Restoring the wildlife pond and woodland at Kingston University

On the 15th of October Duke of Edinburgh volunteers and Kingston University students joined forces to help carry out some vital conservation work on Kingston University’s Kingston Hill Campus. The day began with an introduction to site, led by Sivi the biodiversity and landscape manager for Kingston University. We also checked the camera trap that we put out the week before, we got lots of pictures of foxes and squirrels. Though there was lots of badger sign around the site unfortunately we did not get any videos of them scuttling around.

The day had two aims, one was to help improve the habitat in the wildlife pond, creating islands of aquatic vegetation which are vital for creatures including dragonflies and newts. This is the time of year to carry out pond management, as this when our three newt species head into areas of woodland to start their winter hibernation, burrowing into habitat piles; so our work will not disturb them as much as it would in earlier months of the year. When they emerge in the spring they will return to the pond to lay their eggs on the leaves.

We also worked on clearing the large amounts of invasive bamboo that dominates the nearby woodland, this fast growing grass species from china outcompetes our native woodland plants and trees. This therefore means that the woodland supports fewer of our woodland animals, for example fewer birds have been found here when compared to local sites without bamboo. The volunteers worked hard on lopping the bamboo and turning it into a large bug hotel, binding the shoots with twine. This also increased the amount of light reaching the forest floor which will encourage woodland plants to grow.

If you are interested in volunteering to help protect our local environment please do get in touch.

Photos credit of Sivi Sivanesan