Woodlands Farm February: half-term activities, bird watch and St Valentine walk

Woodlands Farm February Half Term Events poster

Woodlands Farm has activities for everyone during February: there is the Big Farmland bird count next Monday 8th, a St. Valentine’s Walk on Sunday 14th and their children’s activities during half term week from 17th to 19th.

Hannah, the farm’s Education Officer sent details of their February half term events for children:

Wednesday 17th February    Sparrow Detectives    1pm-3pm
Where have all the sparrows gone?  The numbers of house sparrows in London have decreased but why? Become a detective for the afternoon and go on our farmyard trail to find out what has happened and how we can help the sparrows.  £2.50 per child.  No need to book just drop in between 1pm-3pm to collect your detective pack.  For more information call 020 8319 8900
Thursday 18th February        Farmer Duck Day    10am-12pm and 1pm-3pm
Join us for a day all about the story of ‘Farmer Duck’.  We will start by reading the story of Farmer Duck and finding out about all the jobs he has to do on the farm, before going for an explore of the farmyard to visit all the animals from the story.  The make your own farm animal to take home with you.  £4 per child.  Booking is essential, to book call 020 8319 8900
Friday 19th February         Get Wild in the Woods        11am – 1pm and 2pm-4pm
Come and join us in the woods as we learn how to survive in the wild. Have a go at shelter building, wild cooking over a fire and learn what animals need to survive. £4 per child
Age 7+  Booking essential, to book call 020 8319 8900

For more information, see our website or contact Hannah Forshaw on education@thewoodlandsfarmtrust.org

 Long-tailed Tits feeding at Woodlands Farm
Long-tailed Tits feeding at Woodlands Farm

Hannah also sent a reminder of Monday’s Big Farmland bird count:

Just a reminder that it is the Big Farmland bird count next Monday 8th Feb.  We will meet in the farmyard at 9.30am before heading out to the fields for the half hour count.  Please bring binoculars with you, but we do have some we can lend if you don’t have any.

This is the farmers’ equivalent of the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch, but is organised by the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust. Last year the farm’s volunteers did the count over two days and spotted 17 different bird species:

Monday 9th February
1 Black headed gull
2 Blackbirds
11 Carrion Crows
6 Common Gulls
5 Long tailed tits
18 Magpies
2 Ring Necked Parakeets
1 Green Woodpecker
5 Greenfinch
1 Sparrowhawk
1 Stock dove
38 Wood pigeon
2 Feral Pigeon
Tuesday 10th February
1 Blackbird
3 Blue tits
5 Carrion crows
8 Common Gull
1 Great tit
1 Lesser black backed gull
12 Magpies
3 Ring necked parakeet
1 Robin
3 Greenfinch
60 Wood pigeon

Then the next of the farm’s series of free monthly guided walks is the St. Valentine’s Walk on Sunday 14th February, starting at the green Education Building at 10am.

And if this all sounds far too energetic then just drop in and see the pregnant ewes in the barn waiting for the lambing season and Lambing Day on Sunday 10th April.

Coal Tit at Woodlands Farm
Coal Tit at Woodlands Farm
Female Chaffinch at Woodlands Farm
Female Chaffinch at Woodlands Farm
 Dunnock at Woodlands Farm
Dunnock at Woodlands Farm

Marathon Dan

Mo Farah in the London Marathon 2014 at Ha Ha Road
Mo Farah in the London Marathon 2014 at Ha Ha Road

Shooters Hill Councillor Danny Thorpe will be running the Virgin London Marathon on 24th April to raise money for the Greenwich and Bexley Community Hospice. We can sponsor Danny through his justgiving page here: https://www.justgiving.com/Danny-Thorpe1/

Danny’s page provides some background:

As part of the Mayor of Greenwich’s Marathon Team, I’m really pleased to be running for this AMAZING local organisation, the Greenwich & Bexley Hospice. Lots of us have been affected by cancer in one way or another, and this money will help the hospice to build a new sensory garden, a place for patients and their families to enjoy.

The Mayor is also raising money for the Early Dove School in Zambia.

Also in the Mayor’s team are: Councillors Mehboob Khan and Chris Lloyd and Vicky Nock. It’s a great cause, let’s hope they raise lots of money.

London Marathon 2014 at Ha Ha Road
London Marathon 2014 at Ha Ha Road

Film Night at Shooters Hill Local History Group

Entrance to Beresford Square Market
Entrance to Beresford Square Market

Shooters Hill Local History Group‘s next meeting at Shrewsbury House this Thursday, 21st January at 8.00pm is a film show featuring three locally-made local history films. Steve wrote asking me to post a reminder:

It would be appreciated if you could provide a brief update about Thursday’s film show featuring:
‘The Catherine Wheel Dig’ – the archaeological search by members of the Shooters Hill Local History Group and friends for the “Catherine Wheel” ale house at the crest of Shooters Hill, which predated the “Bull” as a stop for stage coaches on the road to Dover.
‘This Girl went to Market’ – a young lady researches the history of Beresford Square market and finds her future (real life) husband.
‘The Plumstead Make Merry’ – the preparation for this popular local festival and the many aspects of how people enjoyed themselves at the two day event on Plumstead Common.

