Common-Keeper's Update June 2016
[cs_content][cs_section parallax="false" style="margin: 0px;padding: 45px 0px;"][cs_row inner_container="true" marginless_columns="false" style="margin: 0px auto;padding: 0px;"][cs_column fade="false" fade_animation="in" fade_animation_offset="45px" fade_duration="750" type="2/3" style="padding: 0px;"][cs_text]June has been a very wet month resulting in lush growth around the Green and Common. Following torrential rain this month coupled with a full moon high tide the Beverly Brook burst its banks and inundated the southern section of The Green for the first time in over 15 years. The area concerned would have traditionally been a flood meadow though one would more likely have expected it to flood winter or spring. The surface water has largely drained away now but a large section will not be used for Barnes Fair with stall holders moved to other areas. The Parks department have committed themselves to carrying out some drainage works in autumn but the form these take are yet to be decided. Other improvement works may be happening at that time on the Green, such as installing disabled access to the pond edges.The wildlife on the Green has been flourishing with blackcaps- a summer visitor from Africa- seen along the Brook, Mistle Thrush and grey wagtail on our flood meadow, and a Sparrow Hawk hunting over the Pond. The 5 remaining cygnets seem to be steadily gaining weight and we shall know more about them following the bird ringing and health check that will be carried out in July on the Pond’s wildfowl. Damselfly and Dragonflies can now be seen on sunny days and wetland plants such as Meadow Sweet and Greater Spearwort are coming into flower. The wildflower meadows are starting to set seed but the prolonged wet period has stretch out the flowering period and they still remain colourful. A plant to watch for in the meadows is St.John’s Wort which is just coming into bloom. July sees the judging of Barnes in Bloom as well as Common of the Year with improvement on silver gilt awards being sought in both categories ( Barnes Common came 2nd last year behind Wimbledon common). Various small works will be carried out to tidy and prettify the Green during this time. With Barnes Fair I expect the Green will be a hive of activity over the forthcoming weeks.
Russell Greaves, Barnes Commonkeeper [/cs_text][x_image type="thumbnail" src="http://www.barnes-ca.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/ducks-e1467626777103.jpg" alt="" link="false" href="#" title="" target="" info="none" info_place="top" info_trigger="hover" info_content=""][cs_text]
An example of egg dumping- mallard female with one mallard duckling and two tufted ducklings
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Meadowsweet
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St. John's Wort
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Butterfly on a Giant Scabious
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