2012

Saturday, 7th January, 7.30 p.m.
Peter Holden, RSPB, "Celebration of Birds" Memorial Hall, Sandy Lane, Church Crookham, nr Fleet, Hants GU52 8LD

Peter has been passionate about birds and wildlife for as long as he can remember.  He joined the RSPB staff in 1969 and while running the RSPB’s junior membership he devised the ever popular Big Garden Birdwatch.
Peter is dedicated to taking the magic of wildlife to new audiences.  For many years he advised Blue Peter and often appeared in their garden!  In 1994/5 he joined Bill Oddie in a BBC 1 series called Bird in the Nest and he has contributed to Springwatch.
He has co-authored more than a dozen books and was awarded an MBE for services to Nature Conservation in the 2009 New Year’s Honours List.
He has been an RSPB member for 50 years and worked for 40 years at The Lodge.  To mark these anniversaries he is planning on visiting some local RSPB groups to give a very personal view of the Society, the birds and a few of the people who have shaped the Society and nature conservation in Britain today.  The presentations will incorporate some film as well as Peter’s own photos and images from the RSPB’s Library.
We are delighted to be one of the groups’ chosen by Peter and I do hope you all will be able to come because this is obviously not to be repeated.  So, please do not miss it!
           Do join us

Sunday, 15th January
Coach Trip to WWT Welney, Norfolk     See Autumn 2011 Newsletter for details

 

 

Saturday, 11th February, 7.30 p.m.
Ed Drewitt, "Urban Peregrines"  St. Philip & St. James Church Hall, Kings Road, Fleet GU51 3AR

I always wonder if a whole evening talk about a single species will be interesting enough to hold the audience.   I went to see and hear  Ed Drewitt’s talk ‘Urban Peregrines’   and I found it fascinating with excellent photography and top class close ups.  Ed  presents himself as a naturalist, broadcaster and wildlife detective.  Come along and hear about urban dwelling peregrines.  Find out about their lifestyles and habits in particular, their diet and behaviour of hunting at night.  Now I wont tell you too much about this, how they catch their prey at night or what they were catching.  But I can assure you all I found it amazing and astounding how they do it and even more what they caught!
Ed is an excellent speaker, in fact he hardly stops for breath and as I have already said the photography is brilliant.   Can I say more, except you will be disappointed if you miss it !!     Come along and really be entertained  
            Please do join us

Saturday, 10th March, 7.30 p.m.
Ann & Phil Farrer, "Ecuador - Birds, Bugs and Butterflies"  Memorial Hall, Sandy Lane, Church Crookham, nr Fleet, Hants GU52 8LD

Ann and Phil Farrer have visited us once before and tonight they will present their talk ‘starts in Quito, the only capital city that lies on the equator, and explores the bird life of the Andean mountains at various levels up to some 14,000 feet and on both sides of the range which is a major barrier to the movement of all wildlife including birds.  In between there is a descent to spend a few days on an Indian reservation where we learn of an interesting way to go fishing and the talk finishes in the Amazonian rain-forest along the Napo river.  Ecuador has more species of humming-bird than anywhere else and the talk will illustrate many of these including several of the endemics.  But there are many other birds in these habitats that range from cold temperate, almost tundra, to the hot and humid jungle with its parrots and macaws.  The talk includes a sprinkling of bugs and butterflies to provide variety.
Ann and Phil were to present this talk last winter but the snow and ice here was so bad we had to cancel.
They were very disappointed, especially as where they live the roads were free of problems .  So, please, lets give them a big welcome.
           Please do join us.

Saturday, 31st March, 7.30 p.m.   Memorial Hall, Sandy Lane, Church Crookham, nr Fleet, Hants GU52 8LD

 Annual General Meeting

We need your support all the time and an important occasion is the AGM. Please try to come and hear what your committee has been doing on your behalf and listen to their reports. This is the evening for you to make suggestions, comments, and criticisms. We DO want to hear you. A speaker will continue the evening after the refreshment break. We need your support all the time and an important occasion is the AGM. Please try to come and hear what your committee has been doing on your behalf and listen to their reports. This is the evening for you to make suggestions, comments, and criticisms.
We DO want to hear from you. A speaker will continue the evening after the refreshment break.

Annual Subscriptions due

 

Saturday, 16th April, 7.30 p.m.
Brian Flectcher "The Land of Fire and Ice"   St Marks Church Hall, Guildford Rd East, off Alexandra Rd, Farnborough, Hants GUI4 6PX

The Land of Fire and Ice' is the talk for us by new speaker Brian Fletcher. The geology, scenery, flowers, birds and wildlife seen during a 14 day tour around the most volcanically active country in Europe - Iceland. Starting and finishing in Reykjavik Brian travelled via Stykkishholmur and Flatley, Lake Myvatn area, The Rift at Namaskard, east to Egilsstadir then down the coast to Skaftafell National Park, Ingolfshofdi and past 'the volcano' to the Geysir Area, Gullfoss and the Rift Area at Pingvellir. We will see pictures of Iceland's national bird and most of the larger mammals. Plants include northern green orchids, Arctic river beauty, both of which are endemic to Iceland, Iceland and Arctic poppies, coral-root orchid, sea pea and snow gentian plus the ubiquitous moss campion. Many plants here are what you would find in the Alps at about 2,000 metres.

 

 

In the event of inclement weather, please check with the appropriate organiser: