Commons Newsletter - May 2010

The Commons Newsletter is now being distributed to all our Levypayers. If you do not receive your copy by 28th May, could you please contact the Ranger's Office to let us know. rangersoffice@wpcc.org.uk

Commons Newsletter

The 2009 Commons News is currently being distributed to all Commons' Levy-Payers. If you have not received your copy by Friday 22nd May, please contact the Ranger's Office on 020 8788 7655 or by e-mail: rangersoffice@wpcc.org.uk

Results of Conservators' election

The results of the recent election for Conservators is as follows:

David Devons 9,969 votes ELECTED
Diana de Coverly Veale 9,289 votes ELECTED
Andrew Simon 9,196 votes ELECTED
Norman Plastow 8,380 votes ELECTED
John Horrocks 8,378 votes ELECTED
Peter Pemberton 6,408 votes
Edward Harris 4,173 votes

22.4% of levy-payers voted, an increase on the 21% who voted in the 2006 election.

Did you vote? If not, was there any reason why not? The Conservators would be interested to know what would encourage more people to vote in future elections.

Website problems

We are currently experiencing a few issues with our website at www.wpcc.org.uk so it is not as up-to-date as it should be. We hope to rectify this problem as soon as possible.

DANGER! THIN ICE!!

With this recent cold spell, most of the ponds on Wimbledon Common and Putney Heath are freezing over. They look lovely and the ice looks pretty solid and the temptation to try to skate on them or wander out onto the ice must be a little overhelming.

But please be very very careful.

The ice may look thick and solid enough to bear even the weight of a child, but it isn't. It can easily break and to risk a toddler fallng through into that ice cold water is not something anyone should be contemplating.

We don't want to spoil anyone's fun, but please tread very carefully.

Tia, a Jack Russell puppy is missing. Have you seen her?

Tia, a young Jack Russell puppy, went missing from Wimbledon Common on Sunday 17th August. She was spooked by another dog and ran off with her extendable lead still attached. If you have seen Tia or have any information, please call her distraught owners on 07770 483645 or the Ranger's Office on 020 8788 7655.

Water Trough

We apologise for the water fountain being out of order.

We are awaiting parts but as it is no longer made it is proving difficult to get the items we need.

We aplogise for any inconvenience.

Wimbledon & Putney Commons Open Day! Sunday 13th July

Well, what a day it turned out to be! With the weather still very wet on Saturday evening, we were beginning to panic about what the Open Day would have in store for us but lut luck was on our side and the day dawned bright and sunny and, apart from a few cloudy intervals, stayed that way all day.

All the staff would like to thank everyone who helped make the day a success...the charity stall holders, those giving demonstrations in the arena and, most of all, to you, the public for turning out once again to support us!

Here's a selection of photographs from the day:

Grooming demonstration:

Flyball

Shire Horse from Richmond Park

Troops from the Household Division

The dog show and the Dog Race!

Donkey Rides

Wimbledon Village Stables - Musical Ride

Falcon High Birds of Prey

Mounted Keepers strutting their stuff:

We hope you all enjoyed the day and we look forward to seeing you again on the 12th July 2009!

Caterpillars

If you should go down to the woods today and discover a caterpillar or two in your hair or on your clothing don’t worry, it’s perfectly normal for this time of year.

With the rising temperatures of late spring providing a catalyst for growth, the deciduous woodlands of the British Isles increasingly act as a larder for thousands of hidden creatures.

For many of us who enjoy the commons, this situation was recently highlighted by the large numbers of caterpillars that could be seen suspended from their silky life-lines above the commons many woodland tracks.

Among others, one of the most prolific caterpillars to be seen throughout the commons predominantly Oak woodlands has been the green oak tortrix (Tortrix viridana).

Easily identified, the green oak tortrix caterpillar is entirely green in colour and rarely exceeds 12mm in length. Reaching maturity the moth also remains completely green with a wingspan of approximately 20mm.

Coinciding with the initial burst of leaf development, the caterpillars are active as soon as the leaves unfold and steadily feed until the maturing leaves fill with tannin and become unpalatable for the caterpillars consumption. While the damage to leaves is sometimes striking, the trees will survive and no permanent injury is sustained.

