The Ecology of Burgess Park��Liam Nash, Ecology Officer�Friends of Burgess Park AGM 2024����

The Ecology of Burgess Park��Liam Nash, Ecology Officer�Friends of Burgess Park AGM 2024����

Wider context

Page 1 • The Ecology of Burgess Park • 5/11/2024

Environmental policy… and crisis

• National
• Environment Act 2021: Biodiversity Net Gain, Biodiversity Duty
• London
• Local Nature Recovery Strategy
• Borough
• Southwark 2030
• Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience strategy
• The next SINC Review & Southwark Nature Action Plan
• Southwark Biodiversity Fund

​

Burgess Park ecology

Page 2 • The Ecology of Burgess Park • 5/11/2024

Ecology of the park

Habitats

Woodlands, freshwater, meadows & long grass, scrub, dead wood, hedgerows, etc.

Species

• 23 butterfly species since 2019
• 57 bird species 2024
• 7 bat species
• Stag beetle
• Humans!

Vision

• Flagship park for access to nature
• Balancing biodiversity, amenity, ASB
• Focus on restoration of existing areas

Woodland

Nature Area

Lake

Meadows

Amenity space

©2024 Friends of Burgess Park

©2024 Friends of Burgess Park

Scrub

Woodlands

Page 3 • The Ecology of Burgess Park • 5/11/2024

General

• Woodland Warden post
• Integrated Management Plan
• Tiny Forest

Albany Road Woodland

• Butterfly Conservation glade. Upcoming volunteering sessions

Southampton Way Woodland

• Tackle with community safety and park ops team

Glengall Road Woodland

• Recent glade creation. Invest in bramble management

St George’s Way Coppices

• Increased woodland management

​

​

​

Freshwater

Page 4 • The Ecology of Burgess Park • 5/11/2024

The Lake

• New floating planters
• Integrated management plan

Ponds

• Cobourg Road Nature Area wildlife pond restoration
• Glengall Wharf Community Garden wildlife pond restoration
• Surrey Canal Walk pond - scoping and feasibility study

Meadows and scrub

Page 5 • The Ecology of Burgess Park • 5/11/2024

Meadow/habitat creation S106

• Surrey Canal Walk, Glengall Rd, Wells Way, near new pitch

Hügelkultur Green Wall

• Install near new outdoor cooking area

Bridge to Nowhere to Neate St scrub

• Maintain as scrub mosaic. Propose reduction of bramble to 2019 level & removal of saplings and self-seeded trees

Waite Street and Glengall Rd

• Maintain as layered woodland edge. Control bramble

St George’s way meadow

• Propose temporary increase in meadow management intensity (e.g. second cut)

Albany Rd Mounds

• Challenges with maintenance, constantly evolving. Propose - North: complete restoration in patches to reintroduce selected species. South: temporarily increase meadow management intensity to knock-back dominant species (e.g. chicory)