When the rest of Groombridge (apart from the bakers and parents of small children) were asleep, a lucky band of us were scanning the darkness for bats last night. Led by James Duncan from Sussex Wildlife trust, and clutching bat-detector devices, we headed down to the banks of the Grom by Groombridge Place. As theContinue reading “Bats about bats!”
Tag Archives: wildlife
2025 Spring surveys. Why do we monitor birdlife?
One of the most effective ways we can understand the health of our local environment is through birdlife surveys. As the RSPB notes, birds are “a vital barometer of the state of nature” (RSPB, 2023). Birds respond quickly to changes in habitat, food availability, and climate—making them excellent indicators of wider environmental conditions. Tracking whichContinue reading “2025 Spring surveys. Why do we monitor birdlife?”
Big Garden Birdwatch 2025
Choose an hour between the 24th and 26 January and record those birds that land in your garden or patch . Last year across the UK more than 600,000 people took part and counted 9.7 million birds. So if you would like to join the largest citizen science project in the world do give itContinue reading “Big Garden Birdwatch 2025”
September news – we’ve been busy!
Wild Verge trial We’ve continued to survey the wild verge outside the parish council offices, and in September made 50 separate plant observations in one morning! We’re now surveying the three sections of the verge individually – so if we found Common Dandelion in all three areas, we noted them three times. But there wereContinue reading “September news – we’ve been busy!”
Volunteers needed to test the River!
Sarah is part of the Ripple Effect team and will be out testing the Grom and upper Medway looking for pollutants, and for signs of wildlife. Will you join her and a band of citizen science volunteers? We’re offering full training in water sampling and invertebrate testing so you need no experience at all, justContinue reading “Volunteers needed to test the River!”
Free nature spotting sheet for Groombridge
Hi everyone, and we hope you’re looking forward to the summer holidays! It’s the perfect chance to get out in nature and enjoy our beautiful village. Don’t worry if you don’t feel you know much about nature – you probably know a lot more than you realise. And we’re here to help. To get youContinue reading “Free nature spotting sheet for Groombridge”
No Mow May
What can you hear outside as you read this? I’ve just stopped to listen. A blackbird’s singing, and a song thrush, a robin and a mass of tits. As I step out of the back door, bees and flies are buzzing everywhere. A hoverfly hangs in the air right in front of me, and aContinue reading “No Mow May”
No Mow May in Groombridge
Do you love mowing your lawn? It’s a chore, isn’t it? How about sitting back for a month and letting it grow? Won’t it get messy? Not in a month. What will people think if my edges are untidy? Why not show you’re taking care by mowing a path through your grass, and cutting theContinue reading “No Mow May in Groombridge”
Wild Groombridge 