All are welcome. There’s a small visitor fee to cover the cost of the room.

Woodlands Farm Walks

Woodlands Farm Monthly Walks Winter/Spring 2016

Woodlands Farm have the first of a new series of free monthly guided walks on Sunday, 17th January, starting at the green Education Building at 10am. Hannah, the farm’s Education Officer,  e-mailed details of the walks over the next seven months:

Monthly Walks 2016
join us for our monthly guided walks
Sunday 17 January – Mid-Winter Walk
Sunday 14 February – St. Valentine’s Walk
Sunday 20 March – Spring Equinox Walk
Sunday 17 April – Young Shoots & New Lambs Walk
Sunday 15 May – Hedgerow Blossom Walk
Sunday 19 June – Midsummer Hay Meadow Walk
Sunday 17 July – Hay-making Walk
FREE ACTIVITY Donations welcome
Wear sturdy footwear and suitable outdoor clothing
The walks include climbing a small stile and are not suitable for buggies
In the event of bad weather the walk will be cancelled
Meet in the green Education Building at 10am

The weather forecast for Sunday is cold but dry, which would be perfect weather for a walk in the countryside, or London’s largest (89 acre) city farm.

Woodlands Farm fields
Woodlands Farm fields

 

Christ Church Carol Service on Sunday

Christ Church Shooters Hill Christmas service sheet

Stephen Matthes, the Secretary of Christ Church Shooters Hill wrote to say that all are welcome at their Advent and Christmas services, which start with a Carol Service this Sunday, 20th December at 6.00pm.

Christ Church’s full list of special services during Advent and Christmas are:

4th Sunday of Advent – 20th December: Carol Service 6pm
Christmas Eve – Thursday 24th December: Crib Service 4pm
Christmas Eve – Thursday 24th December: Midnight Mass 11.30pm
Christmas Day – Friday 25th December: Pilgrim Eucharist 10am
Epiphany – Sunday 3rd January: Pilgrim Eucharist 9.30am
Candlemas – Sunday 31st January: All Age Service 11.30am

Christ Church Shooters Hill is the Church near the top of Shooters Hill opposite the Red Lion Pub. Stephen said that last year’s Carol service was fantastically attended by the local community and finished off with mince pies and mulled wine.

Christ Church Shooters Hill
Christ Church Shooters Hill

Shooters Hill Local History Group meeting on Thursday

The Ypres Milestone at Christ Church
The Ypres Milestone at Christ Church

Shooters Hill Local History Group‘s final meeting of 2015 will be a “Social and Curio” evening at Shrewsbury House this Thursday at 8.00pm. Steve sent me details:

The next meeting is on 17 December and will be a Social & Curio Evening.
Everyone is encouraged to bring along an item with a history and talk about it.
It does not necessarily need to have a link with Shooters Hill, it could be a book; map; photograph; medal; football or concert programme to name but a few.
All welcome, bring nibbles, drink and a glass!
Visitor fee applies.

The group has also been planning their programme for 2016. Currently they have:

21st January: Films of Shooters Hill and area – “The Catherine Wheel dig” and “This girl went to market” etc.
18th February: TBA (perhaps St George’s RA Chapel
17th March: Talk on the local tram system

Should be interesting.

Detail of moulding at Shrewsbury House
Detail of moulding at Shrewsbury House

A Christmas Carol at Shrewsbury House

Front Room Theatre A Christm,as Carol flyer

Local theatre group Front Room Theatre will be presenting their adaptation of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol at Shrewsbury House on Saturdays 12th and 19th December at 7.30pm. Tickets are available from TicketSource and cost £10 (concessions £8).

The adaptation is billed as a “multi-sensory experience for all the family”, and includes new music by local actor Natalie Wilcox and a special composition with lyrics by Natalie and music by Joseph Finlay. The play’s narrator is Sarah Barrowman.

Shrewsbury House has also hosted Front Room Theatre‘s previous productions “Lie Back and Think of America” and “Maya and Natalie’s Marvellous Mishmash of Musicals“.

Oh, and there’ll be mulled wine.

Natalie Wilcox at the Shrewsbury House Christmas Fair
Natalie Wilcox singing at the Shrewsbury House Christmas Fair

Christmas Fairs

Woodlands Farm Christmas Fair Poster 2015

Woodlands Farm and Shrewsbury House have their Christmas fairs on the same day this year, Sunday 6th December. Both are free and run from 11.00am to 3.00pm, and they’re close enough to take in the pair and double the Christmas shopping opportunities.

Maureen from the farm e-mailed their poster and details:

All are welcome at the Woodlands Farm Trust Christmas Fair on Sunday 6 December, 11am-3pm. Visit Santa’s Grotto, sip mulled wine whilst browsing stalls of local produce and crafts for early Christmas present ideas, or relax in our cafe while the children enjoy crafts and games. A great festive day out for all the family. Entry is free, but donations are always welcome and go towards the running of the Farm. No parking on the farm, please use public transport.

