Author: Laura Morland

Annual ‘Dawn Chorus’ Bird Walk

Posted on by Laura Morland

This year’s bird walk, organised by the Friends of Brockwell Park and the local RSPB group, took place on Sunday 23 April. The walk was led by Czech Conroy of the local RSPB, and some 27 people joined him. We saw 35 species of birds, with the highlights being watching mistle thrush chicks being fed on their nest in the oak near the Lido, a spotted woodpecker pecking on the fallen log by the exercise kit opposite the BMX track, and a cormorant eating loads of fish in front of us on the top pond.

Here is the full list of the species observed: Graylag Goose; Canada Goose; Mute Swan; Mallard; Tufted Duck; Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon); Stock Dove; Common Wood-Pigeon; Eurasian Moorhen; Eurasian Coot; Herring Gull; Great Cormorant; Gray Heron; Great Spotted Woodpecker; Rose-ringed Parakeet; Eurasian Jay; Eurasian Magpie; Eurasian Jackdaw; Carrion Crow; Eurasian Blue Tit; Great Tit; Common Chiffchaff; Long-tailed Tit; Eurasian Blackcap; Greater Whitethroat; Eurasian Wren; European Starling; Mistle Thrush; Eurasian Blackbird; European Robin; Dunnock; House Sparrow; Common Chaffinch; European Greenfinch; European Goldfinch.

By Peter Bradley and Czech Conroy. Photography by Ian Judson

Plants in flower now in the Park

Posted on by Laura Morland

See the last of the winter cyclamen in the park (top end of Pond 3 /Brockwell Gate side). You can just catch the end of the small pink cyclamen (Cyclamen coum) flowering with one or two snowdrops.

Cyclamen by the pond. Photo: Laura Moreland

Coming up soon in the same place – a few daffodils followed by Snakeshead lilies (Fritillaria meleagris) – both purple and white versions.

In the Walled Garden you can see a beautiful small bulb with a complicated name! Scilla mischtchenkoana gives a delicate effect with pale blue edging to its white petals.

Daffodils are coming up all over the park now and you can still see swathes of purple crocuses.

Luckily, all these flowers can survive a spring snowfall or two!

Brockwell Park early morning in the snow by Peter Bradley

Brockwell Lido in snow, by Peter Bradley

16th January – Give your views on Summer Events in the Park

Posted on by Laura Morland

This Monday 16th January is your chance to give feedback to Lambeth Council and the event organisers of this summer’s major event series in Brockwell Park (26th May – 11th June). There are two sessions:

Half Moon pub in Herne Hill, SE24 9HU 14:00 – 16:00
High Trees Community Development Trust in Tulse Hill, SW2 2NS 18.00 – 20.00

Although the events are fixed for this summer, people are being asked for their views so that the organisers may incorporate them in the planning. For more information email the Brockwell Live Community Live team email them at community@brockwell-live.com or look at their website: brockwell-live.com/community.

Friends of Brockwell Park (FOBP) welcomes the decision to include the Lambeth Country Show (June10th/11th) in the main event series, shortening the closure of  a large area of the park. FOBP remains opposed to large walled paying events in Brockwell Park.