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. More »
Follow us on Facebook
Latest corporate video from Viridor about the restoration progress
www.youtube.com/watch?v=kSrBCkp67kE
A special visitor today, a White Stork. This bird is from the Knepp Estate Re-wilding project. identified by it's blue ring GB35. At Knepp they are re-introducing White Storks into the wild where they are now successfully breeding in the wild. This bird has been seen in Wiltshire and was also on Mitcham Common this morning.
The bird can be seen from the Wet Grassland hide.
Photo by David Warren.
A special visitor today, a White Stork. This bird is from the Knepp Estate Re-wilding project. identified by it's blue ring GB35. At Knepp they are re-introducing White Storks into the wild where they are now successfully breeding in the wild. This bird has been seen in Wiltshire and was also on Mitcham Common this morning.
The bird can be seen from the Wet Grassland hide.
Photo by David Warren.
The future of the Lapwings at Beddington Farmlands is decided this week at the CAMC meeting on 15th October. We've already lost our Tree Sparrows, Redshanks and Yellow Wagtails and we can't afford to lose any more of our precious local wildlife. Please join nearly 2000 other people and sign the petition www.change.org/p/viridor-save-the-lapwings-at-beddington-farmlands?redirect=false
Hi all. The next meeting of the CAMC is next Thursday. Are there any points or questions about the restoration of Beddington Farmlands which you would like me to raise with Viridor on your behalf?
Let me know here or on ben.andrew@sutton.gov.uk
Common and Green Sandpipers are currently showing well from the Wet Grassland hide on the permissive path.
Common Sandpiper (image one) is smaller and browner than Green Sandpiper. In flight Common has typical fluttering flight with a bar through the tail.
Green Sandpiper (image two) appears more black and white than Common Sandpiper. In flight it shows a conspicuous white rump. One of the best features to separate the two species is the dark breast meets the wing with a straight edge on Green Sandpiper. On Common Sandpiper there is a prominent white gap between the brown breast and the wing.
Good luck with seeing them and telling them apart!
Photos by Arjun Dutta
www.change.org/p/viridor-save-the-lapwings-at-beddington-farmlands?redirect=false
SAVE THE LAPWINGS AT BEDDINGTON FARMLANDS. PLEASE SIGN THE PETITION.
Decision maker group Thames Water, Viridor and Sutton Council are currently deciding on the future of the Lapwings at Beddington Farmlands, an important and rare population of birds faced with imminent extinction. They need to decide to invest in the necessary habitat management and complete the restoration which is currently delayed by over 10 years.
Years of neglect and exploitation by Viridor and friends has already led to the local extinction of all other rare breeding species at the farmlands including the iconic Tree Sparrows, Yellow Wagtails and Redshanks.
At at time when our natural world is in crisis we cannot allow corporate-council destruction of nature to continue and we can stop that with your vital help.
Please sign the petition
www.change.org/p/viridor-save-the-lapwings-at-beddington-farmlands?redirect=false
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. ⠀
⠀
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.⠀
⠀
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.
Many thanks to our friends for their support of Beddington Farmlands Nature Reserve
