Click for Conservation Events,  Weekend Work Parties,  Mid Week 'Nature Force',  Otter Task Force and Guided Walks in  May, June, July, August 2008

CONSERVATION EVENTS

These conservation events and guided walks are designed to introduce people of all ages to wildlife and its conservation.  They offer you a wide choice of opportunities to learn about the wildlife which surrounds us. 

You’ll learn about the Trust’s Nature Reserves, the plants and animals which thrive within them, and how we look after them.  And, by joining in our activities, you’ll soon be playing your part in helping to protect our natural heritage.

You can build your knowledge and have a great time with new friends when you join any of our guided walks and events listed in this leaflet.  Just take a look at the range of activities, make your selection, reserve your place and mark them in your diary.

Booking is essential for all events.  We need to know how many people will be attending each event and, in some cases, places will be limited.  Reservations can be made by calling the Brandon Marsh Visitor Centre on 024 7630 8999 (unless otherwise stated).

Guided Walks
To find out more about the wonders of wildlife on your doorstep, why not come along to a guided walk?  Led by expert volunteers or Trust staff, they will be the ideal opportunity to find out more about the wild flowers, butterflies, birds and mammals that make up our local heritage.  No booking is required, but we ask for a minimum donation of £2 per person to support our conservation work.  To find the nature reserves use the Grid Reference given or give us a call on 024 7630 8993.

On the day
Please arrive promptly for the start of the activity.
Wear tough old clothes, stout footwear (wellingtons for wet work), and working gloves.
If its cold or wet, bring adequate wind and rainproof clothing.
Bring a packed lunch (for a full day event) and plenty to drink (it can be thirsty work)

Warwickshire Wildlife Trust provides insurance cover for volunteers up to the age of 70 years.  There are no age limits, unless otherwise stated, but responsible adults should accompany children under 16.

GUIDED WALKS & EVENTS 2008

May

Bat Surveying Workshop
Friday 2^nd 7.00pm
This workshop is aimed at the non professional who is interested in helping us survey bats for local projects in Warwickshire.  Learn more about the ecology and behaviour of bats.  The workshop will involve both an indoor and outdoor session to help you use a bat detector, improve your recording techniques and ID skills.
Location: 2km SE of Coventry . Brandon Marsh Nature Centre is sign posted with a brown sign just off the A45 heading towards Northampton/London away from the Toll Bar Round About.  Turn left onto Brandon Lane just after the petrol station. Entrance SP386761.
Cost: £6.50 per person which includes refreshments and free membership to Warwickshire Bat Group.  Places are confirmed upon receipt of payment in advance.
Booking Essential:  Contact the reserves team on 024 7630 8993 (Places are limited, so book early to avoid disappointment).

Walk through Wild Garlic
Sunday 4^th  2.00pm
Join voluntary warden John Clarke for an afternoon walk around this varied wildlife nature reserve adjacent to the Cuttle Brook to learn more about wild garlic.
Location: Temple Balsall Nature Reserve (SP 203 760) – meet near the entrance to Springfield House, off the Kenilworth Road (B4101) to Knowle.
Cost: £2 per person

Blooming Bluebells
Thursday 8^{t  h} 7.00pm
Join volunteer warden Jon Holmes and take in this magnificent woodland spectacle throughout Crackley woods!  Find out more about the ecology of this woodland and how Jon and his team maintain and enhance the site through careful management. 
Location: Crackley Wood Local Nature Reserve, Kenilworth (SP 289738) – meet in main reserve car park off Crackley Lane
Cost: £2 per person

Wonderful Woodland Wildflowers
Sunday 11^th 10.30am
Join Woodland Project Officer Eddie Asbery for a gentle stroll around Wappenbury Wood, one of largest woodlands in Warwickshire, and in the Princethorpe Woodlands Project area.  On the walk Eddie will talk about the ecology of the woodland, our management and how it fits into the wider large area project.
Location: Wappenbury Wood Nature Reserve, Nr. Princethorpe (SP 381709) – meet at entrance off Burnthurst Lane
Cost: £2 per person