For those of you who prefer a little less intimate contact with our woodland inhabitants, it may come as good news that there is only one brood of these caterpillars each year and they are extremely high on the food list for many of our favourite woodland birds.

Grass Cutting on the Plain

As part of the Wimbledon and Putney Commons Conservators' committment to improving the ecological condition of the Commons grassland, the Plain will receive an additional cut this year at the end of May.

Forming part of the area that makes up the Commons' SSSI status (Site of Special Scientific Interest), the Plain has been documented as an area of Acid Grassland. In order to restore the appropriate diversity to this area, Natural England has been instrumental in prescribing that a bi-annual cut of approximately 60% of the area would be the best course of action.

After consultation with local experts and interest groups, the areas to be cut were chosen with the aim of causing as little disturbance to the resident fauna as possible.

If you have any queries, please contact our Wildlife and Conservation Officer, Peter Haldane on 020 8788 7655 or by e-mailing peter@wpcc.org.uk

Barbeques are not permitted on Wimbledon and Putney Commons.

Bye law 10 of the Wimbledon and Putney Commons Act 1871

"No unauthorised personnel shall in anywise injure, damage, or destroy any turf, gorse, furze, heather, fern, grass, timber or other trees, shrubs, brushwood, or other plants upon the Commons, or any part thereof, or dig upon or in, or break up or disturb the surface of the Commons, or of any part thereof, or of any gravel or sand-pit thereon, or light any fire upon the Commons, or wilfully or negligently place, throw or let fall any lighted or combustible substance, article or thing which may cause, or be likely to cause, damage by fire to any gorse, furze, heather, timber or other trees, shrubs, brushwood, or other plants upon the Commons. "

We realise that to many of you, this seems to make us "spoilsports", particularly if you have just put your burgers on to cook and a Keeper comes along and douses the BBQ with water. It's a lovely summer evening and you're just having a harmless BBQ in the sunshine. Where's the problem?

The problem is that, despite the wet weather we have experienced lately, it still does not take very much to set the Commons alight at this time of year. BBQs leave unsightly scorch marks in the grass and, if not attended to or extinguished properly, a fire can soon spread. The Commons are a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest and is home to some rare species of flora and fauna. One careless mistake could wipe out an area of the Commons in minutes if fire takes hold.

Please do not light BBQs on the Common. Someone will report you and your BBQ will be extinguished. Offering a Keeper a sausage will not work!

Do you have a Christmas Card photograph?

Do you have any photographs of the Common during the recent snow that might be suitable as a Christmas card?

The Conservators are about to begin their search for a photograph for their 2008 Christmas card and this year have decided to open the search up to include entries from the general public.

A £50* prize is on offer to the winning submission!

Entries are limited to two per person and can be sent by e-mail to rangersoffice@wpcc.org.uk – please use jpg format and the highest resolution possible.

Alternatively, prints can be mailed to:

The Ranger’s Office
Manor Cottage
Windmill Road
Wimbledon Common
London SW10 5NR

Please mark your envelope "Christmas Cards".

Please include your name, address and a contact phone number with your submission.

CLOSING DATE: Friday 30th May

*subject to the copyright of the image being assigned to the Conservators.

New Reed Bed established on the Kingsmere pond

To improve the environmental and habitat value of the Kingsmere, a small stand of Common reed (Phragmites australis) has been planted along the pond's northern edge, alongside the A3.

Phragmites australis is Britain's tallest species of grass and, when established, forms dense stands of up to 4 metres in height. This perennial reed colonises wetland sites through its ability to form an extensive system of stron roots beneath the muddy surface in which it survives.

Phragmites australis has been traditionally harvested for its use in the thatching of roofs but stands of this this reed also play a very important role for birdlife and for the overall enhancement of wetland sites.

Roxy the Lurcher is missing. - Now safely reunited!

Invasive Species Control on Wimbledon Common Ponds - Tuesday 4th March

On Tuesday 4th March work will be carried out by Mid-Kent Fisheries on behalf of the COnservators on the Rushmere, Seven Posts and Curling Ponds.

The treatment being used is a granular aquatic herbicide designed to safely remove the increasing problem of invasive weeds that affect the ponds.

Whilst the chemicals are harmless tpo both people and animals, it would be appreciated if dogs could be kept away from the water for the duration of this exercise.

Thank you for your co-operation.

If you have any queries, please contact Peter Haldane at the Ranger's Office on 020 8788 7655

Swan Update

Following the previous post about the disappearance of one of the adult swans on Kingsmere, we can now confirm that the adult male has been killed. We still do not know how this has happened but we have found a wing and some feathers in the woods some 300m from the pond.

Because of our concerns for their safety the four youngsters, and hopefully the adult female, are, with the assistance of London Wildcare and local Swan Rescue volunteers, now being moved to a colony at Kingston Lock. This is the time of year that the juvenile swans would be leaving their parents anyway but because of the terrain at the Queensmere it is almost impossible for them to fly out on their own.

Two of the juveniles have already been moved and the others will follow - just as soon as they can be caught.

Christmas Cards are on sale!

The 2007 Wimbledon & Putney Commons Christmas card is now on sale at the Ranger's Office. This year's picture shows the Keepers in the snow with a snowman!



We also still have some designs from previous years still available.

Pack of 10 cards for £4.

Fireworks are not permitted on Wimbledon and Putney Commons

Please note that the setting off of fireworks is not permitted on Wimbledon and Putney Commons. Byelaw 44 states:

No unauthorised person shall fire any gun, pistol, or other fire-arm, light any firework, or throw any stone, stick, or other missile, upon the Commons, or commit any other act thereon whereby persons using or frequenting the Commons may be endangered, nor have in his possession on the Commons any fire-arm or ammunition or any air-gun or other weapon operated by compressed air or any catapult or sling or bow or arrow.

Apart from the very serious risk to other Commons' users, there is also the risk of injury or even death to the wildlife of the Commons, and a very real risk of setting fire to the fauna.

Furthermore, it is an offence under Section 80 of the Explosives Act 1875 to throw or set off fireworks in any highway, street, thoroughfare or public place.

The power to enforce this section of the Act rests with the police and they will be be called if anyone is caught setting off fireworks on the Commons. Anyone found guilty is liable to pay a fine of up to £5,000.

Be warned that we take this matter very seriously.

Disappearance of Adult Swan

On the morning of Sunday 28th October, we noted the disappearance of one of the adult swans on Queensmere.

The area around the pond has been searched and there is no evidence to suggest the swan has been killed by a predator. It may be a complete coincidence but that morning an arrow, believed to have been fired from a small bow or crossbow, was found embedded in the silt of the pond. It is therefore possible that the swan was deliverately killed and removed from the site. However, it is equally possible that the swan has flown off.

Swans on the Queensmere

The Conservators and their staff, as well as the many Commons users who have contacted the Ranger's Office, are very concerned. The pair worked hard to raise their brood in difficult circumstances and successfully reared four out of five of the young that hatched.

If you have any information regarding this matter, please contact the Ranger's Office on 020 8788 7655 or by e-mail to rangers.office@btconnect.com

Mushroom picking - not permitted on Wimbledon and Putney Commons

We are at that time of year when the fungi start appearing on the Commons.

Tempting as it might be to pick a few for your breakfast, please be aware that it is an offence for any unauthorised person to remove fungi from the Commons. Byelaw 9 under the Wimbledon and Putney Commons Act 1871 states:

"No unauthorised person shall cut, fell, take, or sell, any gorse, heather, timber, or other trees, shrubs, brushwood, furze, fern, rushes, grass, or other plant, or natural product of the Commons on or from any part of the Commons."

We have, in the past, allowed some flexibility but the problem we now have is that many people come onto the Commons and pick four or five bagfuls of mushrooms that they then sell on to local restaurants. They do this with complete disregard for the environmental damage they cause to the area by trampling all over it, and without any thought to the ecological damage they are doing by stripping an entire area of fungi.

Once again a case of the few spoiling it for the majority.