Category Archives: Uncategorized

We’ve been deeply shocked to discover that the Grom is full of raw sewage. It’s not a little bit of sewage, either – even when there hasn’t been heavy rain, Southern Water is pumping sewage for hours and hours. How do we know? The Upper Medway Sewage Action Group have been testing the Medway andContinue reading “Sewage in the Grom”

Buzzards have become a more common sight in Groombridge in recent years soaring and circling high on the thermals. In many parts of the country you can frequently see another graceful bird of prey – the Red Kite. It was saved from national extinction by a long running dedicated protection effort. These agile raptors areContinue reading “Red Kites and Buzzards over Groombridge”

On a chilly February Saturday morning where else would you rather be than shuffling up and down a muddy verge next to a busy road??? Ok, it doesn’t sound much fun but our keen band of volunteers really did get pretty excited about the range of plants we found when we undertook the latest surveyContinue reading “Groombridge verge is going to be blooming marvellous!”

On Saturday 18 February at 10.00am we’ll be carrying out our first survey of 2023 on our wild verge trial site outside the Parish Council office in Groombridge. Will you come and join us? We’ll show you how to use the iNaturalist app to record what you see and would love to hear your GroombridgeContinue reading “Wild Verge survey – come and help us!”

This year’s event takes place on 27th — 29th January 2023. Spend just one hour watching and recording the birds that land in your garden (or any local green space) , then send your results to the RSPB. Full details and help with identification can be found on the RSPB website. You never know whatContinue reading “Big Garden Birdwatch 2023”

Now that the trees and hedges are thick with leaves, it’s much harder to identify birds by seeing them – so experienced bird spotters listen out for birds’ songs and calls to tell them what’s around. You can do it too – and the trick is to learn one or two birds at a time.Continue reading “How to identify bird song”

Are there butterflies in your garden this year? Naturalists all over the UK are worried that there are far fewer butterflies this year than last. Maybe they’re delayed? Or affected by the weather? Or struggling to find food plants? Or unable to cope with pesticides? You can can help the experts to find out what’sContinue reading “Big Butterfly Count”

With the support of the Parish Council, Wild Groombridge will trial a wildflower verge by the car park outside the Parish Council office in Groombridge. Here are Parish Administrator Stephanie Chapman and Wild Groombridge volunteer Jamuna Jolana Amara getting excited about what might grow over the years when we cut the grass much less. ThisContinue reading “Wildflower verge trial”

This summer visitor is increasingly rare these days – its red listed ( UK Birds of Conservation Concern) but I was delighted to see one in Groombridge last week. It is one of the last migrants arriving in May or June and may well stay until October. Spotted flycatchers often fly from a branch orContinue reading “Spotted Flycatcher”