Wickham Common Newsletter – January 2020

January 2020

Welcome to the West Wickham Commons Newsletter covering West Wickham Common and Spring Park.

New Year – new butterfly discovery

A local butterfly enthusiast has discovered tiny Brown Hairstreak eggs for the first time on blackthorn bushes at Spring Park. This elusive butterfly is mainly found in southern England and has declined hugely in recent decades due to the annual tractor flailing of hedgerows sheltering its overwintering eggs. At Spring Park there’s a large area of blackthorn coppice which is divided into four sections with each section being cut every four years on a rotation. This ensures there is always plenty of vigorous spiky blackthorn for the butterflies to stick their eggs to and for the young caterpillars to feed on the fresh green leaves when they hatch in spring.

Time for a winter walk?

Winter is a great time to explore the West Wickham Commons but you’ll need to dress for the weather. Section 4 of the London Outer Orbital Path takes in the coppice woodlands at Spring Park then becomes section 3 as it meanders past the ancient oak pollards on West Wickham Common where a bench with a view offers a welcome rest. Have a look at TFL’s walking options for further details.

If you’d like to venture further afield try Bromley Council’s Three Commons Circular walk. The route, which has easy to follow yellow way marker discs, will lead you around much of Hayes and Keston Commons before returning you to the car park at West Wickham Common.

Volunteering

WWaSP Volunteers – Thursday 30 and Friday 31 January 10am-3pm

Coppicing at Spring Park. Meet outside the Spring Park office.

For further information:
Tel: 01372 279083