Grey squirrels

[Jim Ford]

I was at Kew Gardens yesterday (20th July).

Normally I see lots of them, but didn't see one.

Has there been a cull of grey squirrels at Kew recently?

Jim

[jenjen21]

I went last week and saw a couple, don't know if they have actually culled any.
I was more depressed about not seeing the golden pheasants there like I usually do, but then I haven't been there for a couple of years so they might have done something to them

[Jim Ford]

I also didn't notice any pheasants, just a peacock and hen and a couple of guinea fowl.

Kew is a fearsome price now - it cost me £28 for two concession tickets, plus car parking.

It used to be a cheap day out for Londoners - the cost was relatively trivial. You don't really see many you could identify as working class families. They are mainly tourists and middle class.

Jim

[aeshna5]

Kew has long had a policy of culling Grey Squirrels, though I'm not sure how frequently this is undertaken.

I think you'll also find less Magpies there than surounding parks, etc.

[jenjen21]

Sounds like you had more luck finding wildlife than me, apart from a few blackbirds and the squirrels, and someone I was with saw the Robin in one of the Glasshouses, there wasn't that much.

I manage to get in more cheaply, my friend had a two for one offer if we all got travelcards to get there, so I actually got in free. Although that I had to buy the group ice cream later to make up for it, weird for a dairy free person

[Malcolm Banks]

Originally Posted by Jim Ford

I also didn't notice any pheasants, just a peacock and hen and a couple of guinea fowl.

Kew is a fearsome price now - it cost me £28 for two concession tickets, plus car parking.

It used to be a cheap day out for Londoners - the cost was relatively trivial. You don't really see many you could identify as working class families. They are mainly tourists and middle class.

Jim

Wot no peasants, and exorbitant entry costs (I paid 1 penny in the late 60s, but I did work for an associated institute) what is the world coming to!!

Seriously though, the spectrum (and possibly incidence) of viruses causing disease in red and grey squirrels is increasing in UK but I have not heard of any localised diseases in Kew greys. The culling suggestion seems to be the most credible, since they can damage young plants particularly.
M

[loripo]

Only just seen this which is why the delay in posting. I was at Kew a couple of weeks ago, definately no peasants at that price! The last time I went it was on a guest ticket and I didnt think about the price. I was very disappointed at the lack of birds. I saw the peacocks,one family of mute swans and a desultary group of geese by the round pond, bar headed, egyptian and canadas. Saw some dragonflies and that was all and I had been told the place was heaving with wildlife.

[aeshna5]

Originally Posted by loripo

Only just seen this which is why the delay in posting. I was at Kew a couple of weeks ago, definately no peasants at that price! The last time I went it was on a guest ticket and I didnt think about the price. I was very disappointed at the lack of birds. I saw the peacocks,one family of mute swans and a desultary group of geese by the round pond, bar headed, egyptian and canadas. Saw some dragonflies and that was all and I had been told the place was heaving with wildlife.

You must have gone on a bad day or not visited the wilder parts. In winter there's a good selection of wildfowl (+ on adjacent stretch of river), finch flocks, Redwings, usual woodland birds (2spp woodpecker easily found, Nuthatch, Treecreeper, 4 spp tit, Goldcrest, Stock dove, though Tawny Owl present but not easy to find). Also Sparrowhawk + Kestrel.

In spring good numbers of breeding Chiffchaff + Blackcap, Hobby regular.

[loripo]

It was very busy that day. I'll have another look at the map and see what I missed Thanks