Latest news - developments in the Parks Service

• Tooting Common woodland management plan available
  Visit the wildlife pages to find out about the management plan for 2005-10 for wildlife on the common.
• Tooting Common Reedbed (see below)
• The new cycle path is open through Wandsworth Park. This forms part of the Thames trail. It is shared use, cycle/pedestrian, along the promenade
• The former Nature Study Centre on Wandsworth Common is now run by London Wildcare  under the new name The Environment Centre www.theenvironmentcentre.org
• Wandsworth Common - Bellevue Road, opposite the Hope
• Grey Heron Day

Groundwork launches in Wandsworth
We have teamed up with environmental regeneration charity Groundwork to carry out a wide range of schemes in the borough.

Groundwork will work with residents to make improvements to open spaces and parks, with a special focus along the Wandle corridor. There will be more improvements to town centres, and a specific programme aimed at helping young people to fulfil their
potential and get involved in local environmental projects.

The six-year partnership will see £60,000 pumped in annually by Wandsworth, which will be matched pound-for-pound by other sources of funding.

 Stonger Greener Wandsworth newsletter (2.7 mb)

Tooting Common Reedbed
Unfortunately, our funding bid to enable the ecology pond to be relined and restored was unsuccessful.  Although we intend to pursue this option in the future as the project was recognised as being extremely worthwhile.

Until we manage to come up with such funds we will try to retain the reedbed habitat, which is the best viable option for local wildlife.  A reedbed can support many similar animals to that supported by the pond and can cope with inundations of water such as we have had in the last few weeks without undue stress to the plants.

Throughout the winter we intend to remove a small amount of invasive species by hand.  This will include the woodier species such as willow, which takes up a lot of water therefore reducing that available for the reeds, and other species such as Michaelmas daisy which have started to dominate in patches.  This will mean that the area should be able to retain more water than at present.

This season look out for:

• Fungi - autumn is the best time to go out looking for fungi, particularly in the woodland glades and on trees or dead wood.  In 2001 and 2002 a survey of Tooting Common found 53 species!
• Overwintering birds - keep an eye out for wildfowl and also songbirds that should shortly be arriving to spend the winter here.  Regular visitors we have on the commons are pochard, siskin, fieldfare and redwing.
• Hedgehogs - towards the end of autumn, hedgehogs consider the best places to build nests (called hibernacula).  Favourite sites are under hedges and roots of trees, inside compost heaps or underneath timber buildings and sheds.  Make sure you leave piles of wood and leaves in your garden undisturbed throughout autumn and winter, as hedgehogs and frogs may be hibernating in them. Also, be very careful if you are having a bonfire, and check for hedgehogs and other small animals before lighting it.

Feedback and suggestions, contact us at parks@wandsworth.gov.uk.