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Field Meeting Leaders for 2013

Please volunteer to host a Field Meeting at a venue of your choice in 2013.
You are not expected to teach or to have any specialist knowledge -
familiarity of the venue is all that is required.

Download the pdf form below or phone Richard Revels FRPS (details in The Iris)

2012 Field Meeting Form.pdf
 

Leader:  Jack Perks
Contact details:  07722 536029   jackperksphotography@hotmail.co.uk
Main subjects of interest:  Bitterns, waterfowl, etc.
Cost:  Donation to the Reserve.
Other information: 
Stout boots or wellingtons will be required.
Waterproofs advised
Bring a packed lunch

Date & Time:  Saturday 23rd March 2012 10.00hrs
Location: Havergate Island.
There will be a maximum of 12 on the day, but a second date has been pencilled in for Sunday 24th March if demand is high enough
Meeting Place: Orford Quay (Pay and display car park available - Estimated cost £4.50)
First Boat departs at 10:00 am
First Return Boat at 3:00 pm
Leader: David O'Neill
Cost: RSPB Members £12, others £19
If you are an RSPB member paying a reduced rate you will need to show your card on the day.
Items to bring: Stout shoes, waterproofs, packed lunch
Other information: Facilities on the island include an unmanned visitor centre with nearby toilet. There are several hides available which offer shelter and opportunities to view and photograph wildfowl in addition to the hares.
Further information:  http://www.rspb.org.uk/ reserves/guide/h/havergate/index.aspx
Contact: David O'Neill - details in the Spring issue of The Iris

Date: Sunday 21st April 2013
Location: Paxton Pits, Cambridgeshire
Paxton Pits is five minutes from the A1 (London-Edinburgh) trunk road.
Time: 7am for the best chance of hearing & seeing Nightingales.  10.30 am for conducted tour of the reserve by the wardens. The tour needs to be booked asap, so please advise if you would like a tour.
Meeting Place Visitor Centre
Grid Ref: The Reserve entrance is TL 196 629 (link to Bing maps). Post code PE19 6ET for SatNavs.
Leader: Ann Miles FRPS
Cost: £2.50 for tour which includes tea/coffee at the visitor centre. Otherwise contribution to the Friends of Paxton Pits appreciated
Subjects of Interest:  Early morning it should be possible to hear, see and photograph Nightingales - the first generally guaranteed (unless a very late year) but they are difficult to photograph.  Paxton Pits is famous for the number of Nightingales it supports with up to 28 singing males recorded. Males return to Paxton during the first or second week of April (the earliest ever arrived on 4 April) and quickly establish territories, from which they sing to attract females. Females, which don't sing, arrive a few days later. Once mated, singing stops and the pair resume their secretive life. Unmated birds, may sing well into June. Dusk and dawn are the best times to enjoy the amazing song of Nightingales but at Paxton, they can be heard at almost any time of day.
Paxton has a number of other photo opportunities - a large Heronry with lots of Cormorants, a colony of Black-headed gulls, also Otters, Kingfishers and Terns
More information:   http://www.paxton-pits.org.uk
Contact: Ann Miles.  Details in the Spring issue of The Iris. 

Date & Time: Monday 6th May 2013 at 10.00 hrs.
Location:  Abbots Wood, Arlington East Sussex
Meeting Place: Car Park off Cane Heath
Grid Ref:  TQ557073
Leader: Douglas Neve LRPS
Cost: £3. for 4 hrs car parking
Subjects of Interest: Pearl-bordered Fritillary and Orange-tip Butterflies
Items to bring:  Stout shoes, waterproofs, packed lunch.
Additional information: Abbots Wood car park is located 1.8 km due east of the village of Arlington. Abbots Wood is a level 3km walk.
Contact Douglas Neve - details in the Spring issue of The Iris

Date & time: Sunday 2nd June 2013
Location: Monkton Nature Reserve
Meeting Place: The Gate or car Park, Monkton Nature Reserve, Monkton, Ramsgate, KENT.
Grid Ref:  TR283657,  Postcode for Sat Nav: CT12 4LH
Leader: James Foad
Cost:  £3 Entry and depending on numbers or £5 Entrance which includes a guided walk of the reserve if enough interest. 
Main subjects of interest:  Orchids incl Bee Orchid (Ophrys apifera) and Lizard Orchid (Himantoglossum hircinum), Adders tongue (Ophioglossum vulgatum) and other flora. Buterflies, Dragon/Damselflies, Grass Snakes (Natrix natrix) and Common Lizard (Lacerta vivipara) Birds and Wasp Spider
Items to bring:  Stout shoes, waterproofs, drink and packed lunch. Tripods, etc.
Additional information: Parts of the reserve suitable for disabled/wheelchairs.  After lunch we may move on to East Blean Woods for the rare Heath Fritillary.
Directions: Follow signs for M2 and Ramsgate. From M2 take the A299 Thanet way. At first roundabout take 3rd exit Ramsgate A299, at next roundabout  take 4th exit and the Nature reserve is imediatley on your right and the entrance is where the trees stop.
From A28 follow signs for Ramsgate. Just before you get to Sarre Mill turn right at the mini island on to the A253. Shortly before the junction with the A299 the entrance to the reserve will be found on your left before the trees start.
Contact: James Foad. - details in the Spring issue of The Iris

