The group bedded down at Tump 39, off Watersmeet Way, for Zoöpcamp, an event celebrating International Dawn Chorus Day in May.
Tump 39 recently became the UK’s first Zoöp. This involved appointing an independent Speaker for the Living to represent animals, plants and other living things in all decisions made about the site.
Friends of Tump 39 chose ornithological investigator JD Swann for the role. He led a bat-detecting session at Zoöpcamp. Visitors tuned into the frequencies of the creature once known as the flittermouse.
The event also included a DIY soil-testing workshop. Participants discovered stories from Tump 39’s past hidden in the soil, working alongside ecological and alternative sanitation co-op, Compost Mentis.
The group then gathered around the campfire for a meal and toasted marshmallows, before settling down for the night in tents.
There was a very early start for some, including JD who was up from 3am to share a livestream of Tump 39’s dawn chorus with a global audience.
“It all went well and we saw a lot of interesting wildlife,” said JD. “We experienced six different species of bat, including the noctule, the UK’s largest bat.
“There were around 30 of us in total, some who camped out all night and others who chose to go to their own beds at 11pm and return around 5am. It was a great experience for children and everyone else who got involved.”
Zoöpcamp was organised by Three Rivers Bexley – a community arts and ecology organisation supported by Peabody – and the Friends of Tump 39 voluntary group. Together, they are transforming the former Royal Arsenal munitions site into a haven for arts and ecology.
To get involved in future events, become a member of Friends of Tump 39.
