30 Days Wild
The Wildlife Trusts have launched an initiative in June to encourage people to enjoy and celebrate wildlife and the countryside. People getting involved try to do something connected with wildlife every day for the month. They don’t have to take up much (or any) time and a growing number of people are getting involved. There are free information packs available and London and Surrey Wildlife Trusts have plenty of information on their websites or see: - http://www.mywildlife.org.uk/30dayswild/
Deer
Last month The Royal Parks advised walkers (especially with dogs) that the deer were giving birth in late May and June. It’s a very difficult time of year for the deer and worth remembering that the new born are not able to follow their mothers for one or two weeks. Until then, they lie hidden in deep grass or bracken whilst their mothers graze in the vicinity, returning at intervals to groom and suckle them. At this stage the young are very vulnerable to disturbance and when the mothers can behave very defensively, so please:
- Do not touch very young deer as it may result in them being abandoned by their mothers and thus failing to survive.
- Stay clear from females – we recommend 50m and if you notice a lone female on ‘high alert’ it would reduce her anxiety if you retrace your route and give her a wide berth.
- Dog walkers are advised to walk away from the park, or, if you choose to walk in the park please stay clear of the remote quiet places where the deer are more likely to have young and stay on the busier areas that are generally at the edge of the park.
Roadside Verges
The roadside verges are protected from ‘straying’ vehicles by posts known locally as ‘Thompson’s Teeth’ and named after G Thompson who was the Park Superintendent from 1951-1971.
The grass is cut on the verge to ensure that the posts can be seen and that litter can be collected daily. The Shire horse team start cutting the verge early in the season and keep the grass low. Then once or twice each year, depending on growth the parks ground maintenance contractor strim around the posts.
It’s a long task and carried out over several weeks, mostly before the park opens to traffic.
Upcoming Road Closures
Events that require full or part road closures in Richmond park during 2016 are planned for:
- Sunday 31 July - Ride London - Full road closure
- Sunday 18 September - London Duathlon - Full road closure
- Sunday 30 October - Trick or Treat Run - Partial Road closure
The Cockchafer
The Cockchafer is a large beetle that can often be seen and found in the park and gardens at this time of year. There are 3 different species that all look very similar with their rusty red wing cases but the Common Cockchafer is the most abundant. The grubs of a chafer beetles are considered a horticultural and agricultural pest because they can damage root crops and lawns. The excessive use of pesticides in the 1950’s had a dramatic effect of chafers but better regulation of pesticides since the 1980’s has helped numbers return. Large beetles are essential food for the UK’s larger, fast flying bats (the Serotine, Noctule and Leislers bats) and the grubs are enjoyed by badgers who plough the park soil with their muzzles looking for essential proteins!
