Events

ZOOM MEETING: 'Vultures, Threats to them and the RSPB's Role in saving Asia's Vultures' - John Mallord

Location: Zoom Meeting

Globally, vultures are one of the most threatened groups of birds, despite the role that they play in providing ecosystem services. John will begin with a tour of the vulture world before concentrating on the work that the RSPB has been involved in for the last 20 years, helping to bring populations of Asia's vultures back from the brink of extinction. NOTE THAT THIS IS NOW A ZOOM MEETING - if you are not a Local Group member and you are interested in attending, please use the email contact (below)

Time: 7.30pm

Price: £3.00 (donation) for visitors. Free for our Local Group Members.

Telephone: 01763249459

E-mail: martinrjspc@hotmail.com

Own Transport Visit to Paxton Pits NR and Grafham Water (Replaces WWT Slimbridge Coach Trip)

Location: Little Paxton, Cambridgeshire
Postcode: PE19 6ET (Google map)

We will spend the morning at the flooded Little Paxton gravel pits, looking for wildfowl (including wintering ducks in their attractive breeding plumage), other water birds and woodland birds. Those who wish will go on to nearby Grafham Water (parking charge) in the afternoon, where there is the possibility of seeing some of our rarer water birds, with a reasonable chance of finding great northern diver. Meet at Paxton Pits nature reserve car park (PE19 6ET; O/S153: TL 195 628) at 9.30am.

Time: 9.30 am

Price: Parking charge at Grafham Water

Telephone: 01763249459

E-mail: martinrjspc@hotmail.com

'Climate Change and Local Wildlife' - Brian Eversham

Location: 'The Settlement', 229 Nevells Road, Letchworth Garden City
Postcode: SG6 4UB (Google map)

Brian is the Chief Executive of the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire Wildlife Trust. He has been studying the impact of climate change on British wildlife for most of his working life. His talk will cover how wildlife has responded to past climates, how plants and animals are being affected now, what the future may hold and what we should be doing about climate change.

Time: 7.30pm

Price: £3.00 for visitors. Free for our Local Group Members.

Telephone: 01763249459

E-mail: martinrjspc@hotmail.com

Coach Trip to Brandon Marsh NNR*

Location: Brandon Marsh NNR (Warwickshire Wildlife Trust)

We make a long overdue return visit to the West Midlands to explore this attractive reserve of lakes, reedbeds, woodland and grassland, situated adjacent to the River Avon near Coventry. We will look for wintering wildfowl and waders, woodland birds and early summer visitors.

*Coach details to be confirmed. It is possible that this will have to be run as an 'own transport' trip. See News page for further information.

Time: Letchworth 7.45 am. Hitchin 8.00 am.

Price: £20.00 adults, £10.00 juniors - subject to confirmation*

Booking essential

Telephone: 01462451320

E-mail: martinrjspc@hotmail.com

'Idle days in Patagonia and the Home Counties - the W H Hudson story' - Conor Jameson

Location: 'The Settlement', 229 Nevells Road, Letchworth Garden City.
Postcode: SG6 4UB (Google map)

Conor is a conservationist and author, whose books include 'Silent Spring Revisited' and 'Looking for the Goshawk'. His talk reveals how W H Hudson, an unschooled, impoverished, battle-scarred immigrant, came to be so influential in the creation of the RSPB by its founding women, and in the rise of the modern-day conservation movement.

Time: 7.30pm

Price: £3.00 for visitors. Free for our Local Group Members.

Telephone: 01763249459

E-mail: martinrjspc@hotmail.com

Coach Trip to EWT Fingringhoe Wick NNR*

Location: Essex Wildlife Trust Fingringhoe Wick NNR

We visit this attractive estuarine and woodland reserve at a time when we should be able to enjoy the beautiful song of a very special summer visitor - the nightingale. Donation.

*Coach details to be confirmed. It is possible that this will have to be run as an 'own transport' trip. See News page for further information.

Time: Hitchin 7.30 am. Letchworth 7.45 am. Stevenage 7.55 am.

Price: £20.00 adults, £10.00 juniors - subject to confirmation*. Donation requested at the reserve.

Booking essential

Telephone: 01462451320

E-mail: martinrjspc@hotmail.com

'My Wildlife Garden' - Betty Cooke

Location: 'The Settlement', 229 Nevells Road, Letchworth Garden City
Postcode: SG6 4UB (Google map)

Betty joined the RSPB at the age of 11 and has had a life-long fascination for all forms of wildlife. She aims to show us that any size of plot can be adapted to attract more wildlife without much effort or cost. This is illustrated with close-up photos of the amazing creatures that have visited or stayed to breed in her medium-sized garden. Her talk will be preceded by a short AGM.

Time: 7.30pm

Price: £3.00 for visitors. Free for our Local Group Members.

Telephone: 01763249459

E-mail: martinrjspc@hotmail.com

Coach Trip to RSPB Minsmere*

Location: RSPB Minsmere NNR, Suffolk

In May we have a chance to see most of the 100+ breeding bird species at this, the RSPB's flagship reserve on the Suffolk coast. Deer, orchids and butterflies should provide a stunning supporting cast. We are joined by RSPB Stevenage Local Group for this trip.

*Coach details to be confirmed. It is possible that this will have to be run as an 'own transport' trip. See News page for further information.

Time: Stevenage 7.20 am. Hitchin 7.30 am. Letchworth 7.45 am. Royston 8.05 am.

Price: £20.00 adults, £10.00 juniors - subject to confirmation*

Booking essential

Telephone: 01462451320

E-mail: martinrjspc@hotmail.com

Coach Trip to RSPB Strumpshaw Fen*

Location: RSPB Strumpshaw Fen NNR, Norfolk

Swallowtail butterflies and a plethora of dragonflies should be amongst the non-birdwatching highlights of our final coach trip of the season. Birds to look out for will include bitterns, hobbies, marsh harriers and bearded tits, amongst many other species. We will be joined by RSPB Stevenage Local Group on this trip.

*Coach details to be confirmed. It is possible that this will have to be run as an 'own transport' trip. See News page for further information.

Time: Stevenage 7.20 am. Hitchin 7.30 am. Letchworth 7.45 am. Royston 8.05 am.

Price: £20.00 adults, £10.00 juniors - subject to confirmation*

Booking essential

Telephone: 01462451320

E-mail: martinrjspc@hotmail.com