SOUTH LINCS LOCAL GROUP

EVENTS LISTING

WHAT’S ON

May 2015 to April 2016

Giving Nature a Home

The RSPB is a registered charity in England and Wales 207076 in Scotland SC037654

The Wyndham Garden Grantham Hotel

Toll Bar Road, Marston, Grantham Lincolnshire NG32 2HT

www.wyndhamgardengrantham.co.uk Tel: 01400 250909

TALK – Thursday 19 November SNMC 7.30pm

SPITZBERGEN AND A POLAR BEAR QUESTby Chris Hall

Chris is a tour guide, who leads a wide range of holidays and trips around the world and closer to home. In this talk he looks at the icy wilderness of Spitzbergen, with its iconic animal the polar bear.

Sponsored by G HOWSHAM & SONMillers and Grain Merchants

Old Leake Mill. Tel: 01205 870232

DECEMBER 2015

TALK – Thursday 10 December SNMC 7.30pm

WHAT'S NEW IN LINCOLNSHIRE AND NORTH NORFOLK by Rob Lucking RSPB

Rob is the Area Manager for the Lincolnshire and North Norfolk RSPB reserves. He will be looking back at the past couple of years, with all their high and low points, before looking to the future and what it may bring.

JANUARY 2016

TALK – Thursday 21 January SNMC 7.30pm

STRANGE NAME FOR A BIRD by Paul Fuller

An experienced speaker and lifelong wildlife enthusiast, Paul will be looking at the origins of the bird names we use every day.

FEBRUARY 2016

TALK – Tuesday 9 February Spalding Special 7.30pmJoint Event with LWT Pinchbeck Village Hall

BIRDS IN MYTH & FOLKLORE by Chris Andrews

Chris is well known to us as the visitor manager of one of the RSPB's Lincolnshire reserves. He returns with a light-hearted look at some of the myths and legends surrounding birds.

WALK – Saturday 13 February Boston Cemetery 10.00am

Witness a snowdrop spectacular and other emerging plants in this winter wonderland Victorian cemetery. If any berries remain we may witness winter migrants feasting such as redwings and fieldfare. For details see above.

TALK – Thursday 18 February SNMC 7.30pmMAMMALS OF LINCOLNSHIRE by Chris Manning

Chris is the Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union County Recorder for mammals. His talk will be about which mammals we are likely to encounter in the county and ways to identify them from their track and trails.

Sponsored by MARITIME LEISURE CRUISES LTDc/o West Side, Boston Road, Sutterton, Lincs, PE20 2HD

Tel: 01205 460159www.bostonbelle.co.uk

MARCH 2016

TALK – Thursday 17 March SNMC 7.30pmBIRDS OF HUNGARY, SLOVAKIA AND BELARUSby Alan Knight

Alan is a well regarded local speaker, who has previously talked informatively and interestingly about his travels. This time he is combining several visits to cover the region little known to most of us.

Sponsored by SHARMAN BURGESSEstate Agents, Boston

Tel: 01205 361161www.sharmanburgess.co.uk

APRIL 2016

WALK – Saturday 16 April Boston Cemetery 10.00am

A walk to encounter spring in all its glory. Looking for early butterflies, spring flowers and recently returned migrant birds in this splendid Gothic Victorian cemetery. For details see above.

TALK – Thursday 21 April SNMC 7.30pmBOSTON BUGS by Dr Keith Porter An expert entomologist (bug bloke if you prefer) for Natural England. Keith will be opening our eyes to life on a smaller scale. He will be looking at the wide variety of insects that live alongside us in South Lincolnshire.

Sponsored by THE HAVEN CAFÉWitham Bank East,Boston, PE21 9JUTel: 01205 837575

“The RSPB is the country's largest nature conservation charity, inspiring everyone to give nature a home”

The RSPB South Lincs Local Group was formed in May 1987 and is run by volunteers to promote the work of the RSPB and for the enjoyment of members and all nature lovers locally.

Based in Boston our membership area covers the whole of South Lincolnshire. Annual local group membership costs £2.00 Single/£3.00 Family on the production of a valid RSPB membership card. Benefits include reduced admission at SNMC events, 2 newsletters per year and a programme of events. Non-members are welcome to all events.

To date we have contributed £80,200 to the RSPB conservation projects with much of it spent locally.

