Upcoming events, CVWG and other
Cam Valley Wildlife Group is excited to be starting activities again. As numbers need to be limited within Government guidelines, we have a wide array of events for you and you will need to book – for details, please see our Events Programme page. To download a copy, click Events for 2020 (Summer & Autumn). The first event is an insect event on Haydon Batch starting at 10.30 am
Due to coronavirus Covid 19 considerations, Cam Valley Wildlife Group’s moth trapping event scheduled for Haydon Batch this Saturday is cancelled.
CVWG is currently monitoring the coronavirus Covid 19 situation regarding its programme of events. For trips and talks please check with Judy beforehand, on a case-by-case basis; for insect events and workdays, please check beforehand with the event leader. Contact details are given on the Events programme page. We will post details of the 2020 Botany Walks programme for April to September when they are available.
The talk by Tom Brereton of Marine Life on Whales, Dolphins and Seabirds off the South West Coast has been cancelled. We hope to arrange re-scheduling after the coronavirus, Covid 19 has peaked and passed.
Wednesday 18 March 2020 – CVWG Talk
Whales, Dolphins and Seabirds off the South West Coast
Tom Brereton of Marine Life
Coffee & cake from 7.30pm, talk at 8pm.
Members £2 (non-members £3)
Timsbury Natural History Group Talk
John Bebbington will be talking about “Moths / camouflage / photography”
Monday 16th March, 7.30pm
Conygre Hall, North Road, Timsbury BA2 0JQ
Visitors welcome £3.00. Refreshments and raffle.
For further information please ring Rod Bruce [Secretary] on 01761 433013
Timsbury Natural History Group talk
Ed Drewitt will be talking about “Madagascar”
7.30pm Monday 17th February
Conygre Hall, North Road,Timsbury BA2 0JQ
Visitors welcome £3.00. Refreshments and raffle
For further information please ring Rod Bruce [Chairman] on 01761 433013
Wednesday 19th February 7.30pm
Re-wilding, a talk by Stephen Parker of Natural England
A controversial topic, which will be illustrated with examples from both Britain and Europe, such as reintroduction of beavers.
At SWALLOW, Midsomer Norton – for directions see CVWG Events Programme
Unfortunately, the AGM business could not be completed on 4th December, so the presentation of the proposed Coordinating Team and members’ vote will take place at 7.00 pm at SWALLOW, Old Engine House, Old Pit Road, Midsomer Norton, BA3 4BQ on Wednesday 19th February. The scheduled talk on re-wilding by Stephen Parker of Natural England will take place at the same venue at 7.30 pm. For directions, see CVWG Events programme page.
Talk on Wednesday 18th March
Whales, Dolphins and Seabirds off the South West Coast
by Tom Brereton of Marine Life
Coffee & cake from 7.30 pm, talk 8 pm
Members £2 (non-members £3)
At SWALLOW
Contact details: Judy on 07460 278311 (phone or text)
Moth trapping with Chris Iles on Haydon Batch
Three-hour session starting at 6 .00 pm
Chris hopes that the event will coincide with the opening of the Spring Sallow blossom
The entrance to Haydon Batch is next to the Haydon Allotments and Haydon Village Hall (Haydon Cue & Social Club), Kilmersdon Rd, Haydon, Radstock, BA3 2DQ.
Contact: Chris, kifill22@hotmail.com or 01761 239092
Timsbury Natural History Group is hosting ‘Botanical Treasures of the Mendips’, a talk by Helena Crouch at 7.30 pm on Monday 18th November at Conygre Hall, North Road, Timsbury BA2 0JQ. Visitors welcome £3.00. Refreshments and raffle. For further information please ring Rod Bruce [Secretary] on 01761 433013. Helena is a North Somerset County Recorder. For poster, click here.
