Brian up the hill

Ice melting at the North Pole would make no difference to the sea-level as it is floating on water, which it displaces. Land ice, such as that found in Greenland and Scandinavia, would, of course cause a rise in sea-level. Same applies to the continental ice on Antarctica but not the ice flows offshore. It’s also worth remembering that as the sea warms, it will expand so creating another cause of sea-levels rising. This can increase the salinity of ground water near the cost so rendering it unsuitable for drinking unless processed in desalination plants, which use enormous amounts of energy. So, given the complex web of cause and effect with the climate emergency, there is never a simple answer.

It looks like the entrance to the Wood from the eastern side of Cox’s Walk/Lapsewood Walk is still open. Not sure is it will close in the future but still ok for access today.

For those the many who use Dulwich and Sydenham Hill Woods, be aware that from today, access via Cox’s Walk will be closed from the Grove Tavern entrance. This is to allow heavy machinery to move along Cox’s Walk to the bridge which is being rebuilt. It looks from the attached map that this applies also to the Lapsewood Walk entrance, where it seems that the steps down will be closed from the seat on the corner to the kissing gate on the eastern side of the bridge. This means that entry to the Wood can be made only from Crescent Wood Road, Grange Lane and Low Cross Wood Lane. The bridge reconstruction is scheduled to be completed in March. Project Notification Cox's Walk Footbridge Refurbishment.pdf

And another! My water bill is about 35-40% of what it would have been had I still been paying water rates. As to activation, although a few years ago now, I seem to remember that I was under the impression that activation would happen automatically. After a few months of nothing, I contacted Thames Water who said I had to request activation. Don’t ask me why they didn’t make that clear from the outset! However, the money paid in water rates was used against my account so the first year’s charges were negligible.

As I understand it business rates are set by central government. Half of the money raised goes to the council, the other half to the Treasury to be redistributed as local government grants, allegedly.

It was a mess long before Southwark took back the contract.

Mulumbu must be in a very privileged area of Lewisham! I’m in LBL, just over the border from Southwark and we’ve lost many street trees over the years and they have never been replaced. In think Lewisham have a stake in the tarmac industry. Out comes the tree, in plops the tarmac! I am impressed with the care and comprehensive planting of street trees in Southwark, well the southern end at least, as that is my own experience. I do agree with Malumbu’s complaint about Lewisham pavements.

When using the Find a Walk-in COVID vaccination point, don’t use the Age Range filter as it seems to send you far away. The Medicos Pharmacy next to the Jenner Health Centre on Stanstead Rd. and the chemist in Croxley Rd., West Dulwich are both offering boosters. Otherwise, yes, there seem to be plenty in New Cross/Lewisham area and Brixton/Tulse Hill/ Norwood but a bit sparse around Dulwich. And yes, I had my COVID booster on Monday morning by walking into the Medicos Pharmacy. No queue and fast, friendly and efficient.

This might be interesting for those who enjoy the local nature reserves and those who haven’t discovered them yet…..

Just to let those who maybe interested know that this Sunday is the Sydenham Wood Open Day, 11:00-15:00. Activities include: Pond dipping (11:00-12:30 and 13:30-14:30) Bug hunting (as above) Childrens’ crafts (11:00-15:00) Face painting unfortunately cancelled as the face painter can no longer make it. Tree trail (all day) Caterpillar carving Cake stall.

Second video 5;01, doesn’t he jump the lights, having just criticised another cyclist for stopping on the crossing? Physician heal thyself!

Yesterday, traffic lights were in place and contraflow operating on Forest Hill Rd.

Get ready for Forest Hill Road to be closed off. A serious leak has developed just north of the Watson General Telegraph pub. Numerous potholes in road surface between the leak and Ryedale. Thames Water might get round to doing something by the summer….perhaps…..maybe.

Thanks New Wave, Yes, silly me, I might have known the root cause was Wrexit.

Given the number of stations in the gym which have been taped off for repair, and the fact they don’t seem to get repaired, it looks like Everyone Active have given up on DLC already.

