Cutting and weaving branches and balsam bashing on Chiswick Eyot
Save the tiny island from the invasive crabs!
Location
Date and time
11:00 - 14:00Please note that this community mission has been cancelled.
The Old Chiswick Protection Society is looking for volunteers to help with conservation work on Chiswick Eyot. The eyot (or ait) is one of about 180 of these tiny narrow islands in the River Thames, formed over time by the accumulation of sediment, which have become home to many different kinds of wildlife. Chiswick Eyot is a nature reserve and ancient withy bed where swans have nested and willow trees have grown for centuries.
Unfortunately the eyot is at risk from Chinese Mitten Crabs who have made their home in the mud, burrowing into the banks and creating complex, interconnected burrows. The consequences are potentially disastrous, as the crabs’ burrowing loosens the mud around the eyot, and when the tide flows in and out, the earth is washed away, steadily eroding the island over time.
The good news is that Thames21 received substantial donation to help the Old Chiswick Protection Society carry out conservation work which includes cutting branches from nearby Duke's meadow to to build defences. They are looking for volunteers to help cut the withy branches and weave them into fences to shore up the earth.
You will be playing a role in helping save an important part of Chiswick history! All tools will be provided but wellies are highly recommended as it is very muddy (there will be some spares available if you don't have any)! Please bring gardening gloves if you have them.
The point of contact on the day is Vic Richardon from Thames 21. Meet at 9am on the drawdock at the bottom of Chiswick Lane south. Be warned - it is very muddy! If you are late and can't see the group at the drawbridge please make your way onto the eyot where they will be working.
How are you getting there?
Discussion
Location
Date and time
11:00 - 14:00Walkable
As you will make your own way to the task, feel free to walk or run as you wish.
Ideal for beginners
The drawdock, Chiswick Lane
London
W4 2PJ
Led by Anastasia Hancock
Area Activator for Wandsworth and Hounslow. All things running. For fitness, fun, racing and to feel good - and for everybody!
GoodGymers helping out
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Photographer
Take photos for the session report
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Report Writer
Be in charge of writing the session report
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Welcomer
Welcome new people at sessions and answering any questions
Tomorrow's session on Chiswick eyot has unfortunately hd to be cancelled. I received the following message from the task owner:
"This is very sad, but we have to cancel tomorrow’s session on the eyot. A number of dead swans have been found along Chiswick Mall in the last couple of days. We thought the first one was the victim of a fox but when the second one was found and then others, we realised that the fox was just nosing around the first one, and that the culprit is bird flu. If swans have died, so in all probability have other smaller and less conspicuous birds.
We know that bird flu is zoonotic - i.e. can be transmitted from animals to humans. This can happen by contact with an infected bird, but also by touching faeces, nesting material, feathers, etc. If we were just going for a stroll on the eyot, this wouldn’t be too much of a risk. But the work we do involves picking material up from the ground and working with it, material which has been moved around by the tide, so who can say what it will have been in contact with.
I’m so sorry about this, especially since it looks as if the weather will be delightful tomorrow, and I’m sure lots of you were going to join in. But our local Councillor has advised us to cancel, so that’s the decision.
What of future planned sessions? We’ll keep taking advice from the Council and others and we’ll keep you informed"
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