Islington Wildlife

Beekeeping diary- the swarming season

This year saw the first good weather for bees in four years. The unusually warm weather, from the middle of March to now, has meant that dry conditions and the abundance of forage have produced an early start to the bee season. Recent reports from various Islington beekeepers indicate that swarming will occur in the last two weeks of May this year, a whole month earlier than usual.

There is nothing to fear when a swarm happens, as it is just the old queen taking half her original troops to a new location so that she has left a well-run home for her daughter to start the next generation of bees. Beekeepers can tell the hive is ready to swarm when they see peanut shaped cells hanging from the bottom of a frame of eggs. The Queen bee will mark these cells with a special pheromone to let her worker bees know that they must continually feed these cells exclusively with Royal Jelly (RJ), a milky white liquid. Normal worker cells are only fed RJ for the first 2-3 days then their diet is restricted to honey and pollen. A queen egg only takes 15 days to hatch from the time it is laid and the first queen to emerge will kill all the other queen pupae before they have hatched to eliminate any competition.

Within a few days, the old queen will secrete a pheromone to signal to the workers that they have to swarm from the hive. Many of the workers will gorge themselves on honey supplies but the queen is actually starved during this time so she stops laying eggs and is slim enough for the swarming flight. The swarm will usually leave the hive when the weather is warm and head for a tree close by. Seeing the swarm leave can be a scary event for those who do not know what is happening. The bees fly in a formation, often circular, until they decide on a suitable resting place. They are least likely to sting during this time, as many of them are so full of honey that they cannot bend their abdomens to sting anyway.

Most of the swarm honey bees will stay at the resting place and cluster round the queen whilst the scout bees search for a suitable permanent new address. This has to be a space that is large enough to accommodate a full colony of around 50,000 bees, and it can be inside a tree hollow or any space the bees think will not be invaded by rain or predators, such as wasps. Often it is in some part of a house or close to where humans live. People would normally be intimidated by large amounts of bees residing close to their home but they should never attack the nest as the bees will get angry and sting them.

If you see a swarm it is best to contact a local beekeeping organization, such as Freightliner’s Farm or Highbury Builders, and let them know the details of where the swarm is, how accessible it is, is there a ladder nearby that can be borrowed etc. We have collected swarms in unusual places, such as a postbox, a dog kennel and a bird box, but the bees don’t care as long as the space is big and dry.

Once at the site, the beekeeper will try and place a box under the main swarm cluster and lay a white sheet on the ground beneath the box then quickly tap the tree branch so the main cluster falls straight into the box. It is hoped the queen drops in the box first time because if she does not then the swarm can depart if she decides to fly away instead. If the queen does drop in the box then what happens next is one of nature’s great wonders.

The box is turned upside down then propped up at the front by a stick to allow flying bees access. The bees inside the box turn their bottoms to the outside and start fanning their wings so that the queen’s pheromones drift outside. This sends a signal to the bees outside the hive that the queen is now inside the box and they start to land and march up the white sheet to the box, which they now regard as their new home. Watching this display is like something out of a cartoon but it does actually happen. After a few hours the beekeeper returns to seal the box and remove the bees. They will then put the swarm into a waiting freshly prepared hive, so they now have two colonies instead of one. It is this swarming cycle that has ensured that honey bees have survived for 100 million years, much longer than the dinosaurs or mankind.

Liam Devany, Highbury Builders Collective

Master Gardener guide to ponds

Ponds attract a terrific range of wildlife for pest control in organic food growing. These expert predators live in and around water, drinking, sheltering, and breeding on garden shores. Likely visitors are frogs and birds that eat trowelfuls of slugs and insects, together with an array of subtler diners. Each one will eat a pest, or be eaten by someone else that will eat a pest. Few habitats excite the local ecosystem to your advantage as much as a pond.

But before reaching for your shovel, there are design notes: 

Keep it simple - Use straightforward shapes such as a circle or kidney, not elaborate waterfalls with several levels and pumps. These simple designs are easy to make, but still tranquil, and flattering to sweetcorn plants admiring their reflection in still water. You’ll find the shape of your wildlife pond is soon obscured as marginal plants blend in with surrounding habitats.