Talk reminder for Wednesday 13 November 2019
7.30pm Talk on the wildlife of our canals & rivers by
Laura Mullholland, ecologist at Canal & River Trust
Coffee & cake from 7.30pm, talk at 8pm. Members £2, (non-members: £3)
At SWALLOW
Andy Daw will be talking about Orchid Adventures – searching for all the British Orchid Species. 7.30 pm Monday 21st October, Conygre Hall, North Road, Timsbury BA2 0JQ. Visitors welcome £3.00. Refreshments and raffle
On Friday evening, 27th, and Saturday morning, 28th there is a bat walk, mammal trapping and moth trapping event at Buckland Bridge, Great Elm. On Saturday morning people will be having a look at what was found.
To book a place, contact lydia.blake@sustrans.org.uk or phone 07501017686
Due to the bad weather forecast for tonight/tomorrow for the Langport area (very strong winds, heavy rain and very cold) the outing to Swell Wood has been cancelled.
There is a Goosard Reserve (Paulton) workday on Saturday 27th April. Contact Roger on 01761 419778 for further information.
Saturday 27th April 2019
Herons and early butterflies at RSPB Swell Wood, A378 near Langport, TA3 6PX.
Meet at 11.00 am in the RSPB car park.
We will aim to car share as much as possible as limited parking. Please bring packed lunch.
If you need any more information about this please contact Judy (details at the bottom of our Events programme).
The CVWG 2019 programme of Botany Walks starts on Wednesday 3rd April. Details are on the website (link). The walks programme can also be downloaded from there. Everyone welcome. Please lift share whenever possible.
Wednesday 20 March 2019
7.30pm Talk “The Swift – a life on the wing” by Peter Bright
Peter has been watching swifts nest in his Mendip house since 2006.
Coffee & cake from 7.30pm, talk at 8pm. Members £2, (non-members: £3)
At SWALLOW – for directions, see Events programme
The Cam Valley Wildlife Group Events programme for April to September 2019 is now posted on our website. Click here to view or to download.
Cuckoos and Corncrakes
Thursday, 28 March @ 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm
The Cheese and Grain, Market Yd, Justice Ln, Frome BA11 1BE
Open your ears to the fascinating world of birdsong, brought to you by well- known Tweet of the Day authors Brett Westwood and Stephen Moss. Proceeds from ticket sales go directly to the Somerset Wildlife Trust.
Find out more >> http://www.cheeseandgrain.com/event/cuckoos-and-corncrakes-somerset-wildlife-trust/
Wednesday 20 March 2019
7.30pm Talk “The Swift – a life on the wing” by Peter Bright
Peter has been watching swifts nest in his Mendip house since 2006.
Coffee & cake from 7.30pm, talk at 8pm. CVWG Members £2, (non-members: £3)
At SWALLOW – see directions on CVWG events programme
Contact: Judy on 07460 278311 or judy@swallowcharity.org.
Monday 18th March
7.30 pm talk about trees, “Shady side of town” by Adrian Lawson
At Conygre Hall, North Road,Timsbury BA2 0JQ
Refreshments and raffle. Visitors welcome £3.00
Contact: Rod Bruce [Secretary, Timsbury Natural History Group] on 01761 433013
Wednesday 20 February 2019
7.30pm Talk on Stourhead’s tree sparrow project by Tamsin Holmes of National Trust
Tree Sparrows declined in the UK by 95% between 1970 and 2000. Tamsin Holmes of the National Trust will tell us about their project to encourage the revival of this endangered species.
Coffee & cake from 7.30pm, talk at 8pm. Members £2, (non-members: £3)
At SWALLOW – see directions on CVWG events programme
Colliers Way volunteers are holding a workday on Thursday 21st February with some Frome volunteers at Conduit Bridge Orchard with the purpose of clearing brambles around the apple trees. 10.00am start, finish about 4.00 pm. Numbers are an issue, so if you wish to join the Colliers Way workdays it is essential that you email lydia.blake@sustrans.org.uk to arrange. Ensure you bring gloves, some eye protection and lunch.
Coming up – Timsbury Natural History Group talk, “Urban gulls”, by Peter Rock
Sometimes a controversial subject, Peter Rock will explore the reasons behind their liking for city-centre living.
7.30 pm Monday 18th February
Conygre Hall, North Road,Timsbury BA2 0JQ
Visitors welcome £3.00. Refreshments and raffle.
