A Registered Charity dedicated to the maintenance and development of Streatham Common
A gentle guided stroll around the Common looking for and identifying butterflies.Children welcome, dogs not so!
Meet at the Rookery Cafe at 3.00pm.
FREE EVENT led by volunteers.
Please think of joining or donating to the Friends of Streatham Common so we can ensure our common is sustainable and educational for years to come.
Meet by the Rookery Cafe at 7.00pm to join the hunt for this elusive butterfly, which lives around oak trees.This survey is held in conjunction with London Wildlife Trust’s Great North Wood Project.
Scientific name: Favonius quercus
Underwings grey with white streak and small tails, upper wings brown. Males have a purple sheen, females have a purple mark on forewing.
This handsome butterfly is widely distributed throughout southern areas wherever there are oak trees; even a solitary tree may support a colony. It is frequently overlooked as adults remain largely in the canopy where the main adult food source is honeydew; they fly more commonly in the evening of a warm summer’s day. They are only driven down to seek fluid and nectar during prolonged drought, as occurred in 1995-6.
There has been a recent increase in records and an extension of the range of this butterfly especially in the English Midlands and south-west Scotland, even in urban areas (including London) which may be related to improvements in atmospheric quality. White-letter Hairstreak is similar but has W-shaped streak.
Size and Family
Family: Hairstreaks
Size: Small
Wing Span Range (male to female): 37-39mm
Conservation Status
Butterfly Conservation priority: Low
Fully Protected under the 1985 Northern Ireland Wildlife Order
European status: Not threatened
Caterpillar Foodplants
The Purple Hairstreak is restricted to Oak trees including both the native species, Sessile Oak (Quercus petraea) and Pedunculate Oak (Q. robur), and the introduced Turkey Oak (Q. cerris). Evergreen Oak (Q.ilex) also may be used.
Lifecycle
Habitat : Difficult to spot as it flies around the tops of Oak trees in woods, hedgerows and parks, including in urban areas.
Distribution
Countries: England, Wales, Ireland and Scotland
Widespread in England and Wales, less common in Scotland and Ireland
Distribution Trend Since 1970’s in Britain: -15%
Information from https://butterfly-conservation.org/50-839/purple-hairstreak.html
Summer is a great time for escaping out in to your local green space and firing up a BBQ. There is always something special about the smell and taste of food cooked on an open fire, and a sense of freedom if you don’t have a garden to host your own. However, Lambeth Council do not allow BBQs in any of their green spaces. Far from being killjoys, there are good reason’s for why.The single use BBQ you can buy in your local supermarket is one of the most destructive things you can bring to a green space.
You may think you are leaving just a little bit of burnt grass in a huge field. But multiply that space fiftyfold, you have a patchwork of depressing black patches. The grass doesn’t grow back in full for at least 6 months.
But aside from leaving unsightly dead patches, they also burn delicate flora that is buried between the grass. Small but important plants help support a diverse population of insects, butterflies and birds. Once burnt away these plants struggle to regrow under the ever expanding grass. So our butterfly, bee and insect population have one less place to forage, one less place to pollinate. They are all part of our food chain.
And after the BBQ’s are finished with – they are rarely discarded in a responsible manner. Left for dogs and children to discover – the tin trays are sharp, and the charcoal gets scattered, making a space unusable to sit upon. The fire risk is real. The fire brigade have been called on a number of occasions. So what might seem like an enjoyable day out with a group of friends, enjoying freshly cooked food and drinks, leaves a trail of destruction on our environment.
And single use BBQ’s are just that – Single use. Another throwaway item for the landfill, at a time when we are all becoming aware of our first world rubbish is having on the rest of the world.
Even BBQ’s on legs are not acceptable because who would ever think to bring their burnt offerings home? So we have to be very clear. BBQ and fires cannot occur on the Common.
As BBQ’s come under Lambeth Bylaws [fires], there is a fine: £500.
The noise nuisance, pollution & anti-social dept of Lambeth Council will respond to calls.
020 7926 5999 – office hours.
020 7926 1000 – after 5pm & weekends.
999 for any fire.
As we are all becoming more aware of our environment and our impact on it, it is worth knowing that 90% of charcoal is imported into this country. And it is coming from countries where the impact of deforestation is causing problems to those local populations and climate change. So if there is one thing you feel you can do for your planet – don’t bring your BBQ to your local greenspace.
Our parks are dealing with horrendous cuts, and it is a constant battle to keep our parks usable, clean and safe. Only 4 London Councils do allow BBQs. They have designated spaces, some you have to book a slot. But this means having good management and administration which needs a budget – and there lies the problem.
THE TEMPERATURES FOR THIS EVENT ARE PREDICTED TO BE TOO HOT FOR OUR BEAUTIFUL BIRDS TO SIT OUT ALL DAY OR FLY. THEIR WELFARE COMES FIRST.Owls, falcons, hawks etc. on show
between 1.00pm and 5.00pm.
Displays of flying at approximately 2.00pm and 4.00pm.
On the Common, near the path from opposite
Copley Park to opposite Valley Road SW16
A FREE event but donations very welcome on the day.
Make an evening of it – Refreshments available from the bar.
Open to members of the FoSC. But its never too late to join. We’d be happy for you to attend. Membership is just £6.00!
Join the friends at http://streathamcommon.org
[Please be aware – being part of the FoSC facebook page does not automatically give you membership].
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The organisers of Kisstory, We Are The Fair Ltd had attended a committee meeting with Friends of Streatham Common and spoke on future plans in February. FoSC had an opportunity to directly feedback on issues surrounding previous issues. It was a useful meeting, we very much appreciate them reaching out and whilst we do not have a problem with the organisation themselves who have listened to our concerns, it is problems with the councils overall responsibility to the common which have been identified. FoSC objections include: