Events

Spring Walks 2022: Visit to a local Farm

Location: Baldock area

By popular demand we will make a return visit to John and Martin Dingemans' Farm, near Baldock. The farm integrates modern farming technology with excellent environmental practice and we will see for ourselves how this leads to optimum crop yields and a great diversity of wildlife. There is the possibility of seeing little, tawny and barn owls here and hobbies sometimes hunt over the ponds. This is specifically an event for our Local Group members. However, if other RSPB and RSPB Local Group members would like to visit, it may be possible to accommodate you. Please use the contact email address for further information.

Time: 7.15pm

Price: Free to our Local Group members

E-mail: martinrjspc@hotmail.com

Spring Walk: Visit to Purwell Ninesprings HMWT Reserve, Hitchin

Location: Purwell Ninesprings HMWT Reserve, Hitchin

Purwell Ninesprings HMWT reserve is on the eastern edge of Hitchin. We last visited this reserve in 2009, looking for water voles. Things have moved on since then and the reserve now holds a good variety of birdlife (cattle egret seen here last year) and other wildlife. Meet at the junction of Purwell Lane and Kingswood Avenue (O/S 166: TL 207 295) - On-road parking is available nearby. The walk starts at 7.15pm and will last for about two hours.

Time: 7.15pm

Price: Free, but donations to the RSPB Local Group are welcomed

Telephone: 01763 249459

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. Payment required by Friday 3 June. A £5 discount will be made if enough people book for the trip. If numbers are not sufficient to run the coach trip (we have to 'break even') this will 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: £25.00 adults, £12.50 juniors - subject to confirmation*

Booking essential

Telephone: 01462451320

E-mail: martinrjspc@hotmail.com

Half Day Outing to RSPB Lakenheath Fen and Thetford Forest

Location: RSPB Lakenheath Fen, NWT Weeting Heath and Mayday Farm.

This is our traditional late afternoon and evening visit to RSPB Lakenheath Fen and Thetford Forest. This annual trip takes us to three impressive venues to see some of Breckland's special breeding birds. We will spend the late afternoon exploring the magnificent Lakenheath Fen reserve, where we expect to see some or (hopefully!) all of bittern, marsh harrier, common crane, bearded tit and hobby. With hundreds of pairs of reed warblers nesting on the reserve this is also one of the best places in the UK to see cuckoo. We will then move on, either to the NWT reserve at Weeting Heath* or to Cavenham Heath to look for stone curlew (spotted flycatcher and woodlark are also possible). Finally, we will move deep into the forest, where we have in recent years had a very high success rate for finding nightjar: fingers crossed! Meet at the RSPB car park on the west side of the B1112, just north of Lakenheath station (O/S 143; TL 722 866) at 3.30pm. For those wishing to join the trip in the evening contact Martin by email (martinrjspc@hotmail.com) a few days beforehand for further information. Bring a torch (and food and drink if you are starting at Lakenheath) and expect a late night!

*The Weeting Heath reserve (fee for non-members of the Norfolk Wildlife Trust) may not be open in the evening. Participants may wish to visit earlier in the day, before starting the 'official' trip at RSPB Lakenheath Fen.

Time: 3.30pm

Price: Free, but donations to the RSPB Local Group are welcomed

Telephone: 01763249459

E-mail: martinrjspc@hotmail.com