For further information please ring Rod Bruce [Secretary] on 01761 433013
Wednesday 20 February 2019
7.30pm Talk on Stourhead’s tree sparrow project by Tamsin Holmes of National Trust
Tree Sparrows declined in the UK by 95% between 1970 and 2000. Tamsin Holmes of the National Trust will tell us about their project to encourage the revival of this endangered species.
Coffee & cake from 7.30pm, talk at 8pm. Members £2, (non-members: £3)
At SWALLOW – see directions on CVWG events programme
Wednesday 5 December 2018 – CVWG AGM update
Joshua Harris, local wildlife photographer and aspiring cameraman, will be giving an illustrated talk tonight at the AGM at Swallow (see CVWG events page for directions).
Seasonal refreshments (mulled wine/juice & mince pies) from 7.30pm, followed by short AGM and talks by Diana Walker and Joshua Harris. No charge.
There will be seasonal refreshments (mulled wine/juice & mince pies) from 7.30pm at Swallow on 5th December, followed by short AGM. Then Diana will be talking about her wildlife encounters during the year. Please also bring along your own photos from the past year. Direction to Swallow are at the bottom of the CVWG Events programme.
The Woodland Trust are not able to provide a speaker as planned, unfortunately, and it has not been possible to find a replacement external speaker. However, Helena Crouch, the North Somerset Recorder for Flora, has very kindly agreed to provide us with a talk on Flora of the Cam Valley. Thanks to Helena, for coming to the rescue!
Coffee & cake from 7.30pm, talk at 8pm.
Venue: SWALLOW, Old Engine House, Old Pit Road, Midsomer Norton, BA3 4BQ
The Cam Valley Wildlife Group Events Programme for September 2018 to March 2019 is now available on our website.
Interested in evening botany walks? We have a varied programme of weekly walks , available on our website to view or download.
Talk with live bats followed by a walk with bat detectors around Wellow village finishing at a greater and lesser horseshoe roost, for the Festival of Nature and the Avon Bat Group. 26th of May at 7pm. Contact Jo McKerr – Mob: 07957 246150; Tel: 01225 833748; joannamckerr@gmail.com
The Cam Valley Wildlife Group Events programme for April to September is now available on our website
Our first talk of the season is on Wednesday 21st February at 7.30 pm for 8.00 pm at SWALLOW – a talk by Dan Cragg of Bristol Zoo on the Zoo’s conservation work. For details, see our Events programme
Saturday 27th January: PORTLAND/WEYMOUTH HARBOUR, Dorset. Joint RSPB/Bath Nats Coach Trip. Booking is essential, by coach booking form and pre-payment. For details, see the Bath Nats website at http://www.bathnats.org.uk
2018 New Year’s Day Walk
Leader: Diana Walker
Meet: 2 pm at the entrance to Grovewood Road, Haydon, Radstock, BA3 3QZ
A gentle walk from Haydon into Radstock and along the valley to Haydon Batch, then back to Diana’s house for tea and cakes at about 3.30 pm. The route will be a bit muddy so she recommends that you wear boots and have a walking stick might be helpful. The steepest part of the walk will be down hill from Haydon
Contact: Diana Walker on 01761 433688 or dianawalker4@gmail.com
If you are attending the supper and bat evening at Judy’s in Welton, don’t forget to tell Judy now so she knows how many to cater for!
The Bath Natural History Society’s June programme is out, starting with a trip to the North Wessex Downs on Saturday 3rd June. For further information , go to the “Field Trips” part of their website (about 12th on the list)
11.00am – Garden visit to Burrow Farm Gardens, Dalwood, Axminster, East Devon, EX13 7ET 13 acre garden with lovely naturalistic planting and views. Tea room and nursery. For further details, see the Events programme
Just a reminder that Phil Hall, who gave the Five-year Buterfly Hunt talk, is leading a live transect survey on Saturday 13th May from Single Hill to Stony Littleton and back (about 1 hour) followed by another site survey. See Events programme for more information.
