August 14th 2018 Environment Agency update re Beverley Brook

August 2 2018 Beverley Brook update from Russell Greaves, keeper of Barnes Pond and Barnes Green: It's not all doom and gloom- as I walked along the Brook adjacent to the reedbed this evening I saw quite a lot of small chub up to 4 inches plus a solitary minnow which I have never seen in the Brook before- possibly washed down from the upper reaches with the storm.

August 1 2018 Beverley Brook update from South East Rivers Trust: 

The Environment Agency Officers have been carrying out an assessment of the Beverley Brook this week following a number of reports of over 100 dead fish. Their staff are working with Thames Water Utilities to try and find the source of pollution. It is believed the cause is due to the low dissolved oxygen levels in the watercourse, following on from the heatwave.

Continued monitoring is showing the water quality is now recovering but if you see fish in distress – please call the EA incident hotline on 0800 80 70 60

July 30th 2018: FISH KILL IN BEVERLEY BROOK

Thank you to everyone who has contacted us to report this incident. Environment Agency Officers are carrying out an assessment of the Beverley Brook today following a number of reports of over 100 dead fish. This number may increase as today’s good river flows will have carried many of the dead fish into the River Thames. EA staff are working with Thames Water Utilities to try and find the source of pollution. They believe that the cause is due to the low dissolved oxygen levels in the watercourse. As a precaution, Friends of Barnes Common advise keeping pets and children out of this stretch of water until this is resolved.

 

June 2018: We are absolutely delighted and very proud to be a part of raising the profile on Early Years and Community Food Growing and to appear on the front page of Roots Education Review. Our full article starts on page 12.

April 2018 Litter-picking volunteers - thank you message from Mike: "Despite the postponement due to the snow from the 'Little Beast' - and a very damp Sunday morning, some 35 volunteers turned out for the FoBC annual litter pick, based on Rocks Lane and Vine Road Rec., and  did a fantastic job scouring  about 90% of the Common. 

Each year we sense that we are having to search harder (apart, that is, from alongside roads and railway embankments near bus stops!), but still we collected about  60 sacks full of mixed litter and once again two jumbo bags of recyclables - Miranda will be kept busy for some time!! - and we never cease to be amazed how much we find, even when the common is generally looking so good... including a folding bed, wheel barrow and at least a dozen assorted wheel trims!   

So an enormous thank you to everyone who turned out in less than ideal  conditions, to make sure that when Spring does finally come the Common really will look its best."

February 2018:  Former Goods Yard.  Network Rail have started necessary repairs to the railway bridge and are using the Former Goods Yard site as a temporary space for vehicles and machinery.  You can find our more here or contact us