September round-up: Dogs, horses, flowers, bats, gravestones and the climate crisis…..something for everyone!

Our third dog show was another grand day out for everyone - dogs, owners, exhibitors, judges, volunteers, bystanders…. 172 dogs and 273 entries kept us all busy, and it was a hot day, so we had a cooling tent where dogs (and owners) could be in the shade and enjoy a cold towel or ice bath if necessary. Pictures available soon.

In advance of exciting new habitat works on both sides of the Common, Owen Dodgson and Liam Hutton, heads of the Council’s biodiversity and tree teams respectively, gave our members a talk to explain the plans. Work will start early October to create a new wildflower meadow on Bolingbroke Field and new glades in the Scope. Learn more about it in this film and on the Council’s website.

The heavy horses were back, to cut, rake and bale the grass on Bolingbroke and Bellevue Field. They’ll be back later this month to help with the work on the Scope.

Our regular wildflower and bat walk leaders - Roy Vickery and Iain Boulton - gave their final walks of the year, before the bats hibernate and the wildflowers die back. An increasing number of both are being found which is good news for the Common’s biodiversity.

Fred Pearce - one of our members and a distinguished environmental author - tried to inject some hope into the climate debate with his ‘Seven reasons to be hopeful’ about the current situation. You can catch it in our news section and also in more detail in Fred’s recently published book.

Sue Demont held another of her sellout walks around Battersea cemetery next to the Common. Billed as ‘Strictly Gravestones’, it told the stories behind 10 notable gravestones and their occupants. Always something new and fascinating.

Finally, we held our last Social Bowls session of the season, with a turnout of 17 enjoying the bowling green and the setting sun. If you missed the sessions this year, look out for news of next year’s session which usually begins at Easter.