main content Birds-eye view of herons at Kelsey Park

Habitat improvement works to ‘heron island’ at Kelsey Park, Beckenham, have helped secure the future of it’s resident bird population. £8,000 of funding from the Sita Trust has been used to protect the island, which is a valuable home to the borough’s only heronry. Visitors to the annually held ‘heron watch’ were able to get a close-up view of these fascinating birds and their nesting chicks.

“This restoration project has allowed us to protect this important colony’s habitat. Heron watch is a great opportunity for the public to see these elegant birds in action and at the same time learn more about their ecology. We hope our visitors went home inspired to create their own spaces for nature.” said Nick Hopkins, Countryside and Parks Officer.

The grey heron is the largest European heron which eats a diet of mainly fish. So far this season, there have been 30 ‘active’ nests on the island with approximately 45 chicks. The chicks will leave the nests after 9-10 weeks.

Funding was obtained for practical measures to prevent erosion of the island habitat. The restoration project has included the use of coir matting planted with aquatic plants such as Yellow flag iris to act as a soil stabiliser. A number of trees were also planted to act as a future home for the heron population.

Heron watch was run in conjunction with the Friends of Kelsey Park and members of the Bromley Royal Society for Protection of Birds (RSPB) local group. Both groups were on-hand to assist visitors in using telescopes and binoculars to view the herons. More information about joining the Friends of Kelsey Park group is available here or call 020 8313 4471.

ENDS

Notes to editors:

• Heron watch was held on Saturday 5 April 2008. Over 400 visitors attended the event.
• Bromley was awarded £8,000 of funding in 2007 through the Sita Trust's Enriching Nature funding programme. This was part of a larger successful bid of £24,000 in conjunction with the London Borough of Wandsworth and the Royal Parks. Further information is available at the Sita Trust's website (http://www.sitatrust.org.uk/)
• Herons have been nesting at Kelsey Park from 1993.

For media enquiries, please contact Amy Bevins, Strategy Development Officer, on 020 8313 4738, or Nick Hopkins, Countryside and Parks Officer on 01689 862 815, or email amy.bevins@bromley.gov.uk