Kingston University Biodiversity Action Group

25-11-2017: Rhodobashing the day away

We had a fantastic turn out for our first rhodo bash of the season with 36 volunteers from the Environment Trust and KUBAG :)

30-09-2017: Riverfly Monitoring Initiative Training at Kingston University

New volunteers getting to grips with kick sampling
We had our first Riverfly Monitoring Initiative (RMI) training event on Saturday. It was a great day, with enthusiastic trainees learning how to conduct riverfly monitoring, learning how the monitoring helps us detect acute pollution incidents.

02-09-2017: Grass grass everywhere…


We had our first biodiversity event of the new term on Saturday. University volunteers were joined by the Environment Trust’s Duke of Edinburgh volunteers to manage two habitats of grassland at Kingston Hill. The first – our acid grassland by the school of Music; the second – an area of established invasive bamboo by the Kingston Hill Pond.

31-07-2017: 6 days left to count butterflies

Part of the nursery team counting butterflies at Knights Park. 
I hope that everyone’s butterfly counts are going well.

The children at the KU nursery have been enjoying doing counts every day, having firmly court the counting bug, they have ventured further a field onto the Knights Park terrace to do counts too :)

The weather during the last few weeks of the count haven’t been the best. If you’ve got time to do another count this week while the weather is warm it would be great to have a backup count before the Big Butterfly Count 2017 finishes on the 6th of August.

Fingers crossed for clear, warm weather for the majority of this week.

All the best

04-07-2017: Biodiversity training and survey events in July - Dragonflies and Butterflies.


We need your help to undertake surveys of our dragonfly and butterfly species around Kingston this summer.

Dragonflies:
To help get surveyors up to speed, a free Dragonfly identification workshop for Kingston and Hogsmill  is being provided by the London Wildlife Trust (LWT) as part of their Water for Wildlife project.

In return for the free training, we are asking people to  to commit to monthly surveys. These often take between 11;00 and 15:00 and take place across weekends and workdays.

There are only 5 spaces left on the course. If you are interested in taking part please email LWT directly on wfw@wildlondon.org.uk for more information and to book your place (event details on LWT website).

19-05-2017: Upcoming Event Kingston's Big Balsam Bash

We are running a big balsam bash on the Hogsmill over half term.
Concentrating on two locations on Wednesday the 31st of May.

Its a free event and anyone can take part, a great event for getting children out and about (they must be accompanied). 
All you need to have a wellington boots/hiking boots, gardening gloves, and long sleeved clothes to minimise stings from stinging nettles. 

18-05-2017: Around Kingston in eight(ish) days

Scavenging and assembling
We've had a busy and varied time so far this May, starting with making our own mini version of the New Town House for invertebrates!

08-03-2017: Fundraising shout outs

Morning all, just wanted to share two fundraising schemes that are circulating for two of the KUBAG volunteers:

1. A local volunteer is seeking help to fund the creation and publication of a leaflet which will reveal the lost orchard heritage of Kingston and apples see the following link for more information: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/alison-fure

2. One of our Kingston Students is undertaking fundraising to enable a team to go to India in the late summer to help teach English to local residents - please see the following link for more information:
https://www.youcaring.com/zuzannazajac-764976 

If either interest you or you are able to help spread the word please share this story with your contacts.

Many thanks

22-02-2017: Events catch-up


The tail end of January and February have been busy busy busy for the Kingston Biodiversity Action Group.

16-02-2017: Events for Student Health and Volunteering Week


As part of the week of events there are two that are coming up that will interest those of you who want to grow plants as well as take photos. 

Overseas volunteering opportunity- Lanner falcons this March/April

One of our Kingston University Students who is on a placement conserving falcons shared this opportunity with our group. 

If you are interested in getting some hands on conservation experience in March and April please see the details below: