NEWS

November 2022, we had the pleasure of hosting 12 pupils from Chiwick School who came along to help us develop the wildlife allotment.

Organised by Time Givers, the pupils helped start a dead-hedge, dig a trench for a living hedge, build a hibernaculum for amphibians, insects and reptiles and clear an area of ground ivy and planted some bulbs.  The Chair of Chiswick Horticultural and Allotment Society talked to the students during lunch which was kindly hosted by CHAS in their Trading Hut.  The pupils all enjoyed their time with us and we were pleased to have the help! 

www.wildchiswick.com/donate

Joanne Gilbert, Founder of WildChiswick, has written a book for children about hedgehogs.

Anyone who has met Jo, knows she has a passion for hedgehogs and what we can do in urban environments to help them survive.

That is exactly what this book is about!

Snout is a young hedgehog about to go out into the world with his two siblings and mother for the first time.

What will they see?  Who will they meet? What dangers will they face?

All will be revealed in this charming educational book.

Jo hopes the story will strengthen the knowledge about the plight of hedgehogs and encourage people to do more for them in their gardens - inlcuding putting in hedgehog highways.

The book is selling for £6.99 with £2.00 going to WildChiswick to support the work we do.

Visit www.friendsofsnout.com to learn more and order online.

If you would prefer to pay by bank transfer, please email jo@wildchiswick.com to make arrangements.

We were delighted to be given permission by the Council and CHAS to renovate the wildlife plot at Staveley Road allotments.  This area was created by Karen Liebreich from Abundance London.  unfortunately it has been left over recent years and needs a bit of a face lift.

Why bother?  The more wildlife friendly green spaces we can make the better for biodiversity across Chiswick.  A strong. healthy biodiversity is also good news for humans.

Once the site is cleared and replanted we will be opening it up for the public to come and learn more about wildlife and how to garden to help it thrive and survive.

We do need some donations to help with this project.  We need tools, plants, wast removal and a shed would be lovely to keep us dry and in the future act as a base for any visitors. 

If you feel you can help us with this project and donate, please click on the button below.

WILDCHISWICK is helping Cavendish School revamp their wildlife area.  This will become a place for the children to learn about wildlife and have a mindful area in which to learn.  Help from the public would be most appreciated.  18th September has been set by Emma Lennard, School Governor, to being clearing the area.  Please email on hello@wildchiswick.com if you can come along with some tools to help out, even if just for an hour!

WILDCHISWICK has also taken on the task of revamping the wildlife area on the Staveley Road allotments.  This area has been left for several years and needs a clear out and a new pond liner.  We will then replant to attract wildlife.  We hope local children and adults alike will the be able to visit and see how  to make a garden wildlife friendly.

We will need help through funds, donations of plants and volunteers to help clear.  Please email on hello@wildchiswick.com if you can help us in any way!

We are pleased to announce that WildChiswick has taken over the reigns of the Chiswick Swift Project.  The project was started in 2014 by Catherine Day who has now moved from the area.  Catherine contacted us and asked if we could continue her work.  We were of course honoured to be asked and will certainly take on the challenge.

We are in the process of putting together a programme for next year's swift arrivals which will include putting up nest boxes.

Click through to our Swift Page for more information about swifts and how you can help. 

Email us on hello@wildchiswick.com if you would like to know about how to purchase and install swift box or to report sightings of nesting swifts in your area

(Photo credited to PTES)

This is really important to allow our hedgehogs to move the mile they require each night safely and to help them find habitat that is suitable for nesting, mating and food supplies.

We need to provide a green highway by cutting a small 13cm hole into our fences and walls to give hedgehogs access.

Please Join us in creating this highway.  It is the most important thing you can do for hedgehogs.

If you would like to be part of the Chiswick Hedgehog Highway, please book now!

WildChiswick worked with ZSL LondonHogwatch this year to place cameras across areas of Chiswick to monitor for hedgehog activity.  Today they released their findings from monitoring across London boroughs over several years.  This showed that green spaces with mixed habitat, allotments and having access to gardens is important for the survival of hedgehogs across London.  

This supports the work WildChiswick is doing in encouraging people to open up their gardens to these lovely creatures now at risk of extinction (British Mammal Red List).

Please could you contribute to our fundraiser to buy equipment to make a hedgehog highway across Chiswick?  

Click on photo above to read ZSL report.

Ever wondered what happens behind the scenes at a Wildlife Rescue Centre?

Pauline Kidner has given nearly 30 years of her life, her home and land to the rescue, rehabilitation, and release of British wildlife.

Pauline will talk us through her life with the Rescue and what it takes to get an animal from the reception room to a release. It takes a lot of hard work by a lot of people!

Pauline is very enthusiastic and passionate about her work and wildlife, and this comes across in her talks. There will be time for questions and advice on what to do if you find a sick or injured wild animal.

Tea, Coffee and Biscuits on arrival.

CLICK BUTTON BELOW TO REGISTER

£5.00 on entry (helps pay for the event) 12yrs and under FOC
Children must be accompanied by an adult.

We had a fantastic time over the past two mornings (April 21st and 22nd) at Grove Park School.

We presented at their assemblies and talked about hedgehogs.

We explained what a hedgehog is, what they do throughout the year, problems they face and then lots of ways that we can help them.  

The children were very good and listened beautifully.  We were also asked the most clever and thoughtful questions!

We hope to be invited to visit again in the future.

We enjoyed the evening in January with  Mary Tester from Thames Seal Watch.  

For those of you who missed this talk, you may wish to read the blog written by Jo Gilbert, WildChiswick  for Chiswick Calendar.

This blog talks about some of the details of the State of the Thames Report and the highlights for Jo whilst reading about some of the creatures to be found in the waters of the Thames.  Click the button below to read:

We were delighted to host an evening with Mike Toms, Head of Communications, The British Trust for Ornithology last month.

We have been asked by several if this talk was recorded.  We are afraid not!

However, Jo Gilbert did recently write a blog about it for Chiswick Calendar which outlines the main point spoken about by Mike Toms.

Please visit the blog  by clicking on the button below:

ST MICHAEL'S CHURCH, ELMWOOD, GROVE PARK 7pm-8.30pm, 8TH JUNE 2022. 

Would you like to know how to make a wildlife pond?  Would you like to attract amphibians to your current pond and learn how best to ensure they flourish? 

Then join WildChiswick and Emily Millhouse from Froglife to hear about British amphibians and how we can help them.  As a biologist, Emily has worked across wetlands and various nature reserves and parks before joining Froglife. 

She is passionate about people and nature coming together, particularly in an urban environment.  Urban ponds, no matter how small, are a lifeline for all sorts of wonderful creatures and green gardens are vital passages connecting one pond to another. 

£5.00 per person payable at the door (Cash or Card) 12 yrs and under FOC (must be accompanied by an adult) Tea, coffee and biccies upon arrival - plus raffle!