Keep it shallow- Design a very gradual slope up to 30cm deep. Most wildlife congregates in this shallower water for easy access in and out the pond, such as hedgehogs and birds. Shallow water also offers most dissolved oxygen for good feeding and breeding, such as for tadpoles. Don’t feel obliged to shovel down to 60cm deep with steep sides. This depth is usually better for larger ponds with fish and deeper water plants.

Keep diverse edges- Create sheltered nesting and hunting sites for wildlife around the pond edge. Let marginal plants spread into adjacent boggy soil and add log piles, stones, etc. Even muddy edges are useful, especially for dragonfly eggs. Aim for as little defining edge as possible to anchor your pond into its surroundings. Allow access on at least one side though for maintenance, and of course your deck-chair.

Keep diverse surroundings- Extend your pond edges into surrounding habitats. This allows seamless wildlife travel around your plot and areas beyond. Try flowering plants, hedgerows, compost heaps, and even crops and green manures. These ‘corridors’ needn’t gobble up lots of space, just ‘direct’ pond wildlife such as amphibians. These spend a lot of time on land, but need safe travel when returning to water to avoid blackbirds and thrushes swooping down to eat them mid-way.

Keep clean water- Support the best mix of wildlife by having ‘clean’ water. This usually establishes naturally overtime, but may be disrupted by sudden changes in plant and animal populations, as well as excess tap or flood water. Aim for reasonably clear water. A hint of murkiness will provide cover for more nervous insects while small amounts of algae and weed are useful habitats.

Top tip: pond safety

Also design with safety in mind, especially for children. Take extra care at growing spaces where your tenancy ‘duty of care’ usually requires a plot to be as free from hazards as reasonably possible. Try the following.

• Position ponds appropriately for the site, eg obvious, out of the way, restricted access, etc.
• Install a metal grid over the water surface. This can be tricky though in wildlife ponds with less distinct and shallower edges.
• Put up chain-link or picket fence barriers. These needn’t be overtly obvious. Try painting them green to blend in.
• Try pond alternatives, such as bubbling water features and bowls of clean water. They still offer wildlife a pit-stop for drinking and bathing.

For more growing tips and the chance of 12 months FREE food growing advice, please visit the Islington Master Gardeners website.

This network of enthusiastic volunteers is kindly supported by the Islington Council (part of the council’s ‘Edible Islington’ campaign).

Philip Turvil, Master Gardeners

Spring is in the air

What makes us say this? What are the signs?

There’s been a gradual return to warmer days and nights.  Personally, one of the best bits has always been the slide to lighter mornings. I’m not keen on cold weather.  Getting up in the pitch dark, shivering with vaporous breath, when all my instincts are telling me to stay in bed – is always something I’m happy to see the back of.  

Apart from that what other signs are there that spring has returned?  Dare I say it let’s take a sensual approach, a stroll around the senses.

What we can see:

Looking around the green space that I know best, the most obvious signs are linked to the reappearance of large numbers of wild flowers. Snowdrops are an early herald of the new season.  Hazel flowers too, always lift the spirit after a long winter. Sadly they are soon over and pretty much done with by the end of February, though they are both great while they last. Native daffodils are always a pleasure, right now they are scattered throughout the woodland areas.  To my mind they are so much nicer than the large cultivars normally seen in gardens. The Blackthorn and Cherry Plum trees are covered in snowy white blossom.  Primrose, Coltsfoot, Red dead-nettle, Common Field Speedwell and last Saturdays large full moon like a dinner plate over the reserve!  Only once in 18 years does a full moon appear that large.

What we can scent

More native wildflowers: Sweet Violet, with beautiful deep mauve flowers have a subtle scent worth getting down low for; please don’t pick any plants should you pay the park a visit.   There are a number of herbs growing around the park too, with noticeable scent – Lemon Balm at one end of the spectrum and Stinking Roger at the other! 

