Family Events

FASCINATING FOSSILS Monday 2 September, 12.30 – 2pm Friday 25 October, 12.30 – 2pm You won’t believe the creatures that used to call home! Come along and see the remains of some of the amazing beasts that were found here millions of years ago. Good explorers may be lucky enough to find a fossil to take. Please arrive 15 minutes early to sign up. Venue: West Runton Beach, meet outside the beach café Cost: £3 NWT members, £3.50 non-members. Charge for car park Booking: no need to book NWT | LIVING SEAS | FAMILY

ROCK POOL RUMMAGING Monday 2 September, 3pm – 4.30pm Friday 25 October, 10 – 11.30am Once again, we are rummaging in rock pools in search of life. Come along with sturdy shoes and keen eyes and help us carefully investigate the secrets of the seashore. If you don’t know a barnacle from a belemnite the experts will be on hand to identify your finds. Please arrive 15 minutes early to sign up. Venue: West Runton Beach, meet outside the beach café Cost: £3 NWT members, £3.50 non-members. Charge for car park Booking: no need to book NWT | LIVING SEAS | FAMILY

MEMORIES FROM THE MILL Sunday 8 September, 12 noon – 4pm Discover and explore the unique Stubb Mill. Drop in anytime between12noon and 4pm and look at historical photographs, climb right up into the cap and ask our Stubb mill expert, Hazel questions about the mill. Please be aware there is a 1200-metre walk to the mill from the visitor centre. Venue: NWT Hickling Broad Cost: Free members and children, £4.50 (gift aid admission) non-members (Cost includes entry to the reserve). Booking: no need to book NWT | FAMILY | WALK LEVEL 1

THORPE MARSHES GUIDED WALKS Friday 13 September, 10am – 12 noon Friday 18 October, 10am – 12 noon Thursday 14 November, 10am – 12 noon Tuesday 17 December, 10am – 12 noon Explore NWT , in the Norfolk Broads, yet on the edge of in Thorpe St Andrew. It is a charming mix of grazed and ungrazed marshes, ditches and the open water of St Andrew's Broad. Join local naturalist, Chris Durdin, for a meander at Thorpe Marshes and discover the reserve's wildlife. Bring binoculars and a camera if you have them. Venue: NWT Thorpe Marshes, pedestrian railway bridge at the end of Whitlingham Lane. Cost: Free Booking: No need to book NWT | FAMILY | WALK LEVEL 1

DYKE DIPPING Sunday 29 September, 10.30am – 12.30pm Join us and learn about the wonderful wildlife that can be found in the dykes. The experts will be on hand to help you tell your boatman from your beetle larvae. Venue: The dipping platform at NWT Thorpe Marshes Cost: Free Booking: no need to book NWT | LIVING LANDSCAPE | FAMILY

MIRACULOUS MINIBEASTS Monday 21 October, 10.30am – 12pm Join us at NWT Foxley, while we forage among the foliage and search between the sedge for any minibeast which may be waiting. We’ll be there with our bits and bobs to catch any bug or beast for a closer inspection. Venue: NWT Cost: £3 NWT members, £3.50 non-members Booking essential: call 01603 625540 NWT | SAVING SPECIES | FAMILY

NATURE DETECTIVES Monday 21 October, 1.30 – 3pm Look at our natural history items and learn how to tell the difference between a fox and badger skull, which rodents have eaten which nuts and learn how to identify what an owl has eaten. Venue: NWT Foxley Wood Cost: £3 NWT members, £3.50 non-members Booking essential: call 01603 625540 NWT | LIVING LANDSCAPE | FAMILY

CHRISTMAS CRAFTY CREATIONS Thursday 19 December, 11.30am – 1pm NWT Hickling Broad is a wonderful place to be in winter. Draw inspiration from this living landscape and create some unique Christmas decorations from natural materials. Venue: NWT Hickling Broad, meet at the Visitor Centre Cost: £3 NWT members, £3.50 non-members. (Reserve fee entry for non-members) Booking essential: call 01603 625540 NWT | SAVING SPECIES | FAMILY

FAMILY RAPTOR ROOST Thursday 19 December, 2 – 3.30pm Learn the different between the raptors; their different behaviours, how to identify them and their life cycle in the Education Hut. Afterwards we’ll walk down to the raptor roost and find out why NWT Hickling Broad is so important. Venue: NWT Hickling Broad, meet at the Visitor Centre Cost: £3 NWT members, £3.50 non-members. (Reserve fee entry for non-members) Booking essential: call 01603 625540 NWT | SAVING SPECIES | FAMILY

