Wimbledon Common Open Day
Sunday 8th September 2024
On a warm and partly sunny September day, Neil Henry and Alan Wood took their microscopes, cameras and computers to Wimbledon Common for their annual Open Day as a contribution to the Quekett’s microscopy outreach programme. The Open Day originated as Stables Day, an opportunity to meet the Rangers and their horses, but it has expanded into a country and crafts fair that attracts hundreds of visitors. As usual, we were based in the Information Centre, which we shared with the Wimbledon Common Nature Club.
We collected samples from the new pond in the Wildlife Garden so that we could show what we found to visitors to the Open Day. We used pipettes to transfer specimens from jars into Petri dishes or onto slides.
Pond in the Wildlife Garden
Neil Henry brought his monocular PZO compound microscope with 4×, 10×, 20× and 40× objectives and a YW5.0M eyepiece camera sending images to S-EYE software on his laptop computer. Neil also brought a copy of Collins Field Guide to Freshwater Life by R. Fitter & R. Manuel (the 1986 edition, very popular with Quekett members) to help identify freshwater specimens. His specimens included copepods, ostracods, ciliates (including Stentor) and diatoms.
Neil Henry’s microscope
Neil Henry with visitors
Neil Henry with visitors
Alan Wood brought his Olympus SZ4045 6.7× to 40× zoom stereomicroscope with an LED ring-light. He collected water and some filamentous algae (including Spirogyra), duckweed (Lemna minor) and water-milfoil (Myriophyllum) from the new pond, and found epiphytes on the duckweed roots, desmids (Closterium), ostracods, some very small copepods and Cladocera that must have recently hatched, small testate amoebae, a microturbellarian and a small dragonfly nymph. Alan also brought copies of the Quekett leaflets on pond life and insects wings; these and others leaflets are available as free PDFs from the Downloads page.
Alan Wood’s stereomicroscope
The microscopes that Alan and Neil use are not really suitable for children. However, the Quekett has a page of advice on microscopes for children.
Here are some of the specimens that Neil showed to visitors and photographed:
Copepod (? Cyclops)
Ciliate (Stentor)
Ciliate (Trachelomonas)
Peritrich ciliates (? Rhabdostyla)
Ciliate
Diatom
All of the specimens were returned to the pond.
We shared the Information Centre with the Wimbledon Common Nature Club, which is run by Auriel Glanville and meets on the first Sunday of the month to introduce 6 to 14 year olds to nature on Wimbledon Common. Auriel was encouraging youngsters to identify butterflies and to make bark rubbings.
Wimbledon Common Nature Club
Auriel Glanville
At the Nature Club “Life Under a Microscope” meeting on Sunday 2nd February 2025, Quekett members will be back in the Information Centre showing interesting slides and specimens to local children.
Wimbledon and Putney Commons
The Wimbledon and Putney Commons Conservators are responsible for protecting and preserving the Commons, and they had a display of photographs, maps and information about the Commons.
Wimbledon and Putney Commons Conservators
The Friends of Wimbledon and Putney Commons brings together people who are connected by a passion for the Commons and play a crucial role in preserving, protecting and maintaining this unique and special place. Benefits of being a Friend include access to special walks, invitations to social events, and an e-newsletter.
Friends of Wimbledon and Putney Commons
Nature
For those with an interest in nature, there was a guided Nature Safari Walk, starting at the pond in the Wildlife Garden.
Pond in the Wildlife Garden
Several organisations with an interest in nature had stands, including the Wimbledon Beekeepers’ Association, the British Herpetological Society, the London Wildlife Trust and Reptile Events.
Wimbledon Beekeepers’ Association
British Herpetological Society
Lizards
Birds of prey
Refreshments
There was a wide variety of food and drink available.
Rangers’ Retreat Tea Room
Phat Freddie German Grill
Doughnuts
Wimbledon Women’s Institute (WI)
Entertainment
Entertainment included a pop group, the Wandle Concert Band, the Greensleeves Morris Men and a funfair. Arena displays included BMX stunts, falconry and the Household Cavalry.
For people interested in machinery, there were displays of John Deere agricultural machinery, old military vehicles, and modern vehicles from the 151 Regiment Royal Logistics Corps.
John Deere agricultural machinery
151 Regiment Royal Logistics Corps
There were also various local organisations to join, and stalls selling all sorts of things including toys and pet supplies. There were donkey rides, and the stables were open so that we could meet the Rangers’ horses.
Bric a brac
Donkey rides
Horses in the stables
Acknowledgements
We are grateful to the Rangers for allowing us to collect small samples from the Common (which is a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest, a Special Area of Conservation and a Site of Importance for Nature Conservation), and for allowing us to set up our equipment in the Information Centre.
Report and photographs by Alan Wood, photomicrographs by Neil Henry