Beddington Farmlands: A premier urban nature
reserve for the Wandle Valley Regional Park
Beddington Farmlands is a 161 hectare (400 acre) site in the coreland of the wider Wandle Valley Regional Park. Together with the adjacent green spaces of Beddington Park and Mitcham Common, Beddington Farmlands forms one of the largest contiguous green spaces in south London.
Beddington Farmlands is an important area for wildlife and is classified a Site of Importance for Nature Conservation and Metropolitan Open Land (equivalent of Green Belt within an urban area). The site is being restored into a mosaic of important habitats for wildlife ahead of the development of a flagship nature reserve for people and nature.
“The ‘sleeping giant’ of London’s natural history world”
David Lindo, BBC broadcaster, writer and public speaker
Beddington Farm Bird Group
Beddington Farm Bird Group
Formed in 1992, the Beddington Farm Bird Group monitors breeding and wintering bird populations as well as migration at Beddington Farmlands. In addition, the bird group also carries out habitat management and restoration, working closely with site management. Key-holder membership includes site access, member-only events, and an annual wildlife report. More »
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Latest roadmap from ViridorHere is Viridor's latest roadmap on the restoration of Beddington Farmlands.
On Wednesday we had the first Access Working Group meeting. We have asked that the Farmlands has access on par with other nature reserves and are waiting for a site visit to Thurrock Thameside Nature Park.
Quite a rare visitor today , a Great white egret viewable from the public hides. Also our regular Kingfishers . (Photo 4 by Zach Pannifer)
David Attenborough returns to TV this evening but not in his usual way.
Nature is in crisis and that crisis can be seen everywhere . Locally at Beddington Farmalnds, multi billion pound company Viridor helped by Sutton council have caused the local extinction of nearly all our local important species.
It is not too late to save the last remaining important wildlife but it is our last chance and every local community around the world can do their bit to save nature from big companies, corrupt councils and billionaire greed
See here for more details on the campaign to save our last important local species from extinction - our Lapwings bfnr.org.uk/2020/08/save-the-lapwings/
www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-54118769?SThisFB
Attenborough makes stark warning on extinction
www.bbc.co.uk
The naturalist warns that a million species are at risk but says it is not too late to save them.insidecroydon.com/2020/08/30/xr-protest-demands-the-closure-of-beddington-incinerator/
XR protest demands the closure of Beddington incinerator
insidecroydon.com
Extinction Rebellion activists from across south London joined forces in Beddington Park yesterday to highlight the daily destruction and toxic pollution inflicted on the capital by the Viridor inc...A few pictures from yesterday's Save the Lapwings demonstration and walk at Beddington Farmlands
A bit more on blog here: peteralfreybirdingnotebook.blogspot.com/2020/08/save-lapwing-walk-beddington-farmlands.html
STILL SPACES AVAILABLE ON TOMORROW'S (SATURDAY 29th AUGUST) LAPWING WALK (FREE) AT BEDDINGTON FARMLANDS
Meet at 10 am at Beddington Park London Road, Car Park.
Walk lasts 1.5 hours.
Come and learn about the local Lapwings and see other wildlife.
Please book via PM this page or email littleoakgroup@btinternet.com
More details on website: bfnr.org.uk/2020/08/save-the-lapwings/
WHY JOIN US ON THE 29TH?
The Beddington Incinerator has been built on a 400 acre nature reserve, a Site of Importance for Nature Conservation and supposedly protected as Metropolitan Open Land but now a site of local species extinction. ⠀
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Habitat loss, deforestation, restoration delays and lack of a water management plan have caused ecological collapse with local extinction of the tree sparrow, yellow wagtail, little ringed plover and redshank as well as declines in many species populations. The lapwing is threatened with imminent extinction.⠀
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Join us on the 29th of August in Beddington Park to raise awareness of our local ecological emergency and #SaveTheLapwings.
Look out for our other posts coming later this week on the other incinerator issues #OurAirIsRubbish #TheBurningIssue #IncineratorInjustice
The new owners of the Beddington Farmlands restoration are KKR, one of the partners is the 317th richest person in the world so hopefully we will get a top job on the nature reserve
www.viridor.co.uk/who-we-are/latest-news/2020-news/viridor-growth-investment-from-kkr/
Viridor growth strategy boosted with KKR investment
www.viridor.co.uk
Viridor's investment in UK recycling and energy recovery infrastructure is set to continue at pace with the support of KKR, following the investment group's £4.2bn acquisition of the business.Conservation and Access Management Committee (CAMC) August 17th
www.suttonlibdems.org.uk
Sutton Lib DemsThe Conservation Access and Management Committee met today to discuss the restoration of Beddington Farmlands. I have written up my reflections about how the meeting went below.
