Chislehurst Commons

A cooling sight on a hot day! The delicate flowers of the lime tree are out across the common at the moment, attracting pollinators with their sweet scent 🌸🦋🐝

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The recent rain, and warmth has certainly made work for our volunteers! Today’s task was clearing back foliage that was encroaching on the pavement along St. Paul’s Cray Road. As this is a busy road , real team work was needed to ensure that the job was done efficiently and safely - cutting, raking the cuttings into piles, disposing of them in the woodlands where they will rot down, digging out earth and debris from the edges of the pavement, and sweeping up any remaining leaves and soil. Well done, all - another great day’s work!

Visit Chislehurst Chislehurst Society Chislehurst Rotary Club Chislehurst Matters Friends of Chislehurst Recreation Ground Chislehurst Creates Churches Together in Chislehurst and Bickley

Geese graze peacefully on Centre Common. Last week it was buzzing with visitors to the Motor Show. This Saturday it is the site of the Rotary Summer Fair. We’ll be there with a display and photos and cards to sell. Please come and see us - we have so much to show you!

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Today our volunteers have cleared silt and debris from the ditch on the common along Prince Imperial Road. Hard work! This ditch takes rainwater from the road drains and channels it into Prickend Pond. Following discussions with the London Borough of Bromley, their contractors have been along to clear several of the local drains, so it was a priority for us to ensure that our ditch was ready to receive any rain that may fall.
There is also a ditch along Centre Common Road, and that collects rainwater from higher up on the common, bringing with it silt and dead leaves. A leaky dam made from natural materials has been constructed. This lets water through gradually, so it has time to drop much of the debris. This water also makes its way into Prickend Pond. A great job, Team! Now let”s hope we get some rain!

Visit Chislehurst Chislehurst Society Chislehurst Rotary Club Chislehurst Matters Friends of Chislehurst Recreation Ground Chislehurst Creates Churches Together in Chislehurst and Bickley

Jonathan and Toby were hard at work today preparing this site for the Motor Show on Sunday. This is always a fantastic event for Chislehurst, held partly on the common, and we will be there with a tent and a display. Please come along and have a chat with us!

Visit Chislehurst Chislehurst Society Chislehurst Rotary Club Chislehurst Matters Friends of Chislehurst Recreation Ground Chislehurst Creates Churches Together in Chislehurst and Bickley Friends of Belmont Open Space - FOBOS

Ox-eye daisies with their bold white flowers are springing up across the common, a cheerful sight on a summer’s day. An alternative name is moon daisy because they seem to glow in the evening light.
This photo was taken on the grassland by the Rambler’s Rest. The large yellow centre of the ox-eye daisy attracts a variety of pollinators.

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IN 2025, PRICKEND POND DRIED OUT FOR THE FIRST TIME IN LIVING MEMORY

And, with the current spell of hot weather, following a very dry April, it is nearly dry again. We know that this has caused a lot of concern, and raised lots of questions, so we have put together some FAQs to try to answer some of these.

* The pond is an old gravel working that collects water when it rains. It has no feeder stream.

* The situation is the same for all similar local ponds.

IS THERE ANY WAY TO PREVENT IT DRYING OUT AGAIN?

Could water be added? When there is no rain, water is precious and has to be conserved for essential use.

* Would it help if the pond was dredged? Dredging is costly and could increase leakage through the pond base. It has not been successful in the past.
* Could water be pumped from a borehole?
Even if an underground source could be found, extraction would exceed Environment Agency limits.

Could it be lined? The pond would still be subject to evaporative water loss.

SO, WHAT CAN WE DO?
The main focus for Trustees and volunteers is getting as much water as possible into the pond when it does rain by:

● monitoring water level responses to rainfall and weather patterns.
● collecting as much rainfall as possible from higher areas of the common and surrounding roads.
● Surveying local drains to find out which need clearing out, working in conjunction with the London Borough of Bromley.
● keeping feeder ditches clear, including the main inlet ditch that traps sediments and pollutants.
However, we recognise that ultimately, with climate change, the fate of the pond will depend on the weather!



Visit Chislehurst Chislehurst Society Chislehurst Rotary Club Chislehurst Matters Friends of Chislehurst Recreation Ground Chislehurst Creates Churches Together in Chislehurst and Bickley

A huge thank you to everyone who came along yesterday to our Exhibition and Social Afternoon!
We had a great time meeting you all and hearing how much the common land in Chislehurst is appreciated. Many thanks also to the volunteers who helped to set up and take down, and were in attendance all afternoon. 💚🌳💚
Visit Chislehurst Chislehurst Society Chislehurst Rotary Club Chislehurst Matters Friends of Chislehurst Recreation Ground Chislehurst Creates Churches Together in Chislehurst and Bickley St Nicholas Church, Chislehurst

Everyone invited 🌳🎊🌳

On Saturday 16th May, we are hosting an Exhibition and Social Afternoon at St. Nicholas Village Hall, Church Lane (across the road from The Bull pub) showcasing the 180 acres of greenspace at the centre of Chislehurst. We”ll be there from 2.30 - 5.30, so pop in and see us, and enjoy refreshments while you browse!
Chislehurst Society Chislehurst Rotary Club Visit Chislehurst Chislehurst Matters Friends of Chislehurst Recreation Ground Chislehurst Creates Churches Together in Chislehurst and Bickley St Nicholas Church, Chislehurst