Jane Nower
- 15-Apr-2008 - Officers from the Environment
Agency are investigating a pollution incident
that has turned the Pyl Brook in Morden
white along its length.
The Environment Agency
received calls from several members of the
public yesterday, 14 April 2008, who reported
that the brook had turned a milky colour.
Today,15 April 2008, the pollution has spread
four or five miles along the Pyl Brook and
has reached the Beverly Brook, which runs
through Richmond Park.
Officers are still on
site and are currently investigating the
causes of the pollution. Although officers
do not think that the substance is toxic,
a team of ecology experts will join environment
officers, to monitor the impact of the pollution
on wildlife in the area.
A clear up operation
is also underway on site, with Environment
Agency efforts focusing on drainage systems
in the area. Merton Council is assisting
with the clean up, which involves using
tankers to suck up the pollutant.
Environment officer
Peter Ehmann said: ““We spent yesterday
investigating the causes of the discolouration,
and we have made good progress tracing the
source. It is important that we clear the
remains of the spillage from the drainage
system otherwise the effects of this problem
will last for much longer, as rain will
continue to wash the substance downstream.
The spillage is clearly having a big impact
on the water and much of it has settled
out on the bed of the brook. Our biodiversity
team are going to examine the area to see
whether it has damaged local wildlife.
“We are very grateful
to everyone who got in touch with us to
alert us to this issue – members of the
public are our eyes and ears on the ground,
and it is vital that anyone who sees this
sort of thing contacts us on out hotline
so that we can assess the environmental
impact and take appropriate measures to
reduce it if possible.”
Members of the public
can report pollution incidents by calling
the Environment Agency’s emergency hotline
on 0800 80 70 60.
Photographs are available
on request
+ More
Really Wild time for
Thames Barrier garden visitors
Jane Nower - 14-Apr-2008
- TV presenter and naturalist Nick Baker
will lead a bug hunt near the Thames Barrier
on Thursday 17 April 2008, at 2pm, to officially
open the Thames Barrier Learning Centre’s
new wildlife garden.
Nick, 35, star of the
Really Wild Show, Animal Planet and his
own programme ‘Nick Baker’s Weird Creatures’
has travelled worldwide investigating the
lives of the exotic mammals, insects, amphibians
and birds. However, his lifelong passion
is for creepy crawlies and from the age
of eight he often searched out spiders,
ladybirds, frogs and toads, keeping them
in jam jars, tanks, buckets and ice-cream
tubs.
As he grew older, his
enthusiasm for squirmy things continued,
and whilst at the University of Exeter he
helped start an educational youth project
known as the ‘Bug Club’ for the Royal Entomological
Society of London, which is still running
to this day.
The garden at the renovated
site near the Thames Barrier was created
on disused industrial land using £50,000
of Environment Agency and Heritage Lottery
Fund money. Over the last year, the space
has blossomed into an urban oasis packed
with flowers, trees and creatures and now
at the wildlife garden’s grand opening,
guests will be able to take part in an afternoon
of free activities.
Janine Walker, a teaching
assistant at the Thames Barrier Learning
Centre said: “Visitors will have the opportunity
to learn about their environment and the
importance of sustainability and wildlife
by looking at different species and habitats.
They can get their hands dirty in the garden,
searching for bugs and beasties under log
piles and stones, as well as feeding leftovers
into our wormery. They can even have a go
at ‘pooting’ – which is where you suck a
bug up a tube in order to get a closer look!
We will also be making ‘bug art’ out of
recycled materials, pond dipping and mixing
up treats for birds using lard and bird
seed.”
Naturalist Nick Baker
added:
“Even as an adult I
like to turn my own garden upside down looking
for all manner of mini-beasts. I even have
a small colony of woodlice in a plastic
box, just sitting on my desk, as I love
to watch them going about their business.
This garden offers a lovely safe space where
children can learn all about ecology and
nature on a small hands-on scale, while
connecting it to bigger issues like climate
change and flooding with the Thames Barrier
on the river behind us also serving as a
visual reminder of those issues. It is important
that the next generation understands the
actions we can all take to adapt our lives
and protect our world.”