Dawn Chorus for Late Risers
Sunday 18^th 8.00am
If you’ve always wanted to hone up your bird song skills but can’t cope with getting up at stupid o’clock then this is the event for you. An ideal opportunity to learn the difference between garden warblers and blackcaps and all those other songs that you’ve been struggling with in a leisurely walk around Ufton Fields SSSI with a  man who knows his warblers, Jim Rushforth.
It has been known for participants to indulge in a serious fry-up at Long Itchington afterwards. (So bring your wallet!)
Location: Ufton Fields SSSI (SP 378 615) – please meet in the car park off Ufton Fields Lane
Cost: £2 per person

Riverside Ramble – A Look at River Arrow Local Nature Reserve
Sunday 18^th  2.00pm
Join volunteer warden Steve Godfrey for a gentle stroll around the River Arrow Local Nature Reserve.  Take in all the sights of the reserve from its majestic mature oak trees, to the archaeological remains of the old Benedictine abbey.  You may even be lucky enough to see a kingfisher!
Location: River Arrow, Alcester (SP 088 580) – please meet in the car park on Ragley Mill Lane
Cost: £2 per person

Outstanding Orchids
Sunday 18^th  2.00pm
(no dogs except on bridleway)
Join local ecologist Richard Wright for a walk around Warwickshire’s finest hay meadow and see how many wild flowers you can identify.
Location: Draycote Meadows SSSI Nature Reserve, Rugby (SP 448 708) – meet at the entrance.
Cost: £2 per person

Butterfly Surveying Workshop
Friday 30^th  10.00am
Join Butterfly Conservation for this interesting workshop focusing the ecology and identification of butterflies.  This fascinating workshop will involve both a classroom and practical (outdoor) session to Ryton Wood SSSI.  This workshop is aimed at beginners so no previous experience is necessary.
Location: 2km SE of Coventry . Brandon Marsh Nature Centre is sign posted with a brown sign just off the A45 heading towards Northampton/London away from the Toll Bar Round About.  Turn left onto Brandon Lane just after the petrol station. Entrance SP386761 – Meet in the barn
Cost: £6.50 per person with money going towards surveying and monitoring equipment for the Trust and refreshments on the day.  Places are confirmed upon receipt of payment in advance
Booking Essential:  Contact the reserves team on 024 7630 8993 (Places are limited, so book early to avoid disappointment).

June

Using Your Ears – Bat Conservation Trust Survey Workshop
Saturday 7^th  3.00pm
This workshop is an introductory course, designed specifically for volunteers to learn how to identify bats by their call and to carry out The Bat Conservation Trust’s surveys.  It does not provide sufficient information to carry out a professional bat survey. Come and learn how to use bat detectors, listen to bat calls and learn how to identify bats.  No experience needed. No bat detector needed – we will lend you one.  Bring some headphones and plenty of enthusiasm!
Location: 2km SE of Coventry . Brandon Marsh Nature Centre is sign posted with a brown sign just off the A45 heading towards Northampton/London away from the Toll Bar Round About.  Turn left onto Brandon Lane just after the petrol station. Entrance SP386761 – Meet in the barn
Cost: Small charge TBC.  Places are confirmed upon receipt of payment in advance.
Booking Essential:  Contact the Andrew Heath on 0121 244 8946 or via email: andrew@theheaths.org (Places are limited, so book early to avoid disappointment).

Mighty Moths!
Saturday 7^th 8.30pm
Did you know that Warwickshire boasts a list of almost 600 species of moth?!  Whilst you might not get to see all of these on national moth night, you will certainly be surprised by the variety that can be found on one site in one night!  So why not join county moth recorder, David Brown and discover more about these fascinating invertebrates?  Moth traps will be operated in a diversity of habitats including an old overgrown orchard, field margins, hedgerows and gardens, so a wide range of species is anticipated!  For further enquiries please contact David Brown on 01789 840295.
Location: Meet at field gate adjacent to the entrance of the Highlands property, situated on A428 midway between Binley Woods and Brandon (SP 407 769).
Cost: FREE

July

Dragonfly Surveying Workshop
Saturday 5^th 10.30am
This workshop is aimed at the non professional who is interested in helping us survey dragonflies for local projects in Warwickshire.  Learn more about the ecology and behaviour of dragonflies.  The workshop will involve both an indoor ID session to help you improve your ID skills in the morning, and then an afternoon visit to see the animals in their natural environment.  Refreshments provided.
Cost: £6.50 per person which includes refreshments and a £5 contribution to Warwickshire Dragonfly Group towards monitoring equipment.  Places are confirmed upon receipt of payment in advance.
Location: 2km SE of Coventry . Brandon Marsh Nature Centre is sign posted with a brown sign just off the A45 heading towards Northampton/London away from the Toll Bar Round About.  Turn left onto Brandon Lane just after the petrol station. Entrance SP386761 – Meet in the barn
Booking Essential:  Contact Peter Reeve on 01926 632 400 or peter@reeve60.uklinux.net (Places are limited, so book early to avoid disappointment).

