All our events are free unless otherwise stated and you do not need to be a member to take part. Please note that additional events, changes or cancellations will be posted from time to time. Please check the programme before attending.
Events Programme, Autumn 2026 to 1st January 2027
Venue for our Talks: Radstock Working Men’s Club
Talks are on the 1st Wednesday of the month during the Winter at 7.30 pm for an 8 pm start.
A bar is available in the main part of the club, serving hot and cold drinks. Please park in the town car park next door (behind the library). There is a side entrance to the club from the car park. Price £3 for Members & £5 for non-members.
Insect/invertebrate surveys on Haydon Batch, September to March
Surveys are ongoing on Haydon Batch and will take place in the autumn and winter. We plan to look for Dingy Skipper larval tents/hibernaculae until March and looking for Small Heath caterpillars feeding on mild days in October. If you are interested in being part of the Dingy Skipper and Small Heath monitoring team, or be notified of upcoming invertebrate and insect events, please contact Deborah Porter on 01761 435563 or at camvalleywildlife@gmail.com
Saturday 4th October – Goosard Batch Nature Reserve work morning
Please contact Jim Crouch 01761 410731 or by email: jim.crouch@macegroup.com to let him know who is coming so he can plan activities. Anyone is welcome to attend.
Wednesday 7th October – Talk : British Orchids – Talk by Dr Fred Rumsey
Formerly Senior Curator in Charge of the British Fern and Historical plant collections of the Natural History Museum
Fred will introduce us to almost 60 species of native orchid, telling stories of their amazing associations with pollinators and fungal partners. Although there is a mystique surrounding orchids, not all are rare.
Saturday 10th October – Visit to Heal Rewilding – Heal Somerset is a 460 acre site of beautiful, undulating Somerset countryside on what was once an old dairy farm. Their goal is to restore fully functioning ecosystems by giving nature space to restore itself – space where trees, plants and wildflowers can regenerate, where animals can live freely and vulnerable species can recover. They are capturing specific, meaningful habitat and species data, so that they can provide scientific evidence that their efforts are making a difference. The Heal Somerset site is located at Lower West Barn Farm, Bindon Lane, Witham Friary, BA11 5HH, halfway between Frome and Bruton and less than 15 minutes’ drive from the Frome/Zeals turn-off on the A303. The car park is a few hundred yards from the Postcode destination.
Please book your place on this walk by emailing Diana at dianawalker4@gmail.com if you wish to attend or ring her on 07581 451805 for more details. Meet at 10.30am at Heal or Grovewood Road, Haydon at 9.50am for car share. Car Parking is limited and has to be booked in advance.
Sunday 1st November – Fungi Walk around Haydon Batch & Grove Wood
Meet at 10am in the carpark behind the Que Club BA3 3QR to see what Fungi we might find. Stout footwear is also needed as the wood can be muddy.
Please book your place on this walk by emailing Diana at dianawalker4@gmail.com if you wish to attend or ring her on 07581 451805
Wednesday 4th November – Talk -The Pine Marten by Johnny Birks from Vincent Wildlife Trust
The Vincent Wildlife Trust have, since 1975, been making a difference to some of Britain’s and Ireland’s threatened mammals through sound scientific research and innovative conservation solutions.
Saturday 7th November– Goosard Batch Nature Reserve work morning
Please contact Jim Crouch 01761 410731 or by email: jim.crouch@macegroup.com to let him know who is coming so he can plan activities. Anyone is welcome to attend.
Wednesday 2nd December – AGM & Diana & Gary’s Photographic Year
7.30pm for 8.00pm start at the Radstock Working Men’s Club, details below/above. No charge
Saturday 6th December – Goosard Batch Nature Reserve work morning
Please contact Jim Crouch 01761 410731 or by email: jim.crouch@macegroup.com to let him know who is coming so he can plan activities. Anyone is welcome to attend.
Friday 1st January 2027 – New Year’s Plant Hunt with Helena Crouch in Midsomer Norton
This year we will join Helena again for an urban walk in Midsomer Norton, taking part in the New Year Plant Hunt organised each year by the Botanical Society of Britain & Ireland. This will be a circular walk exploring the High Street, Town Park, Greenway and Wellow Brook Walk, aiming to find as many plant species as possible in flower in a maximum of three hours.
Stout shoes/boots and waterproofs are advisable.
Meet at 1pm by the entrance to South Road car park, Midsomer Norton (ST665541)
Other Information:
Events contacts – Please contact Judy on 07460 278311 with any general queries. or Diana on 07581 451805 about visits. Suggestions are welcome.
Botany Walks
These walks take place from April to September every Wednesday evening, 7pm until dusk – see the Botany Walks Programme page for details. Any additional walks, such as the New Years’ Walk, will be placed in the Events Programme above. Contact Helena Crouch for further information on (01761) 410731 or mobile 07773037001. All are welcome.
Insect/invertebrate events
If you would like to attend insect/invertebrate events and/or surveys or if you wish to be notified of upcoming insect/invertebrate walks or surveys please send your details to Deborah via our website contact page or to camvalleywildlife@gmail.com.
Wildlife Photography
Please contact Diana on 07581 451805 or dianawalker4@gmail.com if you would like to accompany her on any of her days out photographing local wildlife.
Venue for our Talks: Radstock Working Men’s Club
On the 1st Wednesday of the month during the Winter at 7.30 pm for an 8 pm start.
A bar is available in the main part of the club, serving hot and cold drinks. Please park in the town car park next door (behind the library). There is a side entrance to the club from the car park. Price £3 for Members & £5 for non-members.
CVWG Stalls – to be arranged
Gary & Diana are looking for volunteers to help set up or take down the stall. Please phone Diana Walker on 07581 451805 if you can help
If your village would like to have the CVWG stall at your village fete, then please contact Diana at: dianawalker4@gmail.com
Queries and programme updates
The programme above may be updated. Please contact Judy on 07460 278311 or Diana 07581 451805 with any general queries or suggestions for future talks, outings or activites.
Project events/activities
Project activities take place throughout the year and only some are included in the programme. Please go to the Project pages to contact the relevant project leader if you wish to get involved.
Recording
We welcome records of wildlife, and if you have any sightings or records to pass on to us from wildlife in our area, please check out our maps and the Records page.
Coordinating Team meetings
Please email us us at camvalleywildlife@gmail.com or phone Deborah on 01761 435563 if you are interested in joining the team or sitting in (members only).
If you need any more information about CVWG Events please phone or text Judy on 07460 278311 or Diana on 07581 451805.
