Click for Conservation Events,  Weekend Work Parties,  Mid Week 'Nature Force',  Otter Task Force and Guided Walks in  September, October, November, December, January 2009

CONSERVATION EVENTS

These events 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 around us, and to develop new skills in countryside crafts. 

You’ll learn about the Trust’s Nature Reserves, the plants and animals thriving 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.  Just take a look at the range of activities, make your selection, reserve your place and mark them in your diary.

Booking

We need to know how many people will be attending each event and, in some cases, places will be limited, so booking is essential. Reservations can be made by calling the Brandon Marsh Visitor Centre on 024 7630 8999.

If transport’s a problem get in touch – we may be able to help.  And if you need to cancel, please let us know.

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 it's cold or wet, bring adequate wind and rainproof clothing.
Bring a packed lunch (for a full-day event) and plenty of 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.

September

Woodland Management at Crackley Wood
Sunday 21^st  10.00am
Join volunteer warden, Jon Holmes for this introductory conservation event on the traditional art of woodland management.
Location: Crackley Wood, Kenilworth , meet at the Crackley Lane entrance (SP 289 738)
Cost: FREE EVENT
Booking Essential Contact: 024 7630 8999

October

Introduction to habitat management
Sunday 5^th 10.00am
Join volunteer warden David Morphew for this introductory session into the art of habitat management for wildlife.  David and his team of volunteers meet once a month through the winter to help improve the habitat at Ufton Fields SSSI Nature Reserve for wildlife.
Location: Meet in the car park off Ufton Fields Lane , Ufton (SP 378 615)
Cost: FREE EVENT
Booking Essential Contact: 024 7630 8999

November

Butterfly habitat management at Ashlawn Cutting
Sunday 9^th  10.00 am
Join volunteer reserve warden Phil Parr for this introductory session carrying out habitat management on this nature reserve in the heart of Rugby . 
Location : Ashlawn Cutting, Rugby (SP 516 732) Car Park next to the re-cycling bins.
Cost: FREE EVENT
Booking Essential Contact : 024 7630 8999

Woodland management at Ryton Wood
Sunday 16^th 10.00am
Join volunteer warden, Mike Slater for this introductory conservation event on the traditional art of woodland management.
Location : Ryton Wood, Ryton-on-Dunsmore (SP 384 726) off the A423 (contact Mike to confirm location).
Cost: FREE EVENT
Booking Essential Contact : 024 7630 8999

December

Woodland management at Hampton Wood
Sunday 7^th 9.30am
Join volunteer warden, Dave Solliss for this introductory conservation event on the traditional art of woodland management.
Location : Hampton Wood, Barford (SP 254 600)
Cost: FREE EVENT
Booking Essential Contact : 024 7630 8999

Holly bashing at Clowes Wood
Sunday 14^th   10.00am
Join volunteer warden Ron Hill for this introductory session helping to remove the highly invasive holly from this Site of Special Scientific Interest.
Location: Clowes Wood SSSI Nature Reserve, Earlswood nr Solihull Grid Reference (SP 102744)  Please meet in the car park off Wood Lane .
Cost: FREE EVENT
Booking Essential Contact : 024 7630 8999

January

Reed cutting for wetland birds at Wyken Slough
Sunday 4^th 10.00am
Join volunteer warden Jim Jobling for this essential wetland management improving the habitat for wetland birds.
Location : Wyken Slough, Coventry (SP362835) Car park of Aldermans Green Road
Cost: FREE EVENT
Booking Essential Contact : 024 7630 8999

Traditional hedge laying with an expert
Sunday 11^th 10.00am
Improve your hedge laying skills with expert Steve Boswell.  Number of places limited to 20 (over 16 yrs only.)
Location : TBC
Cost: £25 per person
Booking Essential Contact : 024 7630 8999

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

At this time of year there is plenty of work to be done on our nature reserves.  Please find below a list of our regular weekend workparties.
Regular workparties meeting every week at 10.00am meet at:

Brandon Marsh, Brandon  9.30am SP 386 761  Car park  Contact Ken Bond 02476 328 785 
(Sun)