Date & time:  Saturday June 8th, 2012.  9.45 for 10.00 am briefing.
Location:  Ainsdale Sand Dunes, Sefton Coast, Merseyside
Meeting Place:  The Ainsdale Discovery Centre,
The Promenade, Shore Road, Ainsdale-on-Sea, Nr Southport, PR8 2QB
Main subjects of interest:  orchids and other dune flora and fauna, insects, etc.
Leader: Trevor Davenport ARPS
Dr Phil Smith, MBE, has kindly agreed to join us on this field trip; Phil is a noted expert on the Sefton Coast and author of 'The Sands of Time' and 'The Sands of Time Revisited' (Amberley Press 2009).
Additional information:  The sand-dunes of the Sefton Coast provide the largest sand-dune complex in England covering an area of approximately 2100 ha. It is a fascinating and ever-changing habitat with many photographic opportunities throughout the seasons. Early summer is usually when the dunes are richly rewarding for both botanic and entomological subjects.  We should expect to find up to six species of Orchid as well as many other botanic species.  Northern Dune Tiger-beetle (Cicindela hybrida) - a superbly photogenic insect; and a plentiful array of early butter?ies and dragon?ies. The area is also noted for two increasingly rare species: The Sand Lizard (Lacerta agilis), and The Natterjack Toad (Epidalea calamita), formerly (Bufo calamita). Although not easy to locate, we will do some prior research into possible locations.
There is plentiful accommodation in the nearby seaside resort of Southport.
Items to bring:  There are very few natural hazards to worry about but the area is exposed so bring warm clothing and light weatherproofs in case of rain. Sensible shoes or boots are also essential. Bring a packed lunch and water or something to drink.
Contact:  Trevor Davenport - details in the Spring issue of The Iris


Date & time: Wednesday June 19th, 2013. 10.00am for 10.30am start to 4.30pm approx.
Location: Miller's Dale, Derbyshire
Meeting Place: Miller's Dale Car Park
Grid Ref: OS Sheet 119  SK 138 733. 
Cost: Charge for car park.
Main subjects of interest: Flora and Insects.
Leader: Robert Hawkesworth FRPS. 
Items to bring: Suitable outdoor clothing and strong footwear. Packed lunch and drink. 
Other information: Terrain varies from metalled trail to possibly muddy riverside. The going is from flat along the trail, to quite strenuous if you decide to explore the areas high above the trail. The bank of the River Wye is also worthy of exploration - a steep climb up or down but both accesses are stepped.
Contact: Robert Hawkesworth FRPS - details in the Spring issue of The Iris

Date & time:  6th July 2013, 9.00am to 5.00pm
Location:  Ryewater Nursery, Bishops Down, Sherborne, Dorset DT9 5PL
(by kind permission of Clive Farrell)
Leader:  John Bebbington FRPS
Cost: Free
Main subjects of interest:  Ryewater Nursery is a very large reserve with a wide range of habitats, flowers and insects, all easily accessible. Originally a plant nursery, it has been turned into a nature reserve, with the emphasis on butterflies and dragonflies, and the range of habitats and plants is exceptionally rich. 
Items to bring:  Stout footwear or wellies if it is damp, waterproofs, packed lunch.  There are toilets on site, next to the car park.  Sorry - no dogs.
Additional Information:  Unfortunately this venue is not suitable for wheelchairs, but the ground is level.
Directions:  Ryewater is at ST665106 (OS 1:50 000 sheet 194, Dorchester & Weymouth)
From the north - take the A352 Dorchester road south from Sherborne. After passing through the village of Longburton take the first left signposted Boyshill. Take the next left turn and after about ¼ mile turn right into Ryewater Nursery. There will be an 'RPSNG' sign with arrow.
From the south - take the A352 Sherborne road north from Dorchester. After passing through the village of Middlemarsh, go past the B3146 turning (on the right) and take the next right signposted Boyshill. Take the next left turn and after about ¼ mile turn right into Ryewater Nursery. There will be 'RPSNG' signs with arrows.
SatNav: Ryewater Nursery, Bishops Down, Sherborne, Dorset DT95PL
Contact: - details in the Spring issue of The Iris

Date & time:  Tuesday 6th August 2013 at 10.00am
Location: Windover Hill, Wilmington, East Sussex
Meeting place: Car Park at junction of Wilmington Street and South Downs Way
Grid Ref: TQ531032
Leader: Douglas Neve LRPS
Cost: None
Items to bring: Stout shoes, waterproofs, packed lunch.
Additional information: The car park is located 1.8 km SW of Wilmington. Please ensure that you park only in the car park indicated. The surface is uneven, so caution is advised. Access to the site involves a moderate climb of about 1.5km.
Contact: Douglas Neve - details in the Spring issue of The Iris

Date & time: Sunday 17th November 2013 10.00am
Location: Clowes Wood, nr Whitstable, Kent.
Meeting Place: Forest Car Park
Grid Ref: TR136630 Closest Sat nav CT5 3ER
Leader: James Foad
Cost: Free 
Main subjects of interest: Fungi
Items to bring: Stout shoes or wellingtons, water-proofs, packed lunch, hot drink, tripods.
Additional information: Part of the wood is suitable for wheelchairs and disabled but some areas may be slippery and/or muddy
Directions: From the M2 continue on the A299. Then follow A2990 Thanet Way, at 3rd roundabout  take the 3rd exit into Millstrood Road. Turn right into South Street, right into Radfall Road and continue to Clowes Wood and forest car park
Directions From A28 exit onto B2248 Kingsmead Road.  At the second roundabout take the 2nd exit on to St Stephen's Road, then at the next island the 3rd exit on to St Stephens Hill. At the next traffic island take 2nd exit on to Canterbury Hill which becomes Wood Hill then Hackington Road. After about 1.3 miles left into Radfall Road - car park will be on your left.
Contact: James Foad - details in the Spring issue of The Iris