Orthoptera Surveying Workshop
Saturday 19^h  10.30am
This workshop is aimed at the non professional who is interested in helping us survey grasshoppers and crickets for local projects in Warwickshire.  Learn more about the ecology and behaviour of grasshoppers and crickets.  The workshop will involve both an indoor ID session to help you improve your ID skills in the morning, and then an afternoon visit to see the animals in their natural environment.  Refreshments provided.
Cost: £6.50 per person which includes refreshments and a £5 contribution to Warwickshire Dragonfly Group towards monitoring equipment.  Places are confirmed upon receipt of payment in advance.
Location: 2km SE of Coventry . Brandon Marsh Nature Centre is sign posted with a brown sign just off the A45 heading towards Northampton/London away from the Toll Bar Round About.  Turn left onto Brandon Lane just after the petrol station. Entrance SP386761 – Meet in the barn
Booking Essential:  Contact Peter Reeve on 01926 632 400 or peter@reeve60.uklinux.net (Places are limited, so book early to avoid disappointment).

Introduction to Habitat Management
Sunday 27^th 10.00am
Join the volunteers at Hampton Wood for this introductory session carrying out habitat management.  Join the group which meets regularly throughout the year to improve your practical skills and learn more about this magnificent woodland.
Cost: FREE
Location: Hampton Wood, Barford, SP 254 600, contact Dave Solliss on 01789 205 908

August

Wonders of Welcombe Hills
Saturday 9^th  10.00am
Join Reserves Volunteering Officer Ian Jelley for a guided walk exploring the historical and ecological features of this unique local nature reserve.
Location: Welcombe Hills (SP 205 563) – please meet at the top of Maidenhead Road .
Cost: £2 per person  

Ufton’s Grasshoppers & Crickets
Sunday 17th  11.00 am
If we get a nice summer this year the meadow at Ufton Fields should be alive with grasshoppers and crickets!  So what better way so pass a lazy Sunday than in the company of Kay and Peter Reeve who will attempt to help us find and identify some of them?  Bring a picnic lunch.
Location: Ufton Fields SSSI (SP 378 615) – please meet in the car park off Ufton Fields Lane .
Cost: £2

We welcome visitors to most of our reserves and are working to improve paths as well as providing information signs and leaflets.  

Please remember the following points when visiting: -

. Please keep to marked paths to avoid disturbing wildlife
. Please keep dogs under close control
. Carry your Trust membership card
. Observe the Country Code
. Keep quiet
. Take your litter home  

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WEEKEND WORK PARTIES

Summer is a quiet time for practical reserve management work, as we leave nature to its own devices and scale down our weekend work.  However there are still a few weekend opportunities to help listed below and the Nature Force and Brandon Marsh Voluntary Conservation Team operate a full mid-week schedule (Wednesdays and Thursdays) throughout the year.

Regular workparties meet at 10am during the summer meet at

Crackley Wood, Kenilworth   SP 289738 Crackley Lane entrance Contact Jon Holmes 01926 456215
(May 18th, June 22^nd, July 20^th, Aug 3^rd, Aug 24^th, Sept 7^th)

Hampton Wood, Barford SP 254 600 Contact Dave Solliss  
01789 205 908    (Every Sun)

Kenilworth Common, Kenilworth SP 298732 Common L. Railway Bridge Contact Howard Eccles 01926 858378
(Every last Sunday of the month; May 25^th, June 29^th, July 27^th, August 31^st)

River Arrow, Alcester SP088 580 Ragley Mill Lane Contact Steve Godfrey 01789 765536
(Third Saturday of the month; May 17^th, June 21^st, July 19^th, August 16^th)

For September work party dates please see the next edition of the leaflet which covers the period between September 08 – January 09.

