LWT

I manage Sydenham Hill Wood on behalf of London Wildlife Trust. My attention was brought to this thread and I felt I should repond to some of your questions. This is the third year in a row that the man you refer to in this thread has been sleeping in Sydenham Hill Wood. Although we would not encourage people to camp in the wood we have no intention of asking him to move on. The man, and where he camps, is known to Southwark's Spot at St Mungos and it is my understanding that he chooses to sleep in the wood. I can confirm that there has been a sad incident in the wood, but to my knowledge this is unrelated to the man camping. I cannot provide any more information on this and ask if people can please respect this persons privacy and allow the police to do their job. Although one parcel of woodland Sydenham Hill and Dulwich Woods are under different management. London Wildlife Trust manages Sydenham Hill Wood, which is a nature reserve, and the Dulwich Estate manages Dulwich Wood, which is a private wood. There are maps at the entrances to Sydenham Hill Wood and the boundary between the two is marked by green posts. To complicate things Beechgrove, the section of the wood seen from Sydenham Hill with chain fencing, missing fencing and a brick wall, is not part of Sydenham Hill Wood or managed by London Wildlife Trust, but managed by the Dulwich Estate. So in answer to the-e-dealer: Two of the trees that have come down on Sydenham Hill in recent years have been from Beechgrove and one from Sydenham Hill Wood during the recent high winds(although this only blocked the pavement for a matter of hours). The Council are responsible for major treeworks in Sydenham Hill Wood (but not Beechgrove or Dulwich Wood). I advised them the next morning and they cleared it the same afternoon. Please understand that whilst trees are regularly inspected for safety they will come down from time to time. If trees fall within the wood, as long as they are not blocking any main paths or causing hazards, it is our policy to leave them where they fall. Best wishes, (Ms)Ashley White Conservation Projects Officer London Wildlife Trust [email protected]

Meet at Crescent Wood Road at 2pm to join London Wildlife Trust on a hunt to find different kinds of minibeasts and explore the habitats they are found in. The event will involve beating and sweeping plants and trees, searching through leaves and turning over logs. Play bug hunt bingo, look at the animals you find under our field microscopes and draw what you see. There will be colouring-in for younger children. Suitable for families with children 3+ Children must be accompanied by a responsible adult at all times. This event is free BUT donations are very welcome!

Dear Resident, Help stop massive cuts to Southwark services Southwark Council are proposing cuts of 78% to their Ecology and Environment Programme over the next two years. This will reduce front-line services to local people yet only deliver a 0.002% saving for the Environment, Community Safety and Culture budget. London Wildlife Trust receives funding from Southwark Council to run the Centre for Wildlife Gardening and Sydenham Hill Wood, both long-established, successful, and popular sites. We need your help to change Southwark?s plans and help us deliver our crucial work in the years to come. How can you help? Southwark Council are currently consulting on their proposed budget and your views could change their mind. They are asking for responses by Tuesday February 8th and any comments received by Friday (today!) will influence the report to Councillors and have even more influence. If you have internet access it just takes 5 minutes and is very easy ? just fill in your name, email address and add your comments in one text box. We?ve suggested text to include at the bottom of this email or add your own. www.southwark.gov.uk/forms/form/25/have_your_say_on_the_budget If you would like to review the background information you can access it here: www.southwark.gov.uk/news/article/250/leader_of_the_council_invites_comments_on_draft_budget LWT receives ?46,000 from this programme, and a further ?30,000 from Parks to manage land for wildlife, run educational events for children and adults, provide training and involve regular volunteers and local communities in practical conservation work. Each year we quadruple the grant from Southwark through additional projects, but the extra funding we raise is also at risk without this grant. If you live in Southwark please help us tell Southwark Council the environment matters ? we know that cuts have to be made, but massive cuts to the environment sector at such short notice must be stopped. Please respond to the consultation or write to your Councillor now before it?s too late (please only respond or write if you are a Southwark resident) We apologise for the short notice but have only just been made party to this information ourselves. Yours, Ashley White Suggested text for a response to Southwark Council below. Please add any testimonials: I am writing to express my dismay at the disproportionate cut being proposed to the Ecology and Environment programme. As a Southwark resident [insert address or postcode], I request that proposed cuts to this programme budget are reduced in line with other cuts to the budget. The proposal is to reduce the Ecology and Environment programme from just over ?300,000 to around ?120,000 in 2011-12 and then to ?60,000 in 2012-13. This is a 78% cut over two years. This will reduce front-line services to local people yet only deliver a 0.002% saving for the Environment, Community Safety and Culture budget. Whilst I recognise the pressures on the Council, I am concerned that the long-established community assets of the Centre for Wildlife Gardening and Sydenham Hill Wood, managed by London Wildlife Trust, are at risk. Restoring the programme to a reasonable level will have a minor impact on the Council?s budget and will allow the seven community organisations funded by the programme to continue to bring in extra resources for Southwark residents. Please don?t stop funding services which build social cohesion, pride in the local area and protect Southwark?s biodiversity.

"If you go out in the woods today You're sure of a big surprise. If you go out in the woods today You'd better go in disguise. For every bear that ever there was Will gather there for certain, because Today's the day the teddy bears have their picnic..." Bring a packed lunch and follow the teddy bear trail from Cresent Wood Road deep into the woods to join us for a picnic between 12 & 2pm. Come in disguise or as you are, but don't forget your teddy bear! For children under 8 years. Children must be accompanied by a responsible adult. No dogs please. This event is FREE of charge but donations are welcome. For more information please contact: Ashley White 0207 252 9186