Wildlife Watch Events

CHILDREN’S WILDLIFE WATCH – HELPING HEDGEHOGS Saturday 14 September, 10.30am – 12.30pm Like many species hedgehogs are declining but we can all do something to help hedgehogs in our gardens. Hear more about our only spiny mammal and what help we can provide. Cost: Watch members: £4, non-members £6 (one accompanying adult free) Venue: NWT Hickling Broad, NR12 OBW Booking essential: call 01603 625540 NWT | FAMILY

CHILDREN’S WILDLIFE WATCH – SOUNDS IN OUR SURROUNDINGS Saturday 12 October, 10.30am – 12.30pm With the light fading and the days shortening, our hearing becomes even more important at detecting what wildlife is around. Join us and learn to identify the sounds in our surroundings Cost: Watch members: £4, non-members £6 (one accompanying adult free) Venue: NWT , NR25 7SA Booking essential: call 01603 625540 NWT | FAMILY

CHILDREN’S WILDLIFE WATCH – SMALL MAMMALS Saturday 9 November, 10.30am – 12.30pm Longworth live trapping is a fantastic way to take a close look at our small and elusive mammals. There are many mammals we may catch such as shrews, bank vole, field vole, yellow neck mouse and more. But who will we find? Cost: Watch members: £4, non-members £6 (one accompanying adult free) Venue: NWT Hickling Broad, NR12 OBW Booking essential: call 01603 625540 NWT | FAMILY

CHILDREN’S WILDLIFE WATCH – PLASTIC FREE CHRISTMAS Saturday 14 December, 10.30am – 12.30pm Plastic has been in the press a lot recently but how can we cut our plastic consumption at Christmas? Join us and make traditional decorations from natural resources, at this festive time. Cost: Watch members: £4, non-members £6 (1 accompanying adult free) Venue: NWT Cley Marshes, NR25 7SA Booking essential: call 01603 625540 NWT | FAMILY

Local Group Events

September

BBQ, BAT AND MOTH EVENING AT NWT Sunday 8 September, 6pm – late A social evening starting with a BBQ (optional) before watching and listening for the various species of bats and other creatures who make this reserve their home. No dogs please. Venue: Visitor Centre, NWT Weeting Heath IP26 4NQ Cost: £2 NWT members, £3 non-members. BBQ extra, details on booking. Booking essential: 01953 717227 BRECKLAND LOCAL GROUP | FAMILY EVENT & SOCIAL

ETHIOPIA: WHERE AFRICA TOUCHES THE SKY Wednesday 11 September, 7.30 – 9.30pm Wildlife evangelist Nick Acheson gives an illustrated talk about the wildlife of Ethiopia Venue: Alec Bussey Scout Centre off Rowington Road, Norwich, NR3 1RR Cost: £2 including refreshments NORWICH LOCAL GROUP | TALK

DECOMPOSING IN NORFOLK: RARE AND UNUSUAL FUNGI Thursday 12 September, 7.30 – 9.30pm An illustrated Talk by Tony Leech, the Norfolk County Recorder for fungi, telling the story of some of the rare and unusual fungi found in the county over the years. Venue: Town Green Centre, Wymondham, NR18 0PW. Cost: £2 WYMONDHAM LOCAL GROUP | TALK

HOE BIRD WALK, HOE COMMON Sunday 15 September, 8 – 9.15am or 9.15 – 11.30am A monthly walk to record and observe birds and wildlife. New members always welcomed. Venue: Meet in the lane to Hoe Common at Grid Ref: TF 989 173 Cost: Free MID NORFOLK LOCAL GROUP | WALK | 3 MILES, LEVEL 1

BARROW COMMON Wednesday 18 September, 10am – 12 noon An autumn morning visit to this county wildlife site with panoramic views over Brancaster Staithe. Venue: Meet in the small car parks at the North end of the common, Grid Ref: TF 791 433. Cost: Free WEST NORFOLK | WALK | 2 MILES, LEVEL 2

NORTH NORFOLK’S UNIQUE REEF Monday 23 September, 7.30 – 9.30pm Illustrated talk by marine conservation diver and photographer Rob Spray Venue: Hempton Memorial Hall, NR21 7LG Cost: £2.50 FAKENHAM LOCAL GROUP | TALK

LOOKING FOR THE GOSHAWK – THE LOST RAPTOR Thursday 26 September, 7.30 – 9.30pm Conor Jameson’s personal, narrative account of the natural history of this mystery shrouded bird of prey: how it lives, where it lives, and why it might be missing from our lives. His search took him to some unexpected places, at home and abroad. This adventure turned into the essay with which he won the BBC Wildlife Nature Writer of the Year, and then the book, which received a Roger Deakin Award. Venue: Hunstanton Methodist Church Hall, Austin Street, Hunstanton, PE36 6AL Cost: £2.50 NWT members, £3 non-members, including refreshments WEST NORFOLK LOCAL GROUP | TALK

