Barnes Common @barnescommon.bsky.social · 24/08/2026This exciting community-driven project to rejuvenate this much-loved local open space incorporates a local eco-community hub and café, a redesigned, inclusive playground with water play, a woodland adventure play area, a skate park, food growing and wetland areas. 110
Barnes Common @barnescommon.bsky.social · 24/08/2026Only a few days left to submit your comment on our planning application for the Vine Road Project. We hope many local residents demonstrate their support of the project.    110
Barnes Common @barnescommon.bsky.social · 04/08/2026At the end of July, our conservation volunteers alongside the young people in our Eco-Explorers summer camp helped @londonhogwatch.bsky.social deploy cameras as part of the National Hedgehog Monitoring Programme on Barnes Common. 123
Barnes Common @barnescommon.bsky.social · 09/07/2026Last night we were joined by ecologist Connor Butler who led a queer ecology walk across Barnes Common. Did you know that the Magna Carta was written in ink made from oak galls? That yew trees, although typically dioecious, can change sex?… 171
Barnes Common @barnescommon.bsky.social · 26/06/2026Swifts land in the UK from Africa each year in distinct waves, depending on their age. The 2 and 3-year-old birds that arrive in late May, early June to prospect for nest sites for next year are the ones that we are looking to attract. Do join us if you’d like to have swift boxes on your house. 100
Barnes Common @barnescommon.bsky.social · 18/06/2026Have you ever tasted nettle seeds? And how about dandelion and nipplewort greens? Come along to our growing workshop focused on weeds this Saturday, where we’ll be doing all that, and more. You might be surprised at how flavourful and nutritious weeds can be! 110
Barnes Common @barnescommon.bsky.social · 15/06/2026Thanks to Ben Gritten for this great photo of a Painted Lady butterfly that we saw near the Leg o’Mutton nature reserve on our recent Riverside Walk during London Rivers Week. A butterfly with a fascinating life history...1/3 100
Barnes Common @barnescommon.bsky.social · 09/06/2026Over the last week we have had two break-ins at our office in the Pavilion at Vine Road Recreation Ground. Luckily these events took place at night when no staff were on site, so no one was hurt, but there has been some damage, and several items have been stolen. 100
Barnes Common @barnescommon.bsky.social · 02/06/2026Come join us for a fun, free and creative collage workshop focused on understanding and celebrating biodiversity on Monday the 15th of June from 6pm. 100
Barnes Common @barnescommon.bsky.social · 01/06/2026This small leaf beetle was thought to be extinct in the UK until it was recorded again in Manchester in 2004. Since then, Alder Leaf Beetles have been recorded all across England. Their larvae look like small black caterpillars and they feed on alder leaves. 100
Barnes Common @barnescommon.bsky.social · 01/06/2026In some cases, it’s easy tell the sexes apart, since gravid females are massively bloated, with their conspicuous orange abdomen showing. Their abdomen no longer fits under their wing cases (elytra) as it’s swollen from the large amount of eggs they are carrying inside. 100
Barnes Common @barnescommon.bsky.social · 01/06/2026This time of the year, you can spot mating pairs of Alder Leaf Beetles (Agelastica alni) on alder trees, for example around Barnes Pond. They are 6mm long, a beautiful, metallic blue in colour with a violet reflection. 100
Barnes Common @barnescommon.bsky.social · 29/05/2026Come and explore the Leg o'Mutton, this fantastic small nature reserve on a morning walk on Tuesday 2nd June, led by Veronica Schroter, local resident and Leg o'Mutton committee member. This old Victorian reservoir by the Thames was decommissioned over 60 years ago. 111
Barnes Common @barnescommon.bsky.social · 21/05/2026What a wonderful way to spend a sunny evening! Divya aka @fruitywalks took us on a tour of the fruit trees of Barnes. As well as the apples and pears many of us are familiar with, we saw an established kiwi vine with plenty of young fruits. 100
Barnes Common @barnescommon.bsky.social · 20/05/2026Come and meet us at the @richmondcvs.bsky.social Richmond Volunteer Fair today (Wednesday 20th May) and find out all about our opportunities! This year we have our own stall in the main hall area, where you can meet our staff and volunteers for a chat if you’re interested in volunteering with us. 100
Barnes Common @barnescommon.bsky.social · 19/05/2026We had a 2-person BBC Radio 4 crew join us from The World Tonight show who chatted to Will Scott-Mends, our Senior Conservation Officer, and some of the participants, including our fantastic volunteer Emma Little, who is a London Bat Group Trustee and Leg o’Mutton committee member. 110
Barnes Common @barnescommon.bsky.social · 19/05/2026Thank you to everyone who came to our sold-out bat walk last month. As always, it was fascinating to get a glimpse into the world of these nocturnal mammals...🧵 110
Barnes Common @barnescommon.bsky.social · 12/05/2026Join us at the @bca4barnes.bsky.social Barnes Town Team meeting this Wednesday 13 May at 6.30pm at Barnes Green Centre to see the updated proposed plans for the regeneration of Vine Road Park/Recreation Ground, which includes a skate park, community hub and new playground and waterplay facilities. 110