 What we can hear

As spring progresses the gradual fine tuning of the dawn chorus continues and by the end of May we are treated to the full works, the complete operetta. Willow Warblers, Blackcaps, Wrens, Blackbirds and all the others, singing away for grim death.  Although it is beautiful, it is still a matter of life and its alternative.  It is largely about territory and food and some species, such as Robins, will fight to the death if necessary (although this rarely occurs – birds have more sense!) over a piece of ground. If you’ve never heard a dawn chorus either take a walk in your local park, or open your bedroom window at around 6.00am.

What we can taste

New leaves of Hawthorn as they emerge are nutritious in a cheese sandwich, hence one of its traditional names being ‘Bread and cheese tree’.  Another plant currently in flower is the Wavy Bitter Cress.  A nondescript plant but similar in taste to Watercress, it is spicy and delicious in salads.   Ramsons too, otherwise known as wild garlic is abundant at this time of year and a tasty addition to any meal.  

Just a few words of caution - It has to be said that inner-city nature reserves are often located on sites that have an industrial history with contaminated soil.  Sadly Gillespie Park is no exception.  The more obvious wild food – Black berries, apples, sloes, and rose-hips have been tested for chemical residues and are ok to pick.  It’s probably best to err on the side of caution unless you know otherwise.

Enjoy the Spring weather,

Richard

 

Food growing networking event

Thursday,17th March 2011, 6pm to 9pm

St Luke’s Centre EC1V 8AJ

This networking event is for those leading or starting food growing projects in London who want to get practical food growing advice, meet and share ideas with other urban growers and find out about the support Capital Growth is currently offering.

The event is co-hosted by Edible Islington, the council’s campaign for new food growing spaces on estates, in community centres, parks and schools across the borough, and supported by Garden Organic’s Master Gardener programme.

The event will include workshops on:

• Ideas on how to financially support a food growing project
• Practical food growing advice
• Information on how to increase biodiversity in your food growing space

Speakers include Leanne Brisland Biodiversity Officer from Islington Council and Kate Fenhalls from the Islington Master Gardener Programme

How to book:

For more information or to book a place email paola@sustainweb.org or call us on 02078371228. This event is free for Capital Growth and/or Edible Islington members or £10 for others (this includes a delicious meal).

Paula, Sustainweb

Calling food growing enthusiasts

Master Gardeners, which has supported over 70 households in Islington to grow their own food, is calling out for more volunteers to help share food growing skills. Just nine months old, the Garden Organic Master Gardener programme – a volunteer network supporting Islington residents to grow food – has also reached 2,000 people in the wider community.

Now Garden Organic, the UK’s leading organic growing charity, is looking for more food growing enthusiasts to join the dedicated team of Master Gardeners in Islington who are sharing their enthusiasm for food growing with their communities. Together they aim to build local skills, encourage organic growing and biodiversity and provide access to fresh, home-grown fruit and vegetables.

Mentors are fully trained by Garden Organic and then supported by the charity to help local people grow their own in partnership with the council’s Edible Islington programme, Sheepdrove Trust and Big Lottery's Local Food Scheme. Master Gardeners support individuals and communities with practical advice and mentoring. It is about enthusing people about food growing whilst offering the support that they need along the journey. Some Master Gardeners support Edible Islington sites, other schools and community centres, or people at home, where even a tiny balcony or windowsill can grow tomatoes and herbs.

More people are becoming interested in growing their own food for reasons ranging from protecting the environment, health, saving money and re-connecting with nature. It’s a fantastic activity to involve children in, when children grow food themselves, even the fussy eaters want to try it.”

The great thing about the scheme is you don’t have to be an expert to be eligible to volunteer; all that is required is some experience of growing your own, together with a passion for encouraging others to have a go. Full Master Gardener training is provided covering everything a volunteer should need to know, with additional support from a dedicated Volunteer Co-ordinator.

If you live in Islington and are interested in becoming a Master Gardener, or are a resident looking for food growing advice, please call Kate Fenhalls on 020 7837 2373, or email at: kfenhalls@gardenorganic.org.uk to find out more.

