Mid Herts Local Wildlife Group News and events: April - September 2016

Welcome to our Spring/Summer newsletter and events sheet

STEVE WATERHOUSE Ghostly happenings on the fen In January, 15 of us embarked and wait with bated breath for on the car share to Wicken the evening spectacle of the Fen. An overcast but dry and roosting harriers we had come chilly day enabled us to explore especially to see. During the with our expert guide the trails day we had been privileged to and pathways of the fen. We see marsh harriers and barn learnt about the old ways of owls over the reed beds. As life on the fen, how the waters dusk approached we all took were controlled to support the up our positions; some in the reed bed enterprise and the hides, some out on the open enthralling history therein. We fenland board walks, watching were able to see the restored and waiting for the silent electric pump station, the old gliders. Then, what was that?! harriers (known as cottage and the outhouses Looking again we saw the the grey ghost) joined decked with the tools of the beautiful almost snow white the spectacle.We stood trade, together with some shape of, yes, a male hen entranced until dusk fell petrified wood that had been harrier against the gloomy and we could see no more. exhumed from the peat and backdrop of the darkening skies Quite a sight, and utterly the flat bottomed boat used and, then, beyond our wildest breathtaking. With a quick dash to ride the narrow waterways. dreams a female (known as to the cafe for a last drink we With several hides on the fen ring tales) also appeared in were happy to be on our return it was easy to sit and watch the sky; a pair, then 3 marsh home; what a day!

Hertfordshire’s rivers need you! Green Welly Gym The Herts Riverflies Hub Wildlife gardening on a big requires monitors to survey scale! We hold practical reserve sites along its special chalk management parties on streams and help restore them Sunday mornings throughout to SSSI status. Full training mid Herts. Tools, hot drinks given. If you can spare 3 hours and biscuits provided. If you a month please contact robin. would like to contribute to [email protected] this very enjoyable and vital part of local conservation please contact the organisers FSC Guides for more details. Tewinbury Reserve - Every 4th Sunday of We now offer a variety of the month from September to pictorial, pocket-sized plant April inclusive. Contact Robin and animal identification Cole 01438 813403 home Mob: guides from the Field Studies 07814524928. Also at Amwell, Council (including one for chalk , streams). Come along to one Orchard and Stanborough of our walks or coach trips and Reedmarsh contact the Trust purchase them for £4 each or on 01727 858 901 or email hire one for the day for £1. [email protected] for MARGARET HOLLAND further information about volunteering with the Trust. hertswildlifetrust.org.uk/mhlg Protecting Wildlife for the Future Mid-Herts Local Wildlife Group Events - April - September 2016 Venue for all indoor evening events: Howlands Baptist Church, The Commons, Garden City, AL7 4RS. Adjacent to Commonswood School. Donations: £4 for indoor and outdoor events unless otherwise stated. Families welcome. Please check for pushchair and wheelchair accessibility at outdoor events. Contact: Neale Holmes-Smith 01707324313 or Penny Fanthorpe 07761712245 [email protected]

Tuesday 12th April - Woodland Wild Flower Walk, Mardley Heath Local Nature Reserve, Woolmer Tuesday 12th July - Mid Herts Local Group AGM Green A short walk at Monks Green Farm which is Meet 6.30pm in car park on Heath Road off B197, wildlife friendly and set in wonderful countryside. . TL184248 The AGM proceedings and pub meal (£5.00) will follow at the Farmers Boy Green (if Sunday 24th April - Seven Bluebell Woods Walk, veg meal required contact Penny). Following this we will Meet 10am in Ayot car park, go north visit Highfield Woods for along Rd through Ayot Green, towards owls and other nocturnal its junction with Ayot Little Green Lane, car park is on wildlife. Meet 6.30pm your right for .TL144222. Walk is 3-4 outside Simon Balle miles. School, Mangrove Rd, , SG13 8AJ, Sunday 15th May - Site visit to HMWT Ashwell where you will be taken Quarry & Quarry Springs Reserve to farm car park. Following her February presentation Chris James will LER walk us round this beautiful site. Meet at 2pm. Park RICHARD BOW in field a short distance from the reserve entrance in Sunday 24th July - Thorley Love Lane junction with Road, Ashwell. Wash HMWT Reserve, Spellbook near SG7 5HX. TL253395. Stout shoes recommended as .Newly restored wetland reserve ground can be uneven. where over 150 water voles were released in 2015. Meet at 10am in the Three Horseshoes car park Tuesday 24th May - Barn Owls and Cuckoos at Spellbrook on the A1184 Sawbridgeworth/Bishop Ellenbrook Fields Reserve, Hatfield Stortford Road TL175487. Walk 2 miles. Meet at 6.45pm in the crescent area off Oaklands Lane, Smallford, opposite the Rugby Club TL193080 Saturday 10th September - Grasshoppers, spiders, shieldbugs and more at The Commons Sunday 12th June - Tree Identification walk in Local Nature Reserve, Bramfield Woods Meet at 9:45am by Howlands Baptist Church, AL7 Meet 10am in Bramfield in the car park opposite the 4RS. A meadow bug hunt with Rory Dimond from Grandison Pub in Bury Lane. TL157290. Walk is 4-5 Buglife, to look for Commonswood’s nine species miles. FSC Tree ID guides available. of Grasshopper and Cricket and the impressive Wasp Spider. Also, a 1 hour guided walk around the Saturday 25th June - Oxhey Wildlife Gardens near reserve with Chairman Glyn Dimond encompassing Commonswood’s ancient history, varied habitats Guided tour of at least 3 gardens by Rob Hopkins, and the work of Commonswood Nature Watch to HMWT Reserves Office followed by tea and cakes. maintain them, including a rare example of fenland in Meet at 2pm. Parking in lower Paddock Road by . Please bring sturdy footwear suitable Oxhey Green. Limited places available. Booking for muddy conditions and cameras with macro essential contact Neale Holmes-Smith on 01707 facilities to the bug hunt. This event is not wheelchair 324313. accessible and there are no WC facilities. Booking essential with Penny as numbers are limited: penny. Tuesday 28th June - Birds, Bats and Orchids at [email protected] Tewinbury Reserve Meet in the Tewinbury Reserve car park at 7pm for Tuesday 27th September - Chiltern Chalk and a multi-activity evening. Off B1000 north of Welwyn Witch Elm Garden City. Turn right at Tewinbury Farm Hotel sign. An illustrated talk by Naomi Stevenson, advisor for Park on right in 100m. Bring bat detectors and a large Natural about the distinctive landscapes and torch. wildlife within Hertfordshire. 8pm at Howlands Baptist Church.

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hertswildlifetrust.org.uk/mhlg Protecting Wildlife for the Future