Barnes Common @barnescommon.bsky.social · 12/05/2026Our young nature discoverers are having a Spring Picnic from 10:30am with our Yaffles Family Nature Club. Bring your own drink and snack, and relax on the Common with us! At the same time, our Chair Mike will lead a Dog Friendly Walk on the Common - come and explore the nature reserve with your dog! 010
Barnes Common @barnescommon.bsky.social · 12/05/2026It’s going to be a busy Saturday for Barnes Common with four different activities taking place across the Common and Vine Road Rec! Please do come along to whichever one you find most interesting. Book all events here: www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/32576892073 110
Barnes Common @barnescommon.bsky.social · 11/05/2026Our summer series of walks, talks and workshops kicks off on 20th May, when Divya Hariramani @fruitywalks will take us on a 'fruity walk' through Barnes. Divya is a renewable energy and sustainability consultant and is a London National Park City Ranger. 111
Barnes Common @barnescommon.bsky.social · 07/05/2026Although the water can look clean, there have been occasional reports of people and dogs feeling unwell after contact. We’d also kindly ask that dogs are kept out of the water if they’ve recently been treated for fleas, as these treatments can be harmful to aquatic wildlife. 120
Barnes Common @barnescommon.bsky.social · 07/05/2026To help care for more sensitive habitats, and to support our ongoing citizen science monitoring, one of the access points to the water has been fenced. Our regular water testing of Beverley Brook continues to show very high levels of E. coli. 110
Barnes Common @barnescommon.bsky.social · 07/05/2026Over the years, we’ve been working hard to improve the brook for our local wildlife. With the new dog beach now open on Barnes Green, we’d love dog owners to make use of this dedicated space to help protect fish and river insect populations. 120
Barnes Common @barnescommon.bsky.social · 07/05/2026Since 2020, we have planted and maintained over 400 metres of hedging on Barnes Common. These hedges are comprised of a traditional mix of trees and shrubs, with the majority being Hawthorn, as it can handle the hot and dry conditions of the Common... 100
Barnes Common @barnescommon.bsky.social · 28/04/2026If you shop at any local Tesco Express, please vote for our After School Growing Club project using the blue tokens and we will receive a grant of £500, £1000 or £1500 from Tesco’s Community Grants Fund! Voting is open in all local Tesco stores until the end of July 2026. 100
Barnes Common @barnescommon.bsky.social · 28/04/2026New plants will be established at five suitable sites, including Barnes Common, across the species’ historic London range. We are hoping this rare plant becomes a permanent feature of our landscape once again. Find out more about the project on our website: barnescommon.org.uk/saving-londo... 000
Barnes Common @barnescommon.bsky.social · 28/04/2026Tower Mustard is a herb assessed as Near Threatened on the Great Britain Red List. Growing to around one metre tall and producing delicate white flowers, Tower Mustard plays an important role in supporting pollinators including native bees, butterflies and rare moths. 100
Barnes Common @barnescommon.bsky.social · 28/04/2026Our volunteers have been planting our Tower Mustard (Turritis glabra) plants on Barnes Common this month. As part of the Tower Mustard Project led by @citizenzoo.bsky.social and @habsandheritage.bsky.social, we have successfully grown these plants from seed 100
Barnes Common @barnescommon.bsky.social · 20/04/2026It was a beautiful sunny day for our Plants for Free workshop on Saturday, part of Capital Growth's #goodtogrow week. There are lots of different propagation methods you can use to grow more plants from what you have already. We looked at seed saving, taking cuttings, layering, dividing and more 100
Barnes Common @barnescommon.bsky.social · 15/04/2026Delighted to find a Water Scorpion (Nepa cinerea) in a sample. Their “tail” is actually a breathing tube which they stick out of the water, like a snorkel. They don’t sting but they can bite, hunting tadpoles & small fish. We released it back into the river, along w/ the other animals in our samples 020
Barnes Common @barnescommon.bsky.social · 15/04/2026Our Riverfly volunteers this weekend got a little local help from a pair of Mandarin Ducks (Aix galericulata) who paddled past the session. At these monthly sessions, counting the number of certain invertebrates gives us valuable information about the health of Beverley Brook @riverflies.bsky.social 142
Barnes Common @barnescommon.bsky.social · 08/04/2026The herald of spring is the butter-coloured Brimstone, another that survives winter as an adult. (This is the male, the topmost butterfly in the first photo. The female is a delicate lime green.) One of our rarer visitors, the Clouded Yellow is in the second photo. 000