Kate Fenhalls, Garden Organic

Can you help people grow their own food?

Become an Islington Master Gardener

Master Gardeners volunteer 30 hours a year offering food growing advice and support to Islington residents.

Master Gardeners are now offering:

• Free two-day training (you don’t have to be an expert!)

Next course - 5 March and 6 March 2011

• Active support, resources and ongoing training from your local volunteer co-ordinator
• Member of the Master Gardener volunteer network
• Share your enthusiasm for food growing with your community

Master Gardeners are volunteers managed by Garden Organic offering growing advice and support. They don’t offer a gardening service. Participation for all involved is free.

Contact us now 020 7837 2373 or

www.islington.mastergardeners.org.uk

Your local Master Gardeners are supported by co-ordinator Kate Fenhalls

kfenhalls@gardenorganic.org.uk

Telephone: 020 7837 2373

Wildlife at school

Pooles Park School's Community Naturespace (part two)

As we continue on our journey to transform our school grounds we are now excitedly awaiting the completion of our Biodiversity Sky Garden on the school's roof. This consists of a garden/ classroom that will be sown and planted with a range of wildlife friendly plants and house a variety of habitats for our local and visiting wildlife. It will be nurtured, explored and studied by the school community. We plan to provide wildlife with an elevated area of green space to replace the land underneath the school building. Our wildlife project goes hand in hand with our six year organic Global Food Growing Project at school.  

All of this has been created with passion and enthusiasm by the children, staff, parents, families, many volunteers from volunteering organisations, corporate volunteers who have their team building days at Pooles Park, many teenagers through Orange Rock Corps and local organisations including Groundwork and Islington Council.

We have a 50 strong team of children - the Environment Team Monitors- who are committed and passionate towards our project, keeping it maintained on a daily basis. They have important jobs such as: monitoring and recording wildlife in the garden; caring for the pond; collecting and composting food waste from the staffroom and Key Stage 1 classrooms; watering the greenhouse plants; caring for the hens and collecting their eggs and taking them to the school kitchen; monitoring the compost area; monitoring the healthy food garden and delivering produce (that cannot be eaten fresh off the bush) to the school chef to be cooked for lunch.   

The benefits are profound. Children are growing up loving their natural environment and gardening. They are growing up with an inherent respect for their natural environment and realising, first hand, the inter-dependence that we all have with our natural world. They are learning to love all the creatures that live in the garden and understand that all creatures have important roles to play in maintaining the natural cycle: worms are amazingly good for our soil and help our plants grow and bees are essential pollinators so we should not be scared of them, instead admire them for helping to grow our fruits and veg. They understand that positive action creates a positive reaction and have witnessed the garden flourish with wildlife through the creation of habitats and planting for wildlife. They respect the important role of native flowers in providing nectar for our much needed insects.

Children have gained confidences and new skills in activities and essential life skills that, without this project, they would not have the opportunity to do.

Many adults have also had the same opportunities. Hundreds of volunteers from all backgrounds, ages and abilities have helped with this project over the years. All have been inspired and enjoyed their time at Pooles Park.

This project has been able to unite our wonderfully diverse community on a common theme - Gardening for Wildlife and Us. We have a great time in the garden, taking part in positive, productive hands on activities which benefit us, the natural environment and wildlife. It has also helped Science test results have improved over the past 4 years.

Our school continues to source funding to develop, expand and evolve our wildlife project as well as employ our Environmental Tutor/Project Manager. The project has been and remains an important positive contributor to school life at Pooles Park.

Sophie Ioannou

Environment Tutor, Plant Environment, Pooles Park School

Wildlife at school

Pooles Park School's Community Naturespace (part one)

The Pooles Park Environmental Education Project has been developed over the past six years to benefit wildlife, the school community and the wider community. It was identified as an important project for the whole school community because the majority of children that attend Pooles Park live on two large council estates without access to gardens or interactive green spaces.

