West Kesteven

We have some wonderful wildlife experiences lined up this year!

• All meetings 10am to Noon and £1 per young person, unless otherwise stated
• It is better to book, in case there have to be changes to the programme
• For details and to book, contact Marianne Overton marianne.overton@biosearch.org.uk
01400 273323, 07768 428 769
or Jean Martin – jeanmartin@woodlandtrust.org.uk


Saturday
7th Jan
Belmont Tower, Belton, nr Grantham - Tracks and signs
Look for deer tracks,, birds and badgers on this hilltop site, with great views. If it is snowy, bring a sled for afterwards. Blow the cobwebs away!

Saturday
Feb 4th
Rockingham Forest, near Corby, beautiful Medieval hunting forest
Wild Red kites – see the aerial acrobatics of one of our most beautiful birds.
Park at Welland Gliding Club 3pm for a special talk, then guided walk with expert Chris Andrews, finishing at dusk about 4.30pm.

Sunday
18th March Welbourn Village Hall
Bring your camera and find out how to capture that elusive kingfisher. Famous guest photographer, Geoff Trinder will be showing us how he takes superb wildlife photos.

Saturday
21st April
Bush Crafts
Learn bush craft skills from a guest master of the craft.
Conservation area, Hilltop Farm, Welbourn, LN5 0QH

Sunday
20th May Ben Light’s wood – Ancaster
Check the bird boxes and spot the orchids and other wild flowers growing in this very special wood.
Sunday
17th June Kirkby Moor, Woodhall Spa
Come looking for adders, slow worms and bugs – it will be a fascinating day.

Sunday
1st July Chambers Wood, Bardney, Lincs
Explore one of the few remaining lime woods in Lincolnshire and make a diary of what we find.

11th and 12th August WKWW Camping Weekend At Hilltop Farm, Welbourn LN5 0QH
Spend the evening looking for bats and singing round a camp fire, bird ringing in the morning 6pm Sat. to 10am Sun. £5 per young member for food.

Saturday
22nd Sept Langworth Falconry, north of Lincoln
A talk and walk with some superb birds of prey

Saturday
28th October Twyford Woods, Colsterworth
Fungal Foray with Jane Ostler, always worth a visit for the number of mushrooms and toadstools we find.

Saturday
10th November Donna Nook, nr Sutton on Sea, Lincs
See the seals with their pups – this will be an all-day meet and booking will be necessary. Contact either Marianne or Jean about this.

Saturday
8th December Christmas Party – Quiz, crafts and fun
10am-noon Welbourn Village Hall LN5 0LZ
£2.50 per watcher – includes prizes and party lunch
We will be judging the photos taken in February, so do bring them with you.

Our November meeting is:
Sunday
20th November
Marianne
10am-noon Guided Fungal Foray with Jane Ostler, at Twyford Wood, Colsterworth
Always a brilliant event with something new to discover. Following on to hot soup at the pub in Colsterworth. OS Grid Reference: SK 947239
Jointly with the Society of Biology

PRE-BOOKING with Marianne or Andrew essential, please:

Marianne Overton marianne.overton@biosearch.org.uk
01400 273323, 07768 428 769
Andrew Chick 01400 273475 – andrew.chick@gmail.com

Updates to our 2011 programme are after this news from our recent meetings!
Come and join in the fun! But don't forget to book with Marianne or Andrew first!

Marianne Overton marianne.overton@biosearch.org.uk
01400 273323, 07768 428 769
Andrew Chick 01400 273475 – andrew.chick@gmail.com




Riverside Walk

Jane Southey led an excellent riverside walk from Blackmoor Bridge on the River Brant below Navenby Village. There was a good turnout of families and children. The new water scrapes are just getting interesting now. From the hide, the children were excited to see loads of birds, including two Avocets looking pretty comfortable “loafing” around the pools.



Science through theatre

Marianne Overton organised a Science theatre day for the children. “Learning science through theatre is a powerful and fun way to learn which we started some years ago. However, this is the first time we have included a science teacher trainer, Peter Crowther, in the professional team with Kirsty and Phil Mead of Rhubarb Theatre, strengthening the science part and creating a unique experience for the children.”



The children demonstrated their new-found knowledge and understanding of the topics as they ran their own workshops for the adults, parents and siblings who arrived for the showcase at the end of the day.



That was followed by a fast-moving performance on communication from in the natural world on to the technological solutions of the same problems discovered by humans through the ages. Costumes and props flowed as fast as the entertaining quips illustrating key points about the science of communication.