There are two new calves at the farm, a cross between Aberdeen Angus and Holsteiner I believe, so an extra incentive to visit.

One of Woodlands Farm's new calves
One of Woodlands Farm’s new calves

Shrewsbury House Christmas Fair

Shrewsbury House is always packed with a variety of craft and produce stalls throughout the house at its Christmas Fair, which also includes face painting, a raffle, tombola and children’s crafts. This year they have the added attraction of the Wild Science Show – exploring the world of fluffies, mini beasts and creepy crawlies. Entrance to the fair is free, but there is a £3.50 charge for the Wild Science Show, which includes a visit to Father Christmas.

And of course both fairs have mulled wine.

Local artist Ray Marshall at the Shrewsbury House Christmas Fair in 2012
Local artist Ray Marshall at the Shrewsbury House Christmas Fair in 2012

Bulb planting this weekend

Crocuses in Eaglesfield Park
Crocuses in Eaglesfield Park

Both the Friends of Eaglesfield Park and the Friends of the Pet Cemetery are planting bulbs for the spring this weekend: Eaglesfield on Saturday and the Pet Cemetery on Sunday. Both would welcome help.

The Friends of Eaglesfield Park will be planting daffodils and native bluebells in the meadow around the lilly pond between 11.00am and 3.00pm on Saturday, 28th November. Madeleine wrote with details:

We will be meeting up at the pond on Saturday 28th November from 11.00am onwards to plant native bluebells and daffodils.  Weather permitting !
Can you help us ?  Whatever time you can spare would be greatly appreciated.  May we ask you to bring your own tools – e.g. spades/hand trowel/gloves and don’t forget the wellies.
The crocuses planted a couple of years ago now provide a great display and we  would now like to add native bluebells and daffodils in the meadow surrounding the pond.     We hope you agree they will provide beautiful spring colour, and enhance the tranquillity of this area of Eaglesfield Park.

The Parks and Open Spaces of the Royal Borough of Greenwich have kindly donated 2,000 native English Bluebells (Hyacinthoides non-scripta) and 2,000 Daffodils (Narcissus pseudo narcissus) but, of course, they need to be planted!
Please join us.

The Friends are also planning maintenance of the pond itself, such as thinning out the lillies and other pond plants, working with the Royal Borough of Greenwich, Froglife and Ponds UK (Aquatic Management Ltd).

Autumnal Eaglesfield
Autumnal Eaglesfield
The Pet Cemetery Charlton
The Pet Cemetery Charlton

If you’re not at the Climate Change March on Sunday the Pet Cemetery is well worth a visit – to see the amazing transformation the Friends of the Pet Cemetery have made to what was a neglected area just a couple of years ago, and to help them plant some bulbs. Jean Patrick, the Friends’ Secretary e-mailed:

On Sunday, we are holding a bulb planting session.  We have received generous donations of hundreds of bulbs that we would like to plant all in one go if possible.  If you are able to spare some time next Sunday, between 10am-3.30pm, we would be very grateful, even if you can only pop in for 30 minutes.  Please bring a trowel, gloves and kneeling mat if needed.

The Cemetery is looking really good: lots of colourful plants, donated by local people, Thompson’s Garden Centre and the Parks Department; a number of new bird and bug boxes; two new benches from the Royal Borough of Greenwich; and a memorial wall for plaques to commemorate deceased pets. The old concrete bench bases from around the trees have been removed and  the Shedders from Men in Sheds will soon be creating new circular seating to replace them, partially funded by a grant from Metropolitan Public Gardens Association.

The Friends are currently setting up their own web site: I’ll publicise the URL as soon as it’s ready.

Anyone who would like to have a plaque put on the memorial wall to remember a pet should contact either the Chair of the Friends, Liz McDermott on mcdermott_liz @hotmail.com or the Secretary Jean Patrick on jmp179@skye.com for prices and other details.

Memorial wall at the Pet Cemetery
Memorial wall at the Pet Cemetery
Memorial wall at the Pet Cemetery
Old gravestone at the Pet Cemetery

Talk on the History of the Greenwich Peninsula on Thursday

The cover of Mary Mills' Greenwich Peninsula history book
The cover of Mary Mills’ Greenwich Peninsula history book

Shooters Hill Local History Group  will be hearing about the history of the Greenwich Peninsula from local historian and former councillor Mary Mills tomorrow, Thursday, 19th November at Shrewsbury House. Steve wrote with the details:

Mary Mills, Secretary of The Greenwich Industrial History Society will be giving a presentation to the SHLHG about the history of the Greenwich Peninsula next Thursday.
The presentation is based on her new book ‘Innovation, Enterprise and Change on the Greenwich Peninsula’.
The book is ‘a snapshop of the Greenwich Peninsula showing how it was home to industries which brought change both in Greenwich and worldwide’
See also, http://greenwichpeninsulahistory.wordpress.com/book/
Meeting starts at 8pm, a visitor fee applies.

I’m enjoying reading Mary’s book about the highlights of peninsula history from 1194 to the present, and it should be a very interesting presentation. All are welcome: there is a small charge for non-members to cover the cost of the room