The Naturalists' Calendar of events 1999

If more information is needed on any of these events please contact to the event leader mentioned below.

Wed 13th January     Council meeting

Sat 27th February     Orford and Sudbourne for raptors
9.30 - 12.30    At this time of year raptors (birds of prey) are often visible, but sightings can of course never be guaranteed. For beginners as well as experienced birdwatchers; the leader will be available to help with identification of any birds seen. Humans have had a love / hate relationship with birds of prey for a thousand years, and this is likely to be discussed at some time during the morning! Bring walking boots and if possible binoculars. It can be very cold and exposed here in winter, and there may be a long walk involved. Orford is on the coast due east of Woodbridge, on the B1024. Meet at Orford Quay pay and display car park. For more details please contact Steve Fryett.

Sat 27th February    Recorders' meeting
By invitation only, for our experts appointed as County Recorder for a particular group of animals or plants.

Mon 15th March       Council Meeting

Sun 28th  March       Ancient woodland plants at Workhouse Wood, Lothingland
2.00 - 4.30 An exploration of Work House Wood at Lothingland, to see early spring woodland plants such as the carpets of wood anemones and other less conspicuous plants. Colin Jacobs will show us around and point out some of the features of interest that have been present for many centuries or maybe even one thousand years. Meet in Union Lane, Oulton, near Lowestoft, at grid reference TM525952 (please park sensibly as ambulance access is required). For more details, please contact Colin Jacobs.

Sat 10th April     The birds and butterflies of Staverton Park
9.30 - 12.30 Staverton Park and The Thicks definitely has been around for over one thousand years. We will walk between the thousands of ancient oaks to record the breeding birds and spring butterflies present on site, as no recent surveys have been carried out. For beginners as well as the more experienced; the leader will be available to help with identification of any birds and butterflies seen. Staverton Park is private; the society is very grateful to the owners for permission to visit this wonderful place. Meet at the car park within the Park; turn off the B1084 at Butley towards Wantisden, then first left down a farm track, left again down another farm track then as you get close to the corner of the park then veer right and into the car park. Volunteers arriving 15 minutes early to direct participants would be welcomed! For more details please contact Steve Fryett.

Sat 17th April    Small mammal trapping in Priestley Wood, near Needham Market
6.00-dusk Join our chairman and mammal expert Jeff Martin to set humane live traps to capture unharmed the small mammals of this ancient wood owned by the Woodland Trust. No-one knows the full range of species present, and we’re hoping that the rarely seen yellow-necked mouse will enter the traps overnight. Jeff will demonstrate and then encourage you to have a go at the techniques involved. Meet at the entrance to the wood, on the B1078 just north of Barking village, grid reference TM 080534. For more details, please contact Jeff Martin.

Sun 18th April    Small mammal trapping in Priestley Wood, near Needham Market
8.00 - 10.00 Come and see the animals caught overnight, learn how they add to our knowledge of natural history in Suffolk, then watch them eagerly scamper into the undergrowth as they are released unharmed. For more details please see the above event.

Sat 24th April     Annual General Meeting
7.30 - 9.30 To briefly conduct the formal business of the Society including a presentation of accounts and election of Council members, followed by an interesting and lively presentation/debate on a topical subject. To be held at the Forte Posthouse Hotel, London Road, Copdock, Ipswich (near Tesco’s on the A1214). For more information, please ring our Secretary, Joan Hardingham.

Sat 8th May    Dodnash and Bentley Woods
2.00 - 4.00 An exploration of Dodnash Wood and adjacent woodland, little visited by the society over the last seventy years. Colin Hawes will show us around and point out some of the features of interest that have been present for many centuries or maybe even one thousand years. Meet at Dodnash Priory Farm, Bentley, at grid reference TM 111360. As well as enjoying the site, why not record the wild animals and plants you see, to contribute to the records of this wood? For more details, please contact Colin Hawes.

Sun 23rd May     Sharks, Shells and Nightingales
10.00 - 4.00 A saunter along the Deben Estuary, looking at fossil shark’s teeth and shells in the cliffs, and discovering nightingales in the dense bushes. Eric Parsons and Colin Hawes will jointly lead this event. A fairly long walk may be involved, so bring walking boots and a picnic. Meet at the Ramsholt Arms pub car park at Ramsholt, off the B1083 between Woodbridge and Bawdsey, at grid reference TM 307415. For more details, please contact Eric Parsons.

Sun 23rd May    Stone curlews in Breckland, Weeting Heath
8.00 - 10.00 The numbers of stone curlew in Breckland has fluctuated widely in Breckland, but the dramatic decline over the last few decades has at last halted and is beginning to be reversed. Early morning is the best time to see and hear these rare birds, and we’re going to the best place in Breckland too! Meet at the car park & visitor centre on the minor road from Weeting to Hockwold cum Wilton, at grid ref TL758881. We’ll be met by Norfolk Wildlife Trust wardens who will introduce the site and point out the birds. Entry is £1.50, or 75p for under 16s/UB40/students, or free to NWT members. For more details please contact Nick Sibbett.

Wed/Thurs 2/3 June     Suffolk Show
Please offer to help at our promotional stand, or just pay us a visit to chat about your wildlife experiences. For more information, please ring our Secretary, Joan Hardingham.

Sat 12th June             Focus on stag beetles
7.30 - late A meeting for beginners and others to look for stag beetle adults, to look at their behaviour and ecology, and to distinguish them from other similar beetles. The meeting point, likely to be near the River Stour on the Essex border, will be chosen just before the day to ensure we go to a site where the beetles are temporarily abundant. This is a joint meeting with the Colchester Natural History Society. To discover the meeting place and for more details, please ring Colin Hawes a few days in advance. Bring own drinks, walking boots, torch, and a hand lens if you have one.

Sat 26 June          Plant identification workshop with Rachel Hamilton
9.30 - 12.30 Rachel Hamilton is one of eastern England’s leading tutors in plant identification. She will hold a workshop for beginners or ‘learners’ unconfident in their ability to identify wild plants. Meet at Bradfield Woods National Nature Reserve car park, grid reference TL935580. The Society are grateful to Suffolk Wildlife Trust for making their facilities available to us. After the workshop, you are free to picnic, wander along the woodland paths, or even continue to practice your new skills. Please bring a hand lens and identification guide if you have one. For more details, please contact Rachel Hamilton at Environmental Management Unit, Otley College, Otley, Ipswich.

Sat 3rd July    Botanical recording in south-west Suffolk
9.30 - 4.30 Help record the plants in ‘grid square TL74', an under-recorded part of Suffolk. You don’t need to be a super botanist, as records of the common wayside plants are as important as the records of the more obscure species. Meet at Clare Castle Country Park, in the middle of Clare on the A1092 between Haverhill and Long Melford (pay and display car park). We will then split into smaller groups to survey across the area, then return before the end to collate all records for the Millennium atlas. For more details, please contact Martin Sanford, Suffolk Biological Records Centre, Ipswich Museum, High Street, Ipswich, Suffolk.

Sat 10th July         Survey for Bright Wave moth, Thorpeness
2.00 - 5.00 This day-flying moth is nationally rare, a priority for conservation action, but hasn’t been seen in Suffolk for years. Tony Prichard will give us a mental picture of the moth, explain its habits and describe how to look for it. No experience is necessary, just some motivation to find one of our rarest animals - it could be you! In one thousand years of natural history, only one record is most important, and that’s the most recent one. We will meet at Thorpeness public car-park (pay-and-display) and then search the shingle beach along this stretch of coast, then return before the end to collate all records. There may be some light-trapping for moths after dark. For more details, please contact Tony Prichard.

Mon 12th July        Council meeting

Sun 18th July          Recording at Barnham Heath
2.00 - 5.00 This woodland/scrub/glade habitat has never been visited by the Society and is poorly known by naturalists. It’s part of a nationally important Site of Special Scientific Interest the more we can find out, the better that management can be planned. Invertebrate surveys will be particularly appreciated, but any records of species will be welcomed. We will be introduced to the site by Rob Parker, allowed our own time to survey our favourite groups, then gather before the end to collate all records. Meet on the road between the A143 and A1088 from Barnham to Euston, three miles south of Thetford, at grid reference TL 887793. For more details, please contact Rob Parker.