The full day event, held at Welbourn Village Hall, was largely funded by the professional Society of Biology, East Midlands Branch designed to encourage young people to enjoy and take up Biology in their choices.



Chairman of the branch, Colin Leakey encouraged the children to get interested in Biology and stay interested.



“Research in Britain is falling behind the rest of the world as our students choose other subjects. We need young people to take an interest in Biology and keep on being interested. Only then can we see the enormous benefits to mankind that Biology can bring to our world. Whether in the field of medicine, genetics, solving the world’s energy problems or tackling global warming, biological advances could have the answers we need. We need people like you to discover them.”

Sunday 17th April
Explore at Ben Light’s Wood, Ancaster
Orchids, fossils, bird and bat boxes, Bring food for the BBQ

Saturday 21st May
Wildart exploring Castle Hill, the Beck and activities at the village hall. Pond dipping, basket weaving, pavement art, wild mobiles, exploring the insect world and games. LN5 0LZ

Sunday 26th June
Family Day trip to Bempton Cliffs RSPB Reserve, Nr Bridlington E. Yorks
See spectacular breeding colonies of Puffins, Kittiwakes, Awks and blue-footed Gannets. Bring binoculars and picnic lunch for this sea bird spectacular. Then we visit Filey nearby with spectacular fossils, rockpools and a sandy beach. Coach booked prov. Meet at Welbourn Vill. Hall at 8.15am or Bempton Cliffs RSPB Car Park at 10.30am. Return 7-8pm. bempton.cliffs@rspb.org.uk Grid ref: TA197738 Coach £10/head, £5 for children.
Saturday
9th July Marine Day at the pool!

Sunday 28th August
Camping Weekend At Hilltop Farm, Welbourn LN5 0QH
Spend the evening looking for bats and singing round a camp fire, bird ringing in the morning 6pm Sat. to 10am Sun. £5 per young member for food.

Sunday 18th September North Rauceby Woods

Saturday 24th September
Changing Wildlife at Hilltop Farm, Welbourn
9am for early bird ringing, 10.30am talk finishing with lunch at 1pm. Joint meeting with the British trust for Ornithology and the Society of Biology- more for keen youngsters.

Saturday 15th October
Hill Holt Wood, Norton Disney
See sustainability in action: offices made of straw and a conference hall made of earth, using renewable energy and home produce. Woodlands managed for conservation and the economic use.

Sunday 20th November Belton Crafts and Games
Joint meeting with the Belton Group, in the deer rutting season.

Sunday 20th November
10am-noon Guided Fungal Foray with Jane Ostler, at Twyford Wood, Colsterworth
Always a brilliant event with something new to discover. Following on to hot soup at the pub in Colsterworth. OS Grid Reference: SK 947239
Jointly with the Society of Biology

Sunday 4th December Christmas Party – Quiz, crafts and fun.
10am-noon Welbourn Village Hall LN5 0LZ
£2.50 per watcher – includes prizes and party lunch

Here is our programme for the first half of 2011!
Please contact the Watch leaders to book or find out more!

Saturday
15th Jan
Belmont Tower – Belton. Tracks and signs.
We shall track clues on the lives of deer, birds and badgers on this hilltop site, with great Winter views. If it is snowy, bring a sled for afterwards.
Sunday
13th Feb
Whisby Wildfowl
Come along and look for diving ducks, including Goldeneye’s, explore the lakeside and view from the hides. Enjoy the new award-winning walkways for children and have a picnic or lunch in the café afterwards.
Saturday
19th March
Riverside Walk
Meet at Blackmire Bridge over the River Brant between Harmston and Auborn.
Riverside walk and new scrape with hides.

Sunday
17th April
Explore at Ben Light’s Wood, Ancaster
Orchids, fossils, bird and bat boxes, Bring food for the BBQ

Saturday
28th May
Moor Closes, Ancaster
Look for orchids and other special wildflowers in this rich wet meadow.

Sunday
26th June
Day trip to Bempton Cliffs RSPB Reserve– North Yorks To be confirmed
See spectacular breeding colonies of Puffins, Kittiwakes, Awks and blue-footed Gannets. Share transport or a coach if numbers permit. Family day out to Bempton RSPB Reserve – North Yorkshire
Meet at Welbourn Vill. Hall at 9am or Bempton Cliffs RSPB Car Park at noon. Bring binoculars and picnic lunch for this sea bird spectacular.
(Some may want to add a w/e camp. Filey is nearby, with spectacular fossils, sailing and a sandy beach.)

email:
marianne.overton@biosearch.org.uk
or
andrew.chick@gmail.com