Clowes Wood, Earlswood SP 101 743 
Contact Ron Hill 0121 705 1429 
(Sun)

Crackley Wood, Kenilworth SP 289 738 Crackley Lane entrance 
Contact Jon Holmes 01926 456215
(Sun)

Hampton Wood, Barford SP 254 600 
Contact Dave Solliss 
01789 205 908
(Sun 9.30am)

Rough Hill Wood, Studley SP 052 637 
Contact Val Kendrick 01527 545 742
(Sun)

Ryton Wood, Ryton on Dunsmore SP 384 726 
Contact Mike Slater 01788 335 881
(Sun, contact Mike to confirm meeting point)

Snitterfield Bushes SSSI, Snitterfield SP200 603 
Contact Eddie Asbery 024 76308984
(Sat from October 4^th March 31^st)

Regular workparties meeting at 10am at:

Ashlawn Cutting, Rugby SP 516 732 Car Park 
Contact Phil Parr 01788 578 272
(Sun 14^th Sep, 28^th Sep, 9^th Nov, 23^rd Nov)

Glasshouse Spinney, Kenilworth SP 304 714 
Contact Steve Smith 01926 864 759
(Sun 12^th Oct, 9^th Nov, 14^th Dec, 11^th Jan)

Kenilworth Common, Kenilworth SP 298 732 
Contact Serena Eccles 01926 858 378
(Sun 28^th Sep, 26^th Oct, 30^th Nov, 28^th Dec, 25^th Jan)

Knowle Hill, Kenilworth SP 300 727 Greensward Close 
Contact Richard Bones 024 7640 3218
(Sun 7^th Sep, 2^nd Nov, 4^th Jan)

Newbold Quarry, Rugby SP 497 770 Newbold Road  
Contact Phil Parr 01788 578 272
(Sun 12^th Oct)

Parliament Piece, Kenilworth SP 289 729 Upper Spring Lane  
Contact John Wood 01926 845915
(Sun 16^th Nov, 7^th Dec)

River Arrow, Alcester SP 088 580 Ragley Mill Lane  
Contact Steve Godfrey 01789 765 536
(Sat 20^th Sep, 18^th Oct, 15^th Nov, 13^th Dec)

Temple Balsall , Balsall Common SP 203 760
Contact John Clarke 01676 534 910
(Sun 21^st Sep, 19^th Oct, 16^th Nov, 21^st Dec, 18^th Jan) Meet near the entrance to Springfield House, off the Kenilworth to Knowle Road (B4101)

Ufton Fields, UftonSP 378 615 Car Park 
Contact David Morphew 01926 771111
(Sep 7^th, Oct 5^th, Nov 2^nd, Dec 7^th, Jan 4^th) Bring a packed lunch

Wyken Slough, Coventry SP 362 835 
Contact Jim Jobling 02476 278 689
(Sun 7^th Dec, 4^th Jan)

Occasional Workparties, please contact for further information  

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

Claybrookes Marsh, Coventry SP 380 769 Grange Avenue  
Ian Jelley 024 7630 8998

Cock Robin Wood, Rugby SP 493724 Car park adj. to A426I 
Ian Jelley 024 7630 8998

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

Earlswood Moathouse, Earlswood SP 116736 Entrance
Caroline Bailey 024 7630 8993

Eathorpe Marsh, Eathorpe SP 389687 Entrance
Caroline Bailey 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

Harbury Spoilbank, Harbury SP 384598 Entrance 
John Hancock 01926 612 860

Hunningham Meadow, Hunningham SP 373680 Church 
Lane Andrew Phillips 01926632765

Leam Valley, Leamington SP 330 658 
Caroline Bailey 024 7630 8993

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

Pooley Fields, near Tamworth SK 258034 Pooley Fields Hrtg. Ctr.
Caroline Bailey 024 7630 8993

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

Whitacre Heath, Lea Marston SP 209931 Car park 
Caroline Bailey 024 7630 8993

Whitnash Brook, Leamington Spa SP 334642 Entrance 
Caroline Bailey 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 
Lee Schofield, Assistant Reserves Officer on 024 7630 8998, or 07740 082551, or lee.schofield@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.