Occasional Workparties, please contact for further information

Ashlawn Cutting, Rugby -SP 516 732 Ashlawn Road            
Ian Jelley 024 7630 8998

Brook Meadow, Darley Green - SP 180743 Bakers Lane  
Eddie Asbery 024 7630 8984

Cock Robin Wood, Rugby - SP 493724 Car park adj. to A426           
Ian Jelley 024 7630 8998

Clowes Wood, Solihull - SP102 744 Entrance
Eddie Asbery 024 7630 8984

Draycote Meadows, Draycote - SP 448706 Entrance 
Eddie Asbery 024 7630 8984

Earlswood Moathouse, Earlswood - SP 116736 Entrance 
Bernie Higgins 024 7630 8993

Eathorpe Marsh, Eathorpe - SP 389687 Entrance 
Bernie Higgins 024 7630 8993

Elmdon Manor, Elmdon - SP 163825 Entrance
Rod Franks 0121 742 8509

Grove Hill, nr. Alcester - SP 112547 Entrance  
Gillian Nussey 01789 773356

Harvest Hill, Allesley  - SP 279823 Entrance
Richard Bones 024 7640 3218

Hunningham Meadow, Hunningham - SP 373680 Church Lane  
Andrew Phillips 01926 632765

Knowle Hill, Kenilworth -SP 300727 Greensward Close  
Richard Bones 024 7640 3218

Pooley Fields, near Tamworth - SK 258034 Pooley Fields Hrtg.Ctr. Bernie Higgins 024 7630 8993

Ryton Wood, Ryton on Dunsmore - SP 384 726 Entrance 
Eddie Asbery 024 7630 8984

Stockton Cutting, Stockton - SP 437651 Entrance
Eddie Asbery 024 7630 8984

Swift Valley , Rugby - SP 505775 Car park
Ian Jelley 024 7630 8998

Tocil Wood, Warwick University - SP304754 Gibbet Hill car park 2
Eddie Asbery 024 7630 8984

Welcombe Hills, Stratford - SP204562 Maidenhead Rd
Ian Jelley 024 7630 8998

Whitnash Brook, Leamington Spa - SP 334642 Entrance - Bernie Higgins 024 7630 8993

Mid-Week Activities

If you have spare time during the week and enjoy being out in the countryside, why not join Nature-Force?  Our ‘Nature-Force’ mid-week volunteer group operates on Wednesdays and Thursdays throughout the year.  Transport is provided from Brandon Marsh Nature Centre at 9.00am with another pick-up on the way to the day’s task, returning to Brandon for 3.30-4.00pm, weather permitting.  Nature-Force gives you the opportunity to learn a wide variety of conservation skills – such as fencing and wildlife surveying - with specially organised training days and includes visits to different Nature Reserves throughout Warwickshire.  Alternatively if you would like to join the Brandon Marsh Conservation Volunteers you can join the mid-week group on a Thursday run by Ken Bond, contact 024 7632 8785.

For further information on weekend work-parties and / or to book your place on the Nature-Force please ring the Reserves Team during office hours on 024 7630 8998.

Nature Force Programme  

As ever transport is available from Brandon Marsh Nature Centre, Coventry at 9am, with another pick up along the way to the day’s task if requested, returning to Brandon for 4 - 4:30pm.

For more information on these workparties contact 
Ian Jelley, Reserves Volunteering Officer on 024 7630 8998, or 07740082551, or ian.jelley@wkwt.org.uk

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Otter Task Force

The Otter Task Force aims to involve individuals in the otter conservation and wider wetland work of the Otters & Rivers Project. Volunteers are encouraged to get involved in both surveying (for which training will be given), and practical tasks (e.g. construction of artificial otter holts).  

Events are organised for the Saturday or Sunday of the second weekend of every month. Events generally last all day (9.30am - 4.00pm), meeting either at Brandon Marsh, or on site. For details of the project and full details of events being planned ring Project Officer, Peter Sanders, on 024 7630 8984.

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If you can help to look after any of our Nature Reserves or just keep an eye on what's going on, please contact Ian Jelley at the Trust Office 0n 024 7630 8998.