Events for Organisations other than Oxford Wildlife Group.
(For contacts see contact information page for other groups unless otherwise listed)JANUARY
Sunday 8: Nuffield, outdoor meeting. Details from Steve Alley Tel. 01608 659628. (OOS)
Wednesday 11: The Birds of Ancient Egypt a talk by John Wyatt. Stratfield Brake Sports Ground 7.45pm. (OOS)
Thursday 12: Birds of New Zealand an illustrated talk by Dr Graham Lenton about the beautiful islands of New Zealand and their natural wild-life sanctuaries such as the gannet colonies of Kidnappers Point on North Island, together with the Northern Royal albatross colony and Yellow-eyed penguin colony on the Otago Peninsula. Free to local group members. Visitors welcome, £3 on the door . Sandhills School, Terret Avenue, Oxford OX3 8FN. 7.45 pm. Contact 01491 612600 (RSPB)
Saturday 21: Work-party Trap Grounds Town Green, north Oxford: constructing a bird hide, clearing brambles, etc. 10 am to 4 pm. Tools provided; please wear boots and thick gloves. www.trap-grounds.org.uk
Sunday 22: Coach Trip to Slimbridge WWT. Coach leaves Headington Hill Hall (Brookes University) at 8.30am. Flocks of wild swans, geese and ducks will be present at this time of year including Bewick's swans and white-fronted geese. Large visitor centre with a restaurant and gift shop. An entry fee for non WWT members. Price: About £17 depending on numbers attending. Booking essential Tel: 01865 723868 (RSPB)
Thursday January 26th
Evolution: The essential trees Speaker:
Stephen Harris, as part of
Rare Plants Group Spring
Talks 2012, at Lecture Theatre of Plant Sciences
Department, South Parks Road, Oxford. Start at 1.10pm.
Saturday 28: Hedge-laying day 10am-4.30pm Bampton, Oxon This practical training, led by local expert Rod D’Ayala will give you the basic skills to lay a hedge, through hands-on instruction using traditional tools. Equipment provided but bring your own hedgelaying tools if you have them. Packed lunch, waterproofs, sturdy footwear e.g work boots and warm clothing. Level of fitness required: Moderate (practical work involved). BOOKING ESSENTIAL. Admission: £30 (BBOWT volunteers free). No dogs please. Meet: Chimney Meadows Barn, OX18 2EH. Contact: Volunteering Office 01865 788309 (BBOWT)
FEBRUARYThursday 2: The Magic of Morocco. John Wyatt will talk about the wealth of both migrant and resident birds in habitats which range from high mountain forests to the Atlantic coast with its wetlands and the stony areas of the Sahara. Free to local group members. Visitors welcome, £3 on the door. Sandhills School, Terret Avenue, Oxford OX3 8FN. 7.45 pm. Contact 01491 612600, E-mail: wendypyrton@btinternet.com (RSPB)
Sunday 5: Outdoor meeting. Pishill Oxon: Woods and Deer Park. Details from Steve Alley Tel. 01608 659628. (OOS)
Tuesday 7: Warburg Memorial Lecture: John Stevens Henslow and the origins of the modern theory of evolution, a talk by Professor John Parker. Henslow was probably the single most influential person on Charles Darwin, his studies and the development of 'On the Origin of Species'. As Professor of Botany and of Geology and founding director of the current Cambridge University Botanic Garden, Henslow encouraged Darwin in developing his theory of evolution by natural selection, and most notably Henslow nominated Darwin to be the naturalist on the voyage of HMS Beagle. 7.45-9.30pm. Admission: £2. Wheelchair access. Hearing induction loop available. Nissan Lecture Theatre, St Antony’s College, 62 Woodstock Road OX2 6JF. Contact: Christopher Hoskin 01865 580327 (BBOWT)
Wednesday 8: Wildlife Filming a talk by Manuel Hinge. Stratfield Brake Sports Ground 7.45pm. (OOS)
February 9th ‘From the
commonest trees to the rarest. The story of native limes
in Oxfordshire Speaker: Judy Webb, as part of
Rare Plants Group Spring
Talks 2012, at Lecture Theatre of Plant Sciences
Department, South Parks Road, Oxford. Start at 1.10pm.
Tuesday 14, Wednesday 15, Thursday 16: Woodland Wonder. Discover some of the amazing creatures that make their homes on our nature reserve. Follow trails and solve clues to learn about fascinating wildlife. Make bird feeders and create your own edible sugary woodland animal to take home too. Just drop in, no need to book. Admission: £3. Children welcome. Wheelchair access. No dogs please. Meet: Sutton Courtenay Environmental Education Centre OX14 4TE. 10am- 4pm Contact: Katie Fenton 01235 862024; katiefenton@bbowt.org.uk (BBOWT)
Saturday 18: Coach Trip to Old Hall Marshes RSPB Reserve, Essex. Extensive grazing marshes with brackish water fleets, reedbeds, saltmarsh and two off-shore islands. You should see brent geese, ruff, golden plover, wigeon, teal, shelduck and many more. Coach leaves Headington Hill Hall (Brookes University) at 7.30am. About £17 depending on numbers attending. Booking essential Tel: 01865 723868, E-mail: anne@anclark.force9.co.uk (RSPB)
Thursday February 23rd
‘Ant-hills, chalk grassland diversity and rarity’ Speaker: Dr. Tim
King, as part of
Rare Plants Group Spring
Talks 2012, at Lecture Theatre of Plant Sciences
Department, South Parks Road, Oxford. Start at 1.10pm.
Saturday 3: Work-party Trap Grounds Town Green, north Oxford: clearing rubbish, erecting bird boxes, etc. 10 am to 4 pm. Toolsprovided; please wear boots and thick gloves. www.trap-grounds.org.uk
Saturday 3: Oxfordshire Science Festival 2012 launch event in Bonn Square from 10-4 .
Sunday 4: Undulating farmland Shennington & Alkerton, Oxon. Details from Steve Alley Tel. 01608 659628. (OOS)
Wednesday 7: Two Islands a talk by Graham Lenton. Stratfield Brake Sports Ground 7.45pm. (OOS)
Thursday March 8th
Ecology and management of Marley fen, Wytham woods.
Speakers: Jocelyne Hughes, Philip Wilson, Curt Lamberth, as part of
Rare Plants Group Spring
Talks 2012, at Lecture Theatre of Plant Sciences
Department, South Parks Road, Oxford. Start at 1.10pm.
Saturday 10: Wildlife Photography. Workshop 1 of 2. 1.30-3.30 pm Wootton, Oxon. An outdoor visit to Lashford Lane Fen Reserve, and indoor meeting 4 weeks later on Saturday 7 April to discuss the photographs. People should come to both workshops. Led by well known photographer Chris Andrews. Lashford has no steep slopes; but can be wet, muddy,11 slippery - suitable footwear essential. BOOKING ESSENTIAL. Admission: £8 for the 2 meetings.. Children 13yrs+ welcome. No dogs please. Meet: Lashford Lane Fen car park, Wootton near Abingdon OX13 6DY. Grid: SP 468 011. Contact: Peter Rawcliffe 01865 735288 (BBOWT)
Saturday 31: Wildlife Discovery Day and Launch of Interactive Guided Trails St Mary & St John Churchyard (Cowley Rd / Magdalen Rd / Leopold St, East Oxford) 1.30-4.30pm