Parents and children
are encouraged to come down and enjoy the
free activities at the Learning Centre on
Thursday afternoon.
Ends
Notes for editors:
Nick Baker will be taking
part in a photo call with visitors to the
wildlife garden at 2pm, and will be available
for interview.
For more information
on the Thames Barrier Learning Centre or
wildlife garden please contact Jane Nower
on 0118 953 5868. Please come to 1 Unity
Way Woolwich London SE18 5NJ for the grand
opening.
For more information
on Nick Baker, please see his website www.nickbaker.tv
or contact Jo Sarsby, Personal Management
on 0117 9738589.
Information Centre
The Information Centre
is open to the public and is ideal for all
the family. It features a working model
of the Barrier and a video that shows its
construction, operation and how it protects
London from flooding. Colourful displays
explain the wildlife and environment of
the River Thames. We also have a cafe that
offers spectacular views of the Barrier
and there's a picnic and play area for children.
Admission:
£2.00 adults, £1.50 senior citizens,
£1.00 children.
Open seven days a week.
(closed Christmas and New Year's day. Please
telephone for details.)
Seasonal Opening Times:
April - September 10:30am to 4:30pm
October - March 11:00am to 3:30pm
Learning Centre
The Learning Centre
is an educational centre for school groups.
We offer activities based around environmental
issues. We aim to provide fun, interactive
packages that follow the National Curriculum
for Key Stages 2 and 3 for a range of subjects
including Science and Geography. A Heritage
Lottery Grant has helped us increase our
range of popular activities by creating
a wildlife garden, which provides a safe
and secure space to learn more about the
natural environment. Please contact us for
prices and more details on school visits.
Holiday activities
During the school holidays, we offer a range
of fun activities with an environmental
theme. All children aged 3-12 are welcome.
Please call us for more information and
to book a place.
Getting there
The nearest train station
is Charlton (a 15-minute walk or buses 177
and 180). The nearest tube station is North
Greenwich (a 40-minute walk or buses 472
or 161). Parking on-site costs £1.50.
+ More
Environment Agency invites
community to comment on flood plan
Lucy Harding - 15-Apr-2008
- The Environment Agency is inviting people
concerned about river flooding in Sussex
to help identify how it can be managed for
the next 100 years. It is developing the
River Ouse Catchment Flood Management Plan
and the draft is now available for public
consultation.
Catchment Flood Management
Plans are large-scale plans that explore
and identify how flood can be managed long-term.
The consultation phase allows anyone with
an interest in this area of Sussex, which
includes Turners Hill, Haywards Heath, Uckfield,
Lewes, Newhaven and Seaford to contribute
to the plan. All comments must be received
by 7 July 2008.
Andrew Pearce, Environment
Agency Kent & East Sussex Area Flood
Risk Manager, said:
“This report has been compiled in partnership
with a number of organisations to further
understand the flood risk in the River Ouse
catchment. An important part of this process
is public consultation and we encourage
residents of this area to express their
views and concerns. All contributions and
comments are welcome.
“Following a three-month consultation period,
we will finalise the best management options
for the area, and adopt a set of policies
that will enable us to manage flood risk
effectively and reduce flood risk for people,
property and the environment.”
Members of the public
can inspect copies of the document at the
following libraries: Haywards Heath Library,
Lewes Library, Newhaven Library, Peacehaven
Library, Ringmer Library, Seaford Library,
Saltdean Library and Uckfield Library. A
copy is also available on our website at
http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk
Interested parties wishing
to comment on the report should respond
to the following postal address or email
by 7 July 2008:
Regional Strategic and Development Planning,
Environment Agency, Guildbourne House, Chatsworth
Road, Worthing, West Sussex, BN11 1LD or
Malcolm.ward@environment.agency.gov.uk
To find out about our
flood warning service and how you can protect
yourself and your home call Floodline on
0845 988 1188 or visit: www.environment-agency.gov.uk/floodline.