Sun 8th August          Picnic at Rosehill, Farnham
12.00 - 2.00 After a brief introduction to the Society’s very own nature reserve, we can eat our own picnics, frolic in the warm summer sun and then stay on as long as we like to explore the reserve. This may be particularly suitable for families with children. Please volunteer if you are interested in running an activity for any children that come. The leader is to be arranged, but please contact Nick Sibbett for more details and for a map of the car parking area (car parking is not obvious). Rosehill is just east of the A12 on the main Aldeburgh road. Please note that there are no toilet facilities here.

Sun 22nd August     Waveney Forest, Fritton
2.00 - 4.30 An exploration of Waveney Forest, to see some of the features of interest that have been present for many centuries or maybe even one thousand years. Grasses and birds are particularly interesting here. Meet in the car-park at New Road Lane off the A143 by the Decoy Public House, Fritton, at grid reference TG 463011. For more details, please contact Colin Jacobs

Sat 11th September          Marsh Lane, Flixton
9.30 - lunchtime The varied habitats of this delightful little spot will be pointed out and discussed by Colin Jacobs, on his third field meeting as leader this year. Meet at Marsh Lane just off the B1074 between Oulton and Blundeston, at grid reference TM 511962. For more details, please contact Colin Jacobs

Sun 10th October          Migrant birds in the Benacre area
9.30 - lunchtime At this time of year, many migrant birds are passing along the coast as they have done for the last thousand years and earlier. For beginners as well as experienced birdwatchers. The leader will help with identification of any birds seen as well as explain where they’re coming from, where they’re going and why. Bring walking boots and if possible binoculars. It can be very cold and exposed here in October, and there may be a long walk involved. Meet at the end of the road beyond Covehithe church, east of the A12 (turn off at Wrentham). For more details, please contact Ashley Gooding

Sun 17th October          Fungus foray, Walberswick National Nature Reserve
2.00 - 4.00  Discover, as people have done for the last thousand years, the wonderful mushrooms, toadstools and all other fungi in this beautiful area. We will discover the edible, inedible and poisonous species, and learn how they contribute to nature’s great recycling system. Meet at Newdelight Walks car park on the B1152 two miles south of Blythburgh. For more details, please contact Neil Mahler.

Sat 23rd October         Conference - the last 1000 years of natural history
All day  As usual, it will be a very high quality conference which will inform and entertain us. Lots of top-class speakers will be there, and there will be a multitude of displays as well. Look for more details in White Admiral. For more information, please ring our Secretary, Joan Hardingham.

Wed 1st December          70th anniversary dinner and members evening
To celebrate our Society’s 70th anniversary in style, we’re gathering for a big dinner with lively and interesting entertainment to follow. Details to be arranged, but possibly will be held at the Forte Posthouse Hotel, London Road, Copdock, Ipswich (near Tesco’s on the A1214). For more information, please ring our Secretary, Joan Hardingham or look out for more information in White Admiral.

GENERAL NOTES:

Council Meetings are where major policy issues are debated and decided, to continue the smooth running of the Society. If you wish to raise any points or would like to observe a meeting, please contact our Secretary, Joan Hardingham.

Children of all ages are very welcome to any event, but those under 12 years old must accompany an adult. Dogs except guide dogs are not permitted unless by prior arrangement.

Moth Nights are held by the Suffolk Moth Group on Fridays between May and October, at which we’re all welcome. Please contact Tony Prichard for details. Geology meetings are held throughout the year by the Suffolk Geology Group. For more details please contact Bob Markham or see White Admiral.

Toilets and other facilities are not usually available at outdoor meetings

More info from event leaders or Nick Sibbett, programme secretary. Please contact Nick Sibbett, programme secretary), if you are not happy with an event you’ve been on, if there is a particular event you would like arranged for next year.

Each meeting will have a defined purpose, a named leader, and an informal programme to ensure everyone knows what they’re doing and when. The leader is responsible for meeting and greeting everybody and clearly introducing the purpose and format of the event, information about the site and any facilities that may or may not be present. The leader will informally provide the appropriate level of guidance throughout, and please ask if you are not sure about anything.