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The RSPB Macclesfield Local Group

The

We welcome Kate MacRae as our speaker tonight

This is the first visit Kate, or to use her blog title 'WildLifeKate', has made to our group. She has always been 'wild' about nature, from watching birds as a child in her garden in South East London, through university where she specialised in Environmental Education, to sharing this love of the natural world for several years as a full-time primary school teacher and finally to her garden in Lichfield, Staffordshire which she has slowly developed for wildlife since moving there in 1998. In 2010 she got her first nest box camera kit and from there got completely hooked. Since then, thanks to her many cameras, her 'patch' has featured on BBC Springwatch, Autumnwatch, Gardener's World and Midlands Today. During her talk she will share how she has turned her garden and more recently a seven acre mature garden site she manages in rural Worcester, into 'mini-Springwatches' and will show how easy it is for others to do the same.

HeronHeron Newsletter - September 2016

The Royal Society for the protection of Birds (RSPB) is a registered charity: in England and Wales no. 207076, in

Scotland no. SC037654

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Sunday 18

Outdoor Meeting: RSPB Burton Mere Wetlands Burton Mere Wetlands is one of the RSPB’s premier reserve sites which is situated close to the River Dee estuary. Autumn brings large movements of migrating waders and by high tide at 12:40 pm we should be well positioned to see the birds pushed off the estuary. Meet at Duke Street Car Park at 8:30 am for a full day visit or meet at the venue by approximately 9:30 am. Leader: Ian Taylor 01260 275248

Sunday 25

Working Party: RSPB Coombes Valley Join us at our nearest RSPB reserve ‘Holly bashing’ - processing and stacking holly brash. You’ll need to dress according to whatever the weather wishes to throw at us on the day and a pair of walking boots would be advisable, as we’re likely to be working on a slope. You’ll need to bring your own lunch and drinks. Meet at the RSPB Coombes Valley visitor centre LR Grid reference: SK009534 Time from 9:30 am with a weather dependent finishing time of 3:30 pm Contact: Abercrombie 07775 904683 or Paul Bennett (Warden) 01538 384017

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Monday 3

Garden Bird Survey: First recording day – Please support the survey. Forms available from the website (www.macclesfieldrspb.org.uk) or at indoor meetings. Contact: Ian Taylor 01260 275248

Friday 7

CAWOS meeting: The Wild Wood by Keith Offord 7:30 pm for a prompt 7:45 pm start at St. Vincents Roman Catholic Church, Tatton Street, Knutsford, WA16 6HR

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Saturday 8

Special Event: Nature Needs You - Hands on Wildlife Activities for Families Join RSPB Macclesfield Wildlife Explorers ‘Giving Nature a Home’ at Tegg’s Nose Country Park. Find out how you can help wild birds, mammals and invertebrates that visit your garden. Meet at Tegg’s Nose Country Park Visitor Centre, Buxton Old Road, Macclesfield SK11 0OP. LR Grid reference: SJ950733; WGS84 N 53.25642, W 2.07660 Time: 11:00 am to 2:00 pm. Ideal for families and accompanied children. Car park fee £1.70. Contact: Tina Hanak 07870 804413 or visit the Local Wildlife Explorers website.

Tuesday 11

Indoor Meeting: Wader Quest: Waders and their Conservation by Rick and Elis Simpson Introduced by: Ray Evans 01625 432635

Sunday 16

WGBG Coach Trip: Yorkshire Wildlife Trust Reserve at Spurn Depart at 7:30 am from Wilmslow Guild, Bourne Street, Wilmslow, SK9 5HD Contact: Steve McGann 01625 533652

Friday 21 to

Sunday 23

Weekend Away: Criccieth, North Wales Although bookings are now closed for our two night birdwatching weekend, if you are interested please let Graham Palmer know in case we have a cancellation or the hotel can fit you in. The Porthmadog area and reserves to the north of Criccieth are good for waders, ducks and geese. Organiser and further details: Graham Palmer 01625 420179 Walk Leaders: Alan Brereton 01625 615628 and Ian Taylor 01260 275248

Saturday 29

Wilmslow Library Charity Card Shop is OPEN If you live close to Wilmslow come and buy your Christmas cards at Wilmslow Library. A great choice of charities to support which includes the RSPB. Cash and/or Debit cards accepted. WE NEED A VOLUNTEER if the Group are going to have RSPB cards at this venue. Please contact Chris Revett 01625 617384 if you are interested and can help.

Save postage by purchasing your RSPB Christmas goods at our events, by ordering directly at an Indoor Meeting or contact Chris Revett on 01625 617384

The article ‘Two weeks on Hoy’ was attributed to George Mackay Brown in error. In fact the article was written by our own Abercrombie and tells the story of two weeks she spent on Hoy. The Editor, Ian Taylor unfamiliar with Mr Brown’s work, apologises unreservedly for this error. The late George Mackay Brown (1921-1996) was a Scottish poet, author and dramatist, whose work has a distinctly Orcadian character when he wrote about the life and nature of his native Orkney. He is considered one of the great Scottish poets of the 20th century. Abercrombie finished her article with a few lines from George Mackay Brown that space didn’t allow to be included:

For the islands I sing and for a few friends; not to foster means

or be midwife to ends.

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We are seeking volunteers to help at Danes Moss reserve with checking batteries, uploading data etc. from camera and sound recording equipment recently installed by the Cheshire Wildlife Trust and Manchester University. This trial will monitor mammal, amphibian and bird activity. Date for your diary, Second Wirral Wader Festival 1-2 October 2016 - more information to come.

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Remember: for up to date information on all events and activities see the website: www.macclesfieldrspb.org.uk

News from our Wildlife Explorers

Do you know any budding birders or first-time naturalists who want to learn more about wildlife and the natural world?

Macclesfield RSPB Wildlife Explorers is the club for them!

The new programme is packed with wildlife-focussed activities to inspire and captivate. Indoor sessions cover a range of topics from Record Breaking Wildlife (inspired by a summer of Olympic and Paralympic Games) through to Brilliant British Birds. Outdoor sessions include a dawn chorus, a fungi-walk, conservation work parties and a treasure hunt! This year the group are also planning a Wild Weekend Away for families. They’ll be heading to Aberystwyth to make the most of the opportunities to investigate coastal wildlife. New members, aged from 6 -19 years, are always welcome at the indoor and outdoor meetings that take place throughout the academic year. Indoor meetings (usually on the third Monday of the month) take place in central Macclesfield, whilst outdoor meetings are held at various locations to make the most of our fabulous local wildlife. Our dedicated team of volunteer youth leaders make learning fun using hands-on activities, quizzes, crafts and environmental games. The first meeting is on Monday 19 September: Natural Athletes - Record Breaking Wildlife.

Salvation Army Hall, Roe Street, Macclesfield, SK11 6UT

Admission: RSPB Members: £1.50 per child per meeting. (RSPB Membership Card/Number required.)

Non-members: £2.50 per child per meeting.

Indoor Meeting Times: 6 to 9 years (Year 1 to Year 4) – 6.00 to 7.00 pm

Over 9 years (Year 4 to Year 7 & Teenagers) – 7.15 to 8.30 pm

The new programme is now available to download on the website www.macclesfieldrspb.org.uk. Introduce a child to our group and we’ll introduce them to the fantastic world of wildlife! (Teenagers interested in wildlife may be eligible to volunteer with the group either on an individual basis or as part of the Duke of Edinburgh programme – please get in touch for more information).

For more information please speak to Group Leader Tina Hanak at one of the RSPB Local Group meetings or call her on 07870804413. You can follow RSPB Wildlife Explorers on Facebook and on Twitter @Maccwildlife.

Photograph by Darren Mayer

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Health and Safety

In the event of fire or other emergency necessitating evacuation of the building, please leave in an orderly manner

via the nearest available Emergency Exit or as instructed by a designated Committee member. Emergency Exits are

indicated by the internationally recognised symbol of a ‘running man’ on a green background.

If required, there is a first aid kit in the kitchen. (If you do have an accident, however minor, while here tonight please

report it directly to a Committee member who, amongst other things, will ensure that details are logged in the

Accident Report Book.)

Nature Needs You?

W ant to know the best ways you can help the wild birds, mammals and invertebrates that visit your garden?

Run by Macclesfield RSPB Wildlife Explorers, ‘Nature Needs You’ is a drop-in event suitable for all the family with lots of hands-on activities so that nature enthusiasts of all ages can do their bit and lend a helping hand to our local wildlife. As well as lots of advice on attracting wildlife to your garden there will be a host of practical activities including making bird feeders, planting mini-meadows and not forgetting some fun and games for younger visitors. The successful Macclesfield Big Bird Box Build Project will also be an important part of the event. Visitors will have the opportunity to build nestboxes that will either be used to boost nesting bird populations in sites across Macclesfield or they can choose to purchase a nestbox for use in their own gardens. Experts will be on hand to explain how to site and maintain nestboxes at home. Join Wildlife Explorers at the Visitor Centre at Tegg’s Nose Country Park on Saturday 8 October any time between 11am and 2pm. Why not take the opportunity to sample the excellent refreshments at Tegg’s Nose Tea Room too! For more information contact Tina Hanak on 07870804413

‘Remember a Charity in Your Will Week’

The RSPB has joined together with over 150 other organisations to support ‘Remember a Charity in Your Will week’ which runs from Monday 12 to Sunday 18 September . A gift In Memory to the RSPB will help protect birds and wildlife in the UK and abroad, whilst continuing the memory of your loved one - forever. If you would like more information on how this maybe done, please see the following RSPB website: www.rspb.org.uk/joinandhelp/donations/inmemory/ or if you

prefer contact Ian or Lydia Taylor by telephone 01260 275248 or email at membership@macclesfieldrspb.org.uk.

Local Group Volunteer Vacancies

⇒ Christmas Charity Card Shops at Wilmslow and Macclesfield

⇒ RSPB Goods Sales Officer

⇒ Raffle Sales Officer

Full training and support

will be available, please

see a Committee member

if interested.

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