Alex_b is right. There are signs in the Wood asking people not to allow their dogs off the lead during nesting season and hardly anyone complies. There are notices drawing attention as to why certain conservation strategies have been carried out but there has to be limit as to how many are desirable. As the Wood is a nature reserve and an important one, it would be undesirable and self defeating to have too many notices scattered around. Ultimately it is down to individual responsibility, however, frequent articles in weekend supplements extolling the virtues of foraging certainly don’t help.

Yes, foraging in Sydenham Hill Wood can be one of the problems faced in conservation. The holly berries are a valuable food source for birds, especially in cold spells like the one approaching. Taking the branches with berries deprives them of the food when they need it most. Most of what is being taken will end up in the bin and landfill. Holly is coppiced for use in the Wood but only the male holly which doesn’t produce berries. Buying holly from a sustainable and reputable source would be much better. There is a similar problem in spring when areas of wild garlic are trampled and stripped of much of that plant. It would be nice if people took the time to find out what impact their actions have.

Sainsbury’s in DKH has a cocktails section with gomme syrup along with grenadine.

I?m afraid that I don?t think James is being fair. When Khan became Mayor, TfL?s budget had already been screwed up by dear old Boris, who not only quadrupled its debt to over ?7 billion but also supported and agreed to George Osborne?s removal of the government financial support it had been receiving. This left London as the only western capital which received no support from central government for its public transport. In fact, I believe that before COVID hit, the debt had started to be reduced. The instruction to work from home, as we all know, destroyed the business model of TfL along with the rail franchises and other public transport undertakings. The DfT has given support to TfL through the pandemic but it has consistently failed to offer a settlement which would allow for future planning. The present settlement runs out in a couple of weeks and still nothing has been decided. Most other developed countries, including the USA are investing in public transport as part of a post COVID ?green? recovery, however, the UK is notable in its failure to do so. As for Crossrail, the budget and schedule were already slipping before Khan?s tenure but the contractors were unwilling to admit this and the Department of Transport, under Failing Grayling did not hold them to account. It?s also true that unforeseen difficulties caused costs to rise, especially at Bond Street. It?s worth remembering that Khan had promised to freeze fares as part of his manifesto, so when he won, it was to be expected that he should do just that. It?s not such a radical idea after all. Luxembourg has made all its public transport free, Austria has just introduced an annual public transport pass costing ?365 and Germany a monthly rail pass for ?9. The UK, which hosted COP 26 last autumn and which committed itself to tackling the climate emergency, is the only major European nation to be making cuts to public transport and making cheaper, high polluting transport like air and road. James really should place the blame for TfL?s financial state, along with cuts to public transport, where it belongs. Well and truly in the lap of this government.

I hope you will be able to see the attached poster for the Sydenham Hill Wood, Spring in the Wood Day on Sunday 8th May.

Yes, brimstones are some of the earliest butterflies to emerge.

Re Angel Upholstery, I can second that. Five years ago, they reupholstered a pair of 1930s armchairs and did a superb job.

A book has been published about the Great North Wood, the largest fragments of which remaining are Sydenham Hill Wood and Dulwich Wood. Anyone who knows and loves these woods might well be interested in reading this fascinating account of how important they are and have been, to London. https://sandstonepress.com/books/the-wood-that-built-london

Levelling up always meant levelling down!

Be careful to steer clear of Lloyd?s Pharmacy. I made an appointment at Northcross Rd branch to have the flu jab only to have them send me an email a week later thanking me for letting them know I had cancelled. I hadn?t! Fearing some sort of data breach I went in to find out what was going on. The pharmacist told me she had cancelled due to there being no trained pharmacist available to do the vaccination. She said I had to go back and book again online. I said I thought that was an unprofessional and shoddy way to treat customers. Foolishly I made another appointment at the branch in Sainsbury?s DKH, had it confirmed and heard nothing more. However, when I turned up at the appointed time, I was told that they weren?t doing the flu jabs and that I was the third person who had come expecting to have it. They are still advertising the service but I?d say, if you want the flu jab, they are the ones to avoid. All in all a shambolic and completely unprofessional attitude by Lloyds Online. I have complained and await a reply, however, I won?t hold my breath.