Committee All indoor meetings take place at the Friends’ Meeting House, Cutty’s Lane, Stevenage at 7.30pm. Entry £2.50 members, £3.50 non-members, juniors (under 16) 50p. Charges to defray costs, but Group Leader refreshments are free, although small donations are Ann Collis welcome. 16 Stevenage Road, Walkern, Herts SG2 7NN Tel: 01438 861547 Waterproof clothing and footwear will be required on all outdoor trips.

Treasurer Membership All coach trips depart from the rear of Waitrose store Terry Gentle Carole Sparrow on Primett Road, Stevenage. There are two car parks Stevenage Tel: 01438 364927 Tel: 01438 236310 available on Primett Road, where there is a small parking fee on Sundays. Local Group Secretary Publicity Janet Shearman Graham Beevor Cost of coach trips will be approximately £14.00 for Tel: 01438 223789 Tel: 01438 232055 adults and £7.00 for juniors (under 18). To confirm booking please contact Paul Collis. Total payment to Indoor Meetings Committee Members be made on the coach. Peggy Charlton Trevor & Jennifer Storey Tel: 01438 729197 Tel: 01438 226014 Outdoor Meetings Barry Tremlett Paul Collis Tel: 01438 223789 Tel: 01438 861547 Our aim is to actively support the work of the RSPB. The RSPB is the country’s largest nature conservation charity, inspiring everyone to give nature a home.

Group website address: www.rspb.org/groups/stevenage Programme 2015 - 2016

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) is a registered charity: England and Wales no. 207076, Scotland no. SC037654 Treecreeper, Mike Langman (rspb-images.com) 2015 DECEMBER Tue 15th Charlie Kitchin, RSPB Warden will present a th talk about The Birdlife and Management of Sun 13 Marston Vale CP. A morning visit to the The Nene Washes. park southwest of Bedford. Meet in the car SEPTEMBER park at 9.30am. There is a charge of £2.50, Sun 20th College Lake & Tring Reservoirs. An all day

th (concession £1.75), for the wetland nature visit to these sites near Tring. Meet in College Tue 15 Barry Mason presents a talk entitled A reserve. Ref: 153/TL 004417. Lake car park at 10.00am. (Parking £3 /car, Tanzanian Safari. th donation). Ref: 165/SP 935139. th Tue 15 Christmas Social - A festive delight. Sat 19 Lackford Lakes & Cavenham Heath. An all Join us for Quizzes and Supper. day car trip to these Suffolk sites near Bury St. Edmonds. Meet in Lackford Lakes car park at APRIL

10.00am. (Bring a packed lunch). th Ref: 155/TL 802702. 2016 Sun 17 Rye Harbour. A with the Hitchin & Letchworth Group to this south coast site, at the mouth of the River Rother. Meet at the rear OCTOBER JANUARY of Waitrose store on Primett Road, at 7.40am. Tue 19 th Tom Mason returns to the Group to present his th Thur 14th Lemsford Springs. A morning visit to this Thur 8 Panshanger Park. A morning visit to this new talk about Owls in Serbia. venue for our group, with a mixed habitat of lovely Herts & Middx. reserve near Welwyn. wetland, woodland and grassland, set in the (donation requested). Meet at 9.30am outside Thur 21st Walkern. A morning walk from Walkern to Mimram Valley. Meet in the car park off Thieves the reserve gates. Ref; 166/TL 222123. Ardley and back, through the local countryside. Meet at Walkern St.Mary’s church car park at Lane, Hertford at 9.30am Ref: 166/TL 307124. Tue 19 th Ann and Phil Farrer will talk about Taiwan – 9.30am. (light refreshments available at Church th The Other China. This island off the coast of Sun 18 Point. A coach trip with the Hitchin Farm, Ardley, if required). Ref: 166/TL 292265. & Letchworth Group to this NNR on the China has spectacular scenery and a wealth Lincolnshire coast. Meet at the rear of Waitrose of wildlife with many endemic bird species and sub-species. store on Primett Road at 7.30 am. MAY th Sun 24th Rainham Marshes. An all day car trip to Tue 20 Derek Niemann presents a talk entitled Birds th in a Cage. This is a talk about four young men this RSPB reserve near the Dartford Thames Thur 12 Biggleswade Common. A local morning walk held as POW’s in Nazi Germany who kept crossing. Meet in the car park at 9.30am. following the River Ivel (The Kingfisher Way), their sanity by watching birds. They went on to Ref: 177/TQ 551790. across Biggleswade Common. Meet in the car become post-war giants of conservation. (Bring RSPB membership card). park immediately after the “Meccano” bridge at 9.30am. Ref: 153/TL 187453. Tue 17th AGM. A short AGM followed by Members’ NOVEMBER FEBRUARY Slide Show. If you have pictures you wish to share, please contact a committee member. Thur 5th Fishers Green. A morning visit to this popular Thur 11th Amwell. A morning visit to this ever popular Lea Valley site. Meet in the car park off site near Ware. Meet at the viewpoint at Sun 22nd Lakenheath Fen. An all day visit to this RSPB Stubbins Hall Lane at 9.30am. 9.30am. Ref: 166/TL 376128. reserve in the Brecks. Possible Golden Oriole and Common Crane. Meet in the car park at Ref: 166/TL 377033. Tue 16 th Jonathan Forgham returns to the Group to 10.00am. Bring a packed lunch. th talk about The Birds of Southern Sri Lanka. Sun 15 Elmley NNR. A coach trip with the Hitchin & Ref: 143/TL 724865. Letchworth Group to this excellent site in Kent, Sun 21st Titchwell. A coach trip to this RSPB reserve (Bring RSPB membership card). which is good for waders and raptors. Meet at on the Norfolk coast, with the Hitchin &

the rear of Waitrose store on Primett Road at Letchworth group. Meet at the rear of Waitrose 7.55am. store on Primett Road at 7.30am. JUNE th (Bring RSPB membership card). Tue 17 Revd. Tom Gladwin talks about a Naturalist th in Teesdale. Wed 15 Fowlmere. A morning visit to this RSPB reserve near Royston, for early summer birds, MARCH dragonflies and butterflies. Meet in the car park at 9.30am. Ref: 154/TL 409459. Thur 10th Flitwick Moor. A morning walk around the woodland and meadows of this attractive site near Ampthill. Meet in the car park at 9.30am. Ref: 153/TL 046354.