Keston Bog | Water for Wildlife Project

London Wildlife Trust
Our services
London Wildlife Trust | 2019 | London

Keston Bog

idverde worked in partnership with London Wildlife Trust as a part of their water for wildlife project. The project saw our team undertake work to restore the Keston Bog and improve biodiversity in the area. 

More projects for London Wildlife Trust

As part of Volunteer Day, we are showcasing some of the volunteering activities our team has undertaken to improve biodiversity within key areas of the UK. 

One volunteering project we would like to highlight is Keston Bog, which saw our team undertake work to restore the area in partnership with London Wildlife Trust. The project, originally undertaken in 2019, has had a huge impact on biodiversity in the area and will continue to do so in the future.

Keston Bog supports the richest bog flora of any in Greater London containing several species of sphagnum and the only place in London where bog asphodel is found. This area forms a part of the Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and has formally been studied and documented by Charles Darwin. It is one of only two true bogs in London and one of six significant sphagnum communities in London.

Over the winter season of 2018-19, the opportunity arose to work in partnership with London Wildlife Trust as a part of their water for wildlife project. The water for wildlife project is a project which focuses on the recording of Odonata (Dragonflies and damselflies) and the habitats/locations in which they are found across London contributing towards a London atlas. Winter is a time when such recording cannot be carried out so this is a valuable opportunity for the project to assist the restoration of key wetland habitats for Odonata of which the bog is one.

The joint work saw the combined work between London Wildlife Trust staff and volunteers alongside idverde led volunteers (Bromley Countryside Volunteers and friends of Keston Common) to carry out work to improve/restore the habitat for bio-diversity in accordance with the management plan for the site and RSPB advice, provided to support the work needed to restore the bog.

The work days saw great success with tasks being carried out including attacking out of Molina and Juncus sp. to reduce its dominance, open water creation, scrub control and reduction of the tree line.

All of these tasks allow for more light into the bog to allow the plant community to develop and control the dominance of stronger plants. In addition, this work also contributes to preventing the bog from drying out (desiccation).

The project has made a lasting impression on the bog and in addition, the collaborative work has allowed site managers from idverde to communicate and share solutions/learning with other site managers of similar habitats.