WILD AND WONDERFUL MID NORFOLK: CREATURES OF THE NIGHT Saturday 28 September, 6 – 9pm Come and explore NWT Foxley Wood at twilight and discover our fascinating night-time wildlife, with activities for all the family and fireside refreshments. Celebrating 40 years of the Mid Norfolk Local Group. Funded by Tesco Bags of Help. Remember to wrap up warm, and bring a torch if you can. Venue: NWT Foxley Wood Cost: Free Booking essential: 01603 625540 MID NORFOLK LOCAL GROUP

October

NATURE MATTERS: CONSERVATION FROM THE GLOBAL TO THE LOCAL Tuesday 1 October, 7.30 – 9.30pm An illustrated talk by David North, NWT’s Head of People and Wildlife, plus a reception to mark the group’s 40th anniversary Venue: The Meeting Point, Withburga Lane, Dereham, NR19 1ED Cost: £2 NWT members, £2.50 non-members MID NORFOLK LOCAL GROUP | TALK

BUMBLEBEES Wednesday 9 October, 7.30 – 9.30pm Andrew Bourke, Professor of Evolutionary Biology at UEA, talks about bumblebees and his research into the behaviour and ecology of these social insects. Venue: Alec Bussey Scout Centre off Rowington Road, Norwich, NR1 3RR. Cost: £2 including refreshments NORWICH LOCAL GROUP | TALK

GOANNAS, GUM TREES AND GALAHS Thursday 10 October, 7.30 – 9.30pm An illustrated talk by Pam and Mike Merrick about Australia’s glorious wildlife Venue: Town Green Centre, Wymondham, NR18 0PW. Cost: £2 WYMONDHAM LOCAL GROUP | TALK

ANTARCTICA – THE WILDLIFE AT THE END OF THE WORLD? Friday 11 October, 7.45 – 9.30pm An illustrated talk by Dr Kevin Elsby, an award winning wildlife photographer, experienced wildlife tour guide and lecturer with expertise in all aspects of the natural world. Venue: Ingham Village Hall, NR12 9TD Cost: NWT members £2, non-members £3 includes refreshments LOCAL GROUP | TALK

FUNGUS FORAY Saturday 12 October, 10am – 12 noon Walk led by Stephen Pinnngton and Yvonne Mynett around Bacton Woods. Venue: Meet at the Interpretation Board in the official Forestry Commission car park in the North East corner of Bacton Wood, NR28 9UE, Grid Ref: TG 316 311. Cost: Free, donations welcome Booking essential: (max. 20) – Preferably by email [email protected] (or tel: 01692 630674) BROADLAND LOCAL GROUP

HICKLING BROAD VISIT WITH FAKENHAM LOCAL GROUP Sunday 13 October, 9.45am Group visit around NWT Hickling Broad. Boat trips available 10.30 – 12.30 but must be booked in advance: 01692 598276 Venue: Meet outside NWT visitor centre, NR12 0WB, Grid Ref: TG 428 221. Cost: Nature reserve entry free for NWT members, £4 basic entry for non-members. Boat trip £8.50 for members. Contact the visitor centre for other boat trip prices. FAKENHAM LOCAL GROUP | WALK | 2 MILES

A FUNGUS FORAY AT KEN HILL WOODS, SNETTISHAM Wednesday 16 October, 10am – 12 noon Our annual search for fungi in a section of this large wood to add to the records for the site Venue: Meet at Heacham Bottom Farm, PE31 7PQ, Grid Ref: TF 680 357 Cost: Free WEST NORFOLK | WALK | 1 MILE, LEVEL 2

HOE BIRD WALK, HOE COMMON Sunday 20 October, 8 – 9.15am or 9.15 – 11.30 am A monthly walk to record and observe birds and wildlife. New members always welcomed. Venue: Meet in the lane to Hoe Common at Grid Ref: TF 989 173 Cost: Free MID NORFOLK LOCAL GROUP | WALK | 3 MILES, LEVEL 1

FUNGI IDENTIFICATION WALK Sunday 20 October, 10am – 12noon A walk through surrounding mixed woodland, heath and plantations looking for and identifying many different types and species of fungi guided by local expert, Jonathan Revett. No dogs please. Venue: Meet in the Orchard Car Park (past the main car park and nursing home) at Brandon Country Park, off the B1106. IP27 0SU. Cost: £5 per person. There may also be a small car park charge. Booking essential: 01953 717227 BRECKLAND LOCAL GROUP | WALK | LEVEL 2, 2-3 MILES

RECLAIMING SOUTH GEORGIA FROM THE RATS Thursday 24 October, 7.30 – 9.30pm Tony Martin led the project to eradicate rats from South Georgia. He will describe the project, and show us how the wildlife is already responding. Venue: Cley Village Hall, NR25 7RJ Cost: £2 NWT members; £3 non-members LOCAL GROUP | TALK

GEODIVERSITY AND BIODIVERSITY - MAKING THE LINKS IN NORFOLK Thursday 24 October, 7.30 – 9.30pm Tim Holt-Wilson will show how the varied geology of Norfolk influences our wildlife and provides evidence for its history. Venue: Hunstanton Methodist Church Hall, Austin Street, Hunstanton, PE36 6AL Cost: £2.50 members / £3.00 non-members, including refreshments WEST NORFOLK LOCAL GROUP | TALK

ABBEY FARM AND ITS CONSERVATION PROGRAMME Monday 28 October, 7.30 – 9.30pm Illustrated talk by Edward Cross, farmer and naturalist Venue: Hempton Memorial Hall, NR21 7LG Cost: £2.50 FAKENHAM LOCAL GROUP | TALK

November

THE WOODS AT HOLKHAM Tuesday 5 November, 7.30 – 9.30pm An illustrated talk by Harry Wakefield, Head Forester at the Holkham Estate Venue: The Meeting Point, Withburga Lane, Dereham, NR19 1ED Cost: £2 NWT members, £2.50 non-members MID NORFOLK LOCAL GROUP | TALK

WILDLIFE OF LINCOLNSHIRE Friday 8 November 2019, 7.45 – 9.30pm An illustrated talk by Geof Lee Venue: Ingham Village Hall, NR12 9TD Cost: NWT members £2, Non-members £3, includes refreshments BROADLAND LOCAL GROUP | TALK

CHALK STREAMS OF NORFOLK Wednesday 13 November, 7.30 – 9.30pm Ursula Juta, Catchment and Education Manager of Norfolk Rivers Trust, will give an overview of the role played by the Trust in the restoration of Norfolk’s rare chalk streams. She will cover eels, water voles and crayfish as well as other species and their role in the food chain. Venue: Watton Christian Community Centre, High Street, Watton IP25 6AB. Cost: £2 NWT members, £3 non-members including refreshments BRECKLAND LOCAL GROUP | TALK

AMAZING AMAZON “A WILDLIFE EXPLORATION BY BOAT AND CANOE” Wednesday 13 November, 7.30 – 9.30 pm Julia Burton talks about her cruise of a lifetime down the River Amazon and the wildlife she saw on her journey. Venue: Alec Bussey Scout Centre off Rowington Road, Norwich, NR1 3RR. Cost: £2 including refreshments NORWICH LOCAL GROUP | TALK

UP THE GARDEN PATH Thursday 14 November, 7.30 – 9.30pm An Illustrated Talk by Anne Edwards. A glimpse of the incredible bio-diversity of a small garden on a busy road and the ups and downs of inviting wildlife into your home. Venue: Town Green Centre, Wymondham, NR18 0PW. Cost: £2 WYMONDHAM LOCAL GROUP | TALK

HOE BIRD WALK, HOE COMMON Sunday 17 November, 8 – 9.15am or 9.15 – 11.30 am A monthly walk to record and observe birds and wildlife. New members always welcomed. Venue: Meet in the lane to Hoe Common at Grid Ref: TF 989 173 Cost: Free MID NORFOLK LOCAL GROUP | WALK | 3 MILES, LEVEL 1

THORNHAM HARBOUR Wednesday 20 November, 1 – 3pm A walk along saltmarsh, grazing marsh and beach to see wintering birds and maybe some mammals, and to check the strand-line. Venue: Meet in car park at Thornham Harbour, Grid Ref: TF 728 438 Cost: Free WEST NORFOLK LOCAL GROUP | WALK | 2 MILES

MANAGING FOR WOODLARK, STONE CURLEW AND WIDER BIODIVERSITY IN BRECKLAND Thursday 21 November, 7.30 – 9.30pm Robert Hawkes is a PhD student at the University of . His research investigates the outcome of management to support special Breckland birds for other groups of organisms (plants, beetles, true bugs, ants, bees, wasps and spiders), utilising one of the largest replicated landscape- scale experiments in Europe. He will describe this work, and suggest management techniques which can help enhance these populations. Venue: Cley Village Hall NR25 7RJ Cost: £2 NWT members, £3 non-members NORTH NORFOLK LOCAL GROUP | TALK

VISIT TO ABBEY FARM, FLITCHAM Sunday 24 November, 10am – 12 noon Group visit with the Fakenham Local Group. Venue: Meet in farm car park, Grid Ref: TF 736 265 Cost: Free FAKENHAM LOCAL GROUP | WALK | 2 MILES

THE WORK OF THE RSPCA CENTRE AT EAST WINCH Monday 