FFCM Message Board  Main Forum   FFCM Events Program Support Search RSS runboard.com       Sign up (learn about it) | Sign in (lost password?) Poll results (voting closed) Know Your Trees 3 votes  27% Feed the Birds 4 votes  36% Fungus Foray 4 votes  36% Total: 4 voters.  Total votes: 11.  Max items per vote allowed: 3. FFCM Secretary jay Global user Posts: 19 Reply | Quote FFCM Events Program For an up to date calendar of our events please refer to our main website: click here Following the public meeting the committee members wish to get on with organising events for all interested peoples to be out and about on the Meadows, learning about them, our overall main aim. Obviously 'proper' publicity will be launched for each event but I thought it would be a good idea to list some of the firm dates on here as well: Friday 11th August 7pm ~ Know Your Trees. An evening walk for all FCM supporters accompanied by committee members and Sid, a council worked who has vast knowledge about all the tress on and around the Meadows. Saturday 28th October 10am ~ RSPB Feed the Birds Day. An event organised nationally by the RSPB which FFCM is promoting as there is one on FCM. Saturday 11th November 9am ~ Sidcup and District Natural History Society Fungus Foray. An event organised by the Sidcup and District Natural History Society which FFCM is promoting as it is based on FCM. Further details will be posted here as we get them and will be included in the general publicity we will also do. FFCM committee members are also organising other events themselves for everyone, again more details soon. It would be great to get an idea of the number of people hoping to come so please 'vote' for the events you hope to attend... Last edited by Paul FFCM, 7/Apr/2007, 2:32 pm --- 16/Jul/2006, 2:28 pm Send PM to FFCM Secretary Paul FFCM kingfisher Global user Posts: 84 Reply | Quote Re: FFCM Events Program I hope to attend all 3 of them! And anything else that comes along aswell. Our meetings are usually very productive but I would like to meet-up with the FFCM members for a more informal, social evening. --- 16/Jul/2006, 3:24 pm Send PM to Paul FFCM Paul FFCM kingfisher Global user Posts: 84 Reply | Quote Know Your Trees Walk Our public walk on Friday 11th went very well and fellow Board member FFCM Maggie was kind enough to write the following report on the evening (photographs taken by myself & our Chairman Michael Heath): My thanks to Sid and Michael for their leadership of the Know Your Trees walk on Friday. I was surprised to see so many people there, I had thought there were about sixty over Leafield Lane then another 12 or so were waiting at 5 Arches Bridge. Michael explained what the FFCM are about before we moved off. Sid explained about the sewerage pipes and British Gas agreeing to land fill the area when they did their pipe work. We stopped at the other side of the bridge where Sid explained about the Poplar trees being cheap and quick to grow. Then someone asked about the birds flying above us and Ralph answered that they were House Martins: Just then a Grey Heron decided to do his salute/fly by and everyone cheered/gasped/clapped. It was one of those perfect moments that NO ONE could have staged if they had tried – it was brillant. We then crossed the lake field to the edge (heading towards Rectory Lane) stopping to observe Chestnut trees on the way. Then we crossed over to the beginning of Lime Avenue looking up towards where the old house had been. Sid said about the straightness of the Avenue and new trees that were having trouble surviving the July drought. We walked up the Lime Avenue and turned right to look at the very old Chestnut tree there (Sid said it's age was about 350 years!). Then we walked round to where the house had stood and Sid spoke about the Yews and the tall tree in the picture of the house before it was burnt down and the view they would have of the tennis courts and the River Cray etc. Then it was time to head up the hill to the track back towards the main (bridge) path. We stopped a couple of times to mention the biggest trees (think these were Chestnuts or Oaks) then on to the opening to the lake field again were the new Oaks look as though they are dying but may pick up later once they have had a good soaking, although Sid says they are watered every day. Once back to the path we stopped and we drew the raffle prizes (couple of books on trees some bottles of wine, picnic set, and a rag doll). Ralph announced that we had raised £51, enough to get the website up and running. Michael then thanked everyone for attending the walk and said Sid was going to finish the walk over by the area that was coppiced at the end of last year. I think roughly half the group left at this point and the others went to the coppiced area. The coppiced Sycamores have now been painted yellow to say that they have been treated. Some of the Hazels are starting to re-establish themselves as intended. Sid was thanked again. All was well timed as it was about 20:40 hrs and starting to get dark. Luckily it didn’t rain as it had looked like it was going to for most of the evening. Last edited by Paul FFCM, 25/Sep/2006, 10:04 pm --- 20/Aug/2006, 10:09 pm Send PM to Paul FFCM FFCM Secretary jay Global user Posts: 19 Reply | Quote Next FFCM Event Following a successful Tree Walk our next event is a River Walk. We will be joined by the resident River Keeper, Ashe Hurst, on Saturday 23rd September. We will meet at 3pm at Five Arches Bridge. Within 2 hours you can gain some knowledge on wildlife in and along the river and how to get involved in river keeping. We look forward to seeing you then! --- 21/Aug/2006, 8:46 pm Send PM to FFCM Secretary Paul FFCM kingfisher Global user Posts: 84 Reply | Quote RSPB Feed The Birds Day Our River Walk hosted by Ashe & Mel from Thames21 went well on Saturday with fine weather and a very pleasant walk along the banks of the River Cray. I hope to have some photographs soon. Another upcoming event on Foots Cray Meadows is the: RSPB 'Feed The Birds Day' on the 28th of October. To meet in the new car park at 10 am. Feed the Birds Day marks the clocks going back and the winter nights drawing in - it's the time when birds and other wildlife need a little extra help as the first frost looms.  RSPB Feed the Birds Day is a great opportunity to step up your feeding to help garden birds through the cold months ahead. Meet in the car park at 10.00 where there will be bird food and feeders for sale, some information regarding bird feeding, followed by a walk of approximately 2 ½ hours around the Meadows. Click here for Bexley RSPB Events --- 25/Sep/2006, 9:49 pm Send PM to Paul FFCM Paul FFCM kingfisher Global user Posts: 84 Reply | Quote Christmas Talk On 14th December. Indoor Talk by FFCM Vice Chairman Ralph Todd Manatees, Marshes & Meadows Ralph was a lucky recipient of an Earthwatch Millennium Award to spend two weeks helping with research into the Antillean Manatee in Drowned Cayes Belize. This experience forms the basis of the talk coupled with the Community Project side of the award relating research techniques to conservation issues within our own community - Bexley. The Manatees provided a tremendously stimulating and interesting project for Ralph, were great fun to observe and gave him an opportunity to spend time around this unique animal and in its marine habitat. As part of a small international team they were isolated from any other community, in leisure time they snorkeled on the world's second largest Barrier Reef (second only to the Great Reef of Australia) and enjoyed other wildlife viewing opportunities. Back home in Bexley Ralph could relate some of the conservation issues of the Manatee to the wildlife and habitats of our own community which includes the Thames marshes, Danson Park and of course Foots Cray Meadows. After the hour talk there will be some time to ask the Chairman any questions you have about the Friends group and enjoy a glass of wine and a minced pie! The talk will start at 7:30pm and will be held at St. Mary’s & St. Joseph’s Catholic School/St. Luke’s 6th Form College, Chislehurst Road, Sidcup. Admission price is £1 to members, £3 non-members. All are welcome, hope to see you there. --- 3/Dec/2006, 5:26 pm Send PM to Paul FFCM Add a reply Powered by AkBBS 0.9.5b  -  Link to us   -  Blogs   -  Hall of Honour   -  Chat Click here to get your own free message board You are not logged in (login)      Board's time is: 25/Nov/2009, 9:36 pm