I'm supposed to be on annual leave this week (sadly Viridor don't work around my schedule 😂) so won't be on my Councillor Facebook for the rest of the week. But please do comment any thoughts about this or drop me an email on ben.andrew@sutton.gov.uk
Conservation and Access Management Committee (CAMC) August 17th
www.suttonlibdems.org.uk
Sutton Lib DemsDoes anyone know whether its possible to pre check whether the permissive footpath is going to be closed? Only, I went there today to find a sign up saying it was closed for today 😕
Look out, there's Tigers about
At Beddington Farmlands and also in gardens and parks across Sutton and Croydon now is the peak time for Tiger moths- Garden Tiger (pic 1), Jersey Tiger (pic 2) and Ruby Tiger (pic 3).
The Jersey Tiger is the most numerous and is commonly seen resting on house walls and disturbed from garden vegetation. Garden Tiger is becoming increasingly rare and Ruby Tiger may be attracted to garden lights at night.
Insect activity increases dramatically during heat waves. In the last few days over 100 species of moth have been recorded at Beddington Farmlands. For more see here: peteralfreybirdingnotebook.blogspot.com/2020/08/beddington-farmlands-heat-wave.html
I am wondering if anyone can help. Went running this morning (3rd August between 9.30 and 10.30) on the path that runs from Beddington park next to the railway line up to Mitcham Junction and have lost a set of keys. Has anyone found a set. They are fairly big and include a radar key.
Excellent news! Thanks to everyone who signed the petition to ensure that there is good public access to the nature reserve
New report calls for ambitious pesticide reduction target | The Wildlife Trusts
www.wildlifetrusts.org
Nation of insect champions needed to reverse insect declineFOR CITIZEN SCIENTISTS OUT THERE:
To see a list of all the bird species recorded at Beddington Farmlands this year (121 so far) click on the Ebird link here:
ebird.org/barchart?byr=2020&eyr=2020&bmo=1&emo=12&r=L933099
You can explore the data by clicking on the graph icon (looks like a lightning strike) and you can also add data (your sightings) by downloading the ebird app or uploading your sightings onto the Beddington Farmlands hotspot here:
ebird.org/hotspot/L933099
*IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT*
VIRIDOR ARE ATTEMPTING TO BLOCK FULL PUBLIC ACCESS TO THIS VIEW POINT (image below)
This view is one of the main Wandle Vistas wandlevalleypark.co.uk/projects/wandle-vistas/, the most stunning features of the Wandle Valley Regional Park and Beddington Farmlands Nature Reserve. Currently within existing planning conditions a Sustrans path (for cycling and walking) is required to be created to this viewpoint. Viridor have recently submitted a planning application to clear that planning condition (to repeat they have applied for permission to no longer provide adequate public access to this viewpoint) . More information (including summary and also full planning application here : hackbridgendg.com/2020/06/25/viridor-submits-changes-in-materials-of-approved-path-for-beddington...).
Please sign and share the petition to stop Viridor's latest attempt at damaging our nature reserve and to make sure that they provide adequate public access to this viewpoint.
www.suttoninsight.com/?fbclid=IwAR1HKDSu8PUL5uIqtttwkb5BjQfQQ9VyaVFZaQE7NGab1C2h_SlGLVlgSBA
Had a lovely walk to the farmlands from Mitcham Junction and had a first sighting for me. A cinnabar moth, so that was very nice to see. 🙂
hackbridgendg.com/2020/06/25/viridor-submits-changes-in-materials-of-approved-path-for-beddington...
Viridor submits changes in materials of approved path for Beddington Farmlands
hackbridgendg.com
The NDG were invited at the beginning of the year to sit on the Conservation and Access Management Committee (CAMC). Due to the Coronavirus, the first meeting we were suppose to attend in March, in...Just at Beddington Farmlands now. Not sure if this the same graffiti people were talking about or a new addition. Either way, bloody terrible. So far its in two of the hides I've been into 🙁
www.elliotcolburn.co.uk/news/raising-concerns-about-beddington-farmlands
Raising concerns about the Beddington Farmlands
www.elliotcolburn.co.uk
Many Beddington and Hackbridge residents have reached out to me following very worrying reports about problems at Beddington FarmlandsI wrote up my thoughts following the "Conservation and Access Management Committee" last Thursday, which meets to oversee the restoration of Beddington Farmlands.
Overall, I don't feel residents' concerns were thoroughly addressed, though I did appreciate certain assurances about a few topics. They agreed to meet again next month, when I hope we will get some better answers.
The CAMC just ended. To be honest it was a bit underwhelming, but I'm glad they agreed to hold a follow up meeting in July when we can hopefully get more answers.
I'll post a summary of what I thought came from the meeting in the coming days.
Many thanks to our friends for their support of Beddington Farmlands Nature Reserve
