London Wetland Centre - 27th Oct

[davidc]

Would anyone be interested in a visit to the Wetland Centre on Saturday 27th October?

Getting there - I've found the trains are perfectly fine. From East Croydon > Clapham Junction > Barnes (or Barnes Bridge), then either walk or catch a bus to the entrance road for the Wetland Centre.

Is anyone interested?

I suggest we arrive for opening at 9.30am and I personally will need to be back in Croydon about 4pm, the park stays open until 5pm.

Depending on how people are willing to travel, I suggest we either meet in the entrance area for E.Croydon station at 8am or as a final group just inside the centre itself. I also like to treat myself to breakfast from the nearby Pret a Manger beside E.Croydon station so if people want me to do a bulk croissant order, I can set up a list

Anyone interested please let me know - I'll shout it out on this coming Wednesday too.

In terms of gear, I recommend the longest telephotos you have available, plus macro lenses in case you like chasing dragonfly
I enjoyed watching the otters for literally hours!

[gcluer]

I am definitely interested

Graham

[Mike Farley]

Count me in.

Meeting at East Croydon Station and travelling together is good for me.

[davidc]

Meet at East Croydon at 8.45am then?
I wasn't sure there was going to be sufficient interest to sustain this at first!

[Mike Farley]

I'll see you there.

[gcluer]

I doubt if i am going to make this one though will see some of you for Autumn Colour next week

[davidc]

Frank E said he was interested and I have a friend from work who may also be interested in coming along too.

[Canonballer]

Sorry guys, as much as I would really like to join you azt the Wetlands Centre, I am otherwise committed on this occasion - so perhaps another time.

I will try to make the Autumn Colour event though.

Dave Newman

[davidc]

For those coming to this, please send me a private message if you want my mobile phone number in case it helps with co-ordination.
Plan is still to -

Meet 8.45 @ East Croydon station
Train to Clapham Junction, change for Barnes
Bus (or walk?) from Barnes to LWC

Then tour the centre to your heart's content. I need to leave in the afternoon as I'm going out that evening.

[Mike Farley]

Thanks to Dave for organising this. He seems to have a knack of making trains and buses appear just as we needed them, so travelling there and back was very straightforward.

Unfortunately, on this occasion there was not a lot to photograph at the centre. It receives its water supply from the Lee Valley, but this is due to be cut off shortly for a couple of months due to work being undertaken as part of the Crossrail development. This meant that the water levels are currently much higher than normal so the areas of sand and gravel where the birds normally feed were flooded and they were elsewhere. At least the newly acquired otters were on view at feeding time.