has not been done.  In order for surveys to proceed, the water in the Filter Beds must be reinstated (naturally). Members of the Bat Gro...

Filter Beds, 2010 courtesy N. Jackman The winners of the S.W. Wildlife Competition have been  notified of their prizes. Thank you to those who also sent photos. One of the prizes, is a place on the London Bat Group/Community Brain Batty Boat Trip. The boat trip has been held annually (every June 8th) since 2006, in order to monitor the bat activity along the R. Thames between Steven's Eyot and Hampton Court Bridge. This type of 'time series' data is invaluable in monitoring the diversity of species, levels of bat activity and any change along this stretch of the river. We time the boat trip to be alongside Seething Wells, as the Daubenton's bats are 'light sampling ' within their roost. Over the years we have noted changes in the local bat population, especially a reduction in the number of species.  This includes the loss of serotine (now rarely recorded in the borough) and the decline in  Natterer's bat registrations, only ever recorded foraging arou...

Lapwing night-roost 2.1.12 Councillors presided over a packed hall at Dysart School, Surbiton to hear the application 11/16502/FUL for the development of filter beds to provide 64 residential homes on floating pontoons, 92 berth marina and lock gate, restaurant, landscaping and car parking; as enabling development to provide publically accessible nature reserve, riverside walk, heritage and education centre, flood storage and river taxi stop. After a short presentation about the scheme from officers, community voices railed for over an hour, as people spoke passionately about the: ·          wildlife issues, the objections from Natural England and the London Bat Group; ·          the loss of heritage and the failure to recognise the importance of this unique site; ·          the impact on water sports and river safety and the objection from Sport Engla...

see also subterranean features November, 2011. WHARF   The Pump House: This is the largest structure on site and is designated a Building of Townscape Merit. It has a pyramidal slate roof, used by roosting bats from time to time. There is no roof void and the slates are backed by wooden planks and plasterboard. Internally there is one main room, partitioned into 6 small rooms and a larger operational area. There is a deep shaft containing 2 wells below the building and 4 wells between the building and the Portsmouth Road. In the literature they are known as’ deep wells’ and sometimes ‘deep chambers’ of which there are 24 on site. During 1998-2000, they were covered with cast iron plates, which had rotted and it was sometimes possible to watch bats emerging from the ground.Thames Water replaced the hatches with heavy duty, steel hatches during the end of 2001 (before the Inspector’s site visit at the last Pubic Inquiry). The wells are vertical brick built shafts, ranging be...