Barnes Common @barnescommon.bsky.social · 25/03/2026Please support the fantastic Rosa who is running 10K at Kew The Run this weekend to raise funds for Barnes Common! Here is the link to her fundraising page: www.justgiving.com/page/rosa-jf... 011
Barnes Common @barnescommon.bsky.social · 24/03/2026Wouldn't it be great if we could get plants for our garden without spending money? Join our upcoming workshop, Plants for Free on Saturday 18th April and find out how to make it happen! Book here (£2 plus booking fee) www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/workshop-p... 001
Barnes Common @barnescommon.bsky.social · 18/03/2026Families with children aged 3-8 years, join us this Saturday for Yaffles Family Nature Club! We'll search for signs of spring like tree blossom and spring flowers across the Common. Our Yaffles Nature Club happens every month from October to May. Book: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/yaffles-fa... 100
Barnes Common @barnescommon.bsky.social · 18/03/2026Our friends at Mortlake Community Association are looking for an experienced Interim Director to join their vibrant & inclusive organisation. The purpose of the role is to maintain their growing profile as a community hub & support their activities www.mortlakecommunityassociation.org.uk/vacancies/ 000
Barnes Common @barnescommon.bsky.social · 09/03/2026It was a lovely afternoon for our after school club last week! We planted some first early potatoes. The Montessori students also planted some, so we're expecting a great crop. Our after school club runs on term time Mondays, from 3:30pm: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/after-scho... 000
Barnes Common @barnescommon.bsky.social · 04/03/2026The Duke of Edinburgh students were busy this weekend. They planted saplings to fill holes in the hedges on the Green. Then they put up this chestnut paling on either side for protection. They also erected willow fences around the daffodils. Spring is definitely on the way! 000
Barnes Common @barnescommon.bsky.social · 03/03/2026Our March newsletter is out! Read it on the link below, and become our Friend to receive our monthly emails - visit our website to join us! mailchi.mp/80d1ff764700... Thanks for the great photo of this Chiffchaff to Andrew Wilson! 010
Barnes Common @barnescommon.bsky.social · 18/02/2026We are delighted to announce that we are working with Citizen Zoo and Habitats & Heritage on protecting and restoring Tower Mustard (Turritis glabra), a species threatened across the UK and one of London’s rarest plants. 100
Barnes Common @barnescommon.bsky.social · 16/02/2026Thanks to funding from the Big Give fundraiser, we were able to purchase several “Extractigators” specialist tools designed to remove encroaching saplings from the acid grassland. These have proved very popular with volunteers, making the work far easier (and kinder on backs!) than using a mattock. 000
Barnes Common @barnescommon.bsky.social · 16/02/2026Our conservation volunteers have been busy last month. They worked on coppicing/pollarding willows at Leg O’Mutton, creating glades & dead hedges on Barnes and East Sheen Commons’ to improve woodland structure to benefit wildlife, and helping to restore the lowland acid grassland on Barnes Common. 100
Barnes Common @barnescommon.bsky.social · 12/02/2026Looking for family activities for the half term or after school? We've got plenty going on, from family growing sessions to our Yaffles Family Nature Club - book on our website to secure your place! www.eventbrite.co.uk/cc/family-ac... 000
Barnes Common @barnescommon.bsky.social · 10/02/2026We are delighted to share the news that our SmartRivers, Beverley Brook citizen science volunteer group won the SmartRivers Group of the Year 2025 Award! Read more here: barnescommon.org.uk/our-smartriv... 010
Barnes Common @barnescommon.bsky.social · 09/02/2026A big thank you to all the people who helped make this happen: our lovely volunteers and cake bakers; the fantastic @ageukrichmond.bsky.social Patch Ukulele Group and our amazing wassail master James Lloyd Pegg and his Minstrel, Joe. 100
Barnes Common @barnescommon.bsky.social · 09/02/2026Thank you for coming to our Wassail on Saturday! We were delighted that so many of you took part in our community event, enjoying the walk through the woods, the singing and the music, and toasting the trees with hot mulled apple juice and cider. 100
Barnes Common @barnescommon.bsky.social · 09/02/2026Thank you for coming to our Wassail on Saturday! We were delighted that so many of you took part in our community event, enjoying the walk through the woods, the singing and the music, and toasting the trees with hot mulled apple juice and cider. 110
Barnes Common @barnescommon.bsky.social · 05/02/2026Some of our Friends sent us questions about the Barnes Green project after our latest update. Here we explain why the Green was recently flooded (hint: it involved a large branch at Ashlone Wharf), and how the new river channel works to alleviate flooding barnescommon.org.uk/why-the-gree... 010
Barnes Common @barnescommon.bsky.social · 04/02/2026Our February newsletter is out! Read about our upcoming Nature Journaling walk and workshop, the Barnes Green project, and how we use our new 'Extractigators' here: us12.campaign-archive.com?u=23dbf39897... 000