We kicked off the new Year with our usual ‘Walk off the Wine’ led by Trevor, who takes us to see all 12 section of the Common and points out changes over the past year. This year there were the 4 new interpretation boards to see, and the new scrub and tree planting in various parts. Always a popular start to the New Year.

Another early January tradition is our Big Garden BIrdwatch walks led by Barbara Littlechild, which are part of the largest citizen science project in the world. This year Barbara counted 21 species, including 5 redwings here for the winter..

With thoughts turning to spring and the better weather, Ben Smith gave us his tips on Gardening for Nature. Ben’s back garden is pretty average size for this part of the world but what he’s attracted to it is quite remarkable. Huge numbers of frogs and frogspawn, damselflies, rare butterflies like the brown hairstreak, even a grass snake. All down to judicious planting and habitat creation. Birds of prey regularly visit and he also gets swifts in his swift boxes. You can watch the film on catch up HERE

January is also when we start our weekend woodland litter picks, when the vegetation is dying back and birds and invertebrates haven’t yet begun nesting, so are not in danger of being disturbed. We were pleased to introduce Lou as our new weekend litter pick organiser.

Last but not least, Philip Boys entertained us with another of his fascinating talks about local history, this time about the hidden Falcon Brook river which snakes its way from Tooting, parallels Bolingbroke Grove, under Northcote Road, before flowing under Clapham Junction to the Thames. This talk has proved so popular that we’ve had to schedule a second showing in late February which is already booked solid. But you can catch all our talks on catch up.