This project has offered the local community a wonderful and unique opportunity to develop and enhance the school grounds for the benefit of wildlife as well as watch and learn about all the wildlife that lives in and visits our mini green oasis. Caring for our natural environment has become an integral part of school life.

Our adventures with wildlife began when we successfully secured funding to section off an area of the school's garden to create a wildlife garden. Five years later the garden has a beautiful wildlife pond and attached bog garden, a native hedgerow around the periphery, wildflower meadows, native trees, native wildflower bulbs, bug hotels, insect habitats made from old palettes, log piles and stacks, rubble piles and leaf piles, bird feeders and boxes and a solitary bee house. We have many visitors to our garden including birds, butterflies, bees, dragonflies, frogs, toads, lots of aquatic life including pond skaters, snails, bloodworms, water crustaceans and even a graceful fox.

Since then we have continued to reclaim areas of the school grounds and develop them for the benefit of wildlife, which in turn, benefits us. In particular our gardens supports natures much needed pollinators such as bees and butterflies. We have created a Wildflower Circle which is outlined with a beautiful willow fence and has a mixture of perennial and annual wildflowers growing inside it. Our 'River of Flowers', a meandering river shaped wildflower border, sponsored by the River of Flowers Organisation, contains many native bulbs and wildflowers. Our composting area serves as an over wintering habitat for the many frogs which live in the garden, as does our greenhouse. Our New Cob Oven shelter/outdoor classroom, has a living green roof on it, providing wildlife with food and habitats as well as looking beautiful. 

Sophie Ioannou

Environment Tutor, Plant Environment, Pooles Park School

Islington Horticultural Show

On Saturday 18th September from 12-4pm the St Luke’s Centre EC1 will be hosting this years Horticultural Show. The show will be held in St Luke’s amazing allotment where there will be a range of workshops, demonstrations and activities all designed to celebrate growing local food in Islington. There is also the chance to enter your own prize produce into this years judging as well as the cake baking competition. With children’s activities, music and good food there has never been a better opportunity to find out how to get growing! For more information visit

www.islington.gov.uk/edibleislington

nice weekend

Simon

Volunteers boost crops by helping wildlife

Islington Master Gardeners are supporting September food growing by attracting local wildife. The Garden Organic volunteers are advising households and growing groupsin partnership with Edible Islington, the council’s community growing project.

Organic growing relies on encouraging wildlife to eat garden pests. These natural predators and parasites are like having a silent army protecting your lovely fruit and veg. As weather cools though, these mini-gardeners need looking after.

Master Gardeners start with ladybirds. These munch on aphids that upset crops, so you need them next year. Invite ladybirds to overwinter with you by offering sheltered accommodation to hibernate. Likewise lacewings. Hollow flowers stems and old leaves are ideal, so delay cutting back until spring.

Master Gardener tip: “dead-head plants with hollow stems to give creatures easier access. Works a treat with fennel.”

Some households like tidy growing spaces. The urge for bare soil is strong after summer chaos, but just a messier corner will be well used. Try log piles, compost heaps, and hiding custom built habitats under shrubs - such as plastic bottles with their bottoms cut off and straw packed inside.

Master Gardener tip: “feed hibernating creatures when they wake up. September is ideal for planting spring flowering bulbs with their energy-rich pollen and nectar. Likewise native shrubs such as blackthorn.”

For birds that don’t hibernate - start regular feeding from September, including berrying bushes like cotoneaster and sunflower seedheads. Birds return to known food sources so will visit you again in spring and summer to eat thousands of caterpillars, slugs and other less welcome wildlife.

Master Gardener tip: “hang sneaky bird feeders in fruit trees. Birds will spot pests in bark crevices, such blue tits which are especially apt at finding codling moth pupae.”

Find your nearest Islington Master Gardener

New to food growing? Register for 12 months free advice as one of the households each Master Gardener mentors. Find local events and blogs by your nearest volunteer – and tell them about your local group and growing tips. Visit Islington Master Gardeners or call volunteer co-ordinator Kate Fenhalls on phone 020 7837 2373.

 

Guest Contributor

Philip Turvil, Master Gardeners