Field Meetings Programme 2014

FIELD MEETINGS PROGRAMME 2014

Saturday 15 March – 10.30 Hampstead Heath with Jeremy Wright and an Ecologist from the Heath

This will be a guided walk, exploring much of the Heath’s ecology and conservation. Bring a packed lunch.

Meet at Hampstead Tube Station. Please contact Jeremy Wright for any queries or details:- 020 7485 7903, or by e-mail: [email protected].

Sunday 27 April 10.00 – 12.30 Wimbledon Park

This Park is a remnant of a Capability Brown landscape, with a large lake and an old wood. It is now surrounded by London suburbia and managed as a District Park for multiple use. We will see breeding birds and spring wildflowers, both those that continue to thrive in this bit of “encapsulated countryside” and others more newly arrived. Bring binoculars. Members are invited to lunch at Dave’s afterwards.

Meet at the Home Park Road entrance. Turn left out of Wimbledon Park Tube Station and it is first right, or get off the 156 bus between Vauxhall and Wimbledon at the Woodman and walk up to the Tube Station.

Saturday 24 May - 10.30 Home Park, Hampton Court, led by Nicholas Garbutt, Tree and Wildlife Conservation Manager, Hampton Court Palace Gardens

Meet at Lion’s Gate, Hampton Court. This is a morning only walk where Nick will take us to areas of Home Park to look at habitat improvements/creation that have been carried out in the fields where the Queen’s horses are kept. In the same area near the Thames we should also be able to see the results of work done to rejuvenate the reed beds. Please contact Ian Mckinnon on 020 8894 3397 for any further details.

Saturday 14 June - 11.30 Ranscombe Farm – Plantlife Reserve

This is a working farm with areas of farmed crops and wildflower meadows on chalk grassland. Stunning views over Medway Valley. A walk around the reserve is about 3 miles. Bring a packed lunch.

Charing Cross/London Bridge trains to Strood every 30 mins. (1hr 9 mins). Change for train to Cuxton 4 mins travel time. Can be met from Strood or Cuxton Station in cars. Parking at the Reserve. Contact Bob Francis (020 8464 3844) if wishing to attend.

Saturday 12 July – Saturday 19 July Society Field Week to Cumbria, staying at Cumbria University, Ambleside Campus. (See separate details).

Saturday 26 July – 11.30 Dungeness Ecology with Brian Ferry

Meet at Car Park at Old Lighthouse. Train passengers, by arrangement, can be met from Ashford Station at 11.00. Bring packed lunch. Besides looking at the ecology of this unique site, we will see something of the activities of the Dungeness Bird Observatory and the RSPB.

Contact Brian Ferry (01276 65502) if wishing to attend.

Sunday 31 August – 10.00 Exploring the various habitats of Wimbledon Common & Putney Heath with Una Sutcliffe and Dave Dawson

We will see the largest area of heathland, acid grassland and mire in London. Meet at the Windmill Café, Wimbledon Common, accessed from Windmill Road, off Parkside, Wimbledon (free parking), or take bus route 93 from Wimbledon or Putney Station, get off at Parkside Hospital and walk along Windmill Road to the meeting point.

Contact Dave Dawson (07762364648)

Saturday 20 September – 11.00 Apple picking at Jo Britcher’s Farm

Contact Irene Kettle (020 8540 0042) if wishing to attend

Saturday 25 October – 10.30 To be confirmed Fungus Foray at Nower Wood (near Leatherhead)

Leader: Brian Ferry Bring packed lunch Contact Una Sutcliffe (020 8546 7986) for directions