Our 2015/16 program is for everyone interested in nature – beginners or experts – Why not try attending one of our events?

Group Contact: 01529 461652 (after 6.00pm)

Group Website: www.rspb.org.uk/groups/southlincolnshire

Membership: slincsmembership@btinternet.co.uk

WASH CRUISES

Wash Cruises run from April to October. For details see our Group Website above or our booking agents

The South Holland Centre Spalding: 01775 764777

http://southhollandcentre.co.uk/2013/01/31/rspb-boat-cruise/

INDOOR MEETINGS

Indoor Meetings are held atSam Newsom Music Centre (SNMC)

South Street, Boston PE21 6HXat 7.30pm

Admission: Local Group Members £2.00 (cards please)Non-Members £3.50 Children half price.

Talks are illustrated/ Refreshments

BOSTON WILDLIFE EXPLORERS (WEX) Events for children & young people.

Contact: odd 01205 311515 Mick Tmick4todd@msn.com

www.rspb.org.uk/groups/boston

OUTDOOR

Walks are FREE unless specified otherwise, although a small donation to the group would be appreciated.

Note: Please wear stout footwear and suitable clothing, waterproofs etc., appropriate for the weather. Bring binoculars if you have them (we have a few pairs for loan). Children must be accompanied by an adult.

WALKS – BOURNE WOODS

For the 2015/16 season walks in Bourne Woods will be run on an ad hoc basis. Dates and full details will be posted on the web site and e-mails will be sent to members.

The walks start from the post box at The Green, Forest Avenue off Beech Avenue, Bourne PE10 9RU. All are invited, including well behaved dogs and children for a 2 to 2½ hour walk listening for and hopefully spotting the varied species, which live or frequent the 210 hectares of mixed woodlands of Bourne Wood. The paths may be muddy so please wear appropriate footwear. For queries please contact Vaughan Roberts on 01778 426255 or 07425 163541 for emergencies. The walks are free though participants may like to donate £1 each towards local RSPB group funds.

SPRING WALKS – BOSTON CEMETERY PE21 9HA

The walks take place in this Victorian cemetery and start from the Crematorium Car Park and begin at 10.00am. They are timed to see early flowering plants, insects and migratory birds. Booking is not necessary.

EVENTS

MAY 2015

WALK – Tuesday 19 May Willow Tree Fen 6.30pm

A spring evening walk around the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust reserve between the River Glen and the Counter Drain to observe the fen flora and fauna. We hope to see breeding species such as snipe, lapwing, raptors and owls along with warblers and cuckoo; with the outside chance of badgers. Meet at the reserve car park opposite Bank House Farm on the Delph Road between Pode Hole and Tongue End near Spalding. A voluntary donation to the RSPB South Lincs Local Group/Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust would be welcome. Contact: 07849 178729 to book.

WALK – Saturday 30 May Boston Cemetery 10.00am

Looking for early butterflies, spring flowers and recently returned migrant birds in this splendid Gothic Victorian cemetery. For details see above.

WALK – Sunday 31 May Belton House 10.00am

A walk around the gardens and woods of the National Trust property to look for late spring birds and to identify birdsong. Meet at the Discovery Centre. There is no charge if you indicate to attendants that you are on the RSPB walk but a voluntary donation to the RSPB South Lincs Local Group/National Trust would be welcome.To book phone: 01400 230445.

OCTOBER 2015

TALK – Thursday 15 October SNMC 7.30pm BIRD ISLANDS by Nick Williams

Nick is a former head teacher turned fulltime photographer, tour leader, guide and speaker. He has over 20 years of experience spent travelling extensively taking some incredible images. Tonight he starts off our indoor season with a presentation taking us from Northern Europe to the Falkland Isles.

NOVEMBER 2015 TALK – Friday 4 November Spilsby Special 7.30pmJoint Event with LWT Spilsby Town Hall

WILDLIFE IMAGES OF LINCOLNSHIRE by Neil Smith

Neil is a local photographer based in Boston and will be sharing images of a typical year photographing birds and wildlife in Lincolnshire.

Sponsored by: BADLEY GEOSCIENCE LTD. of Hundleby Tel: 01790 753472

WelcomeTo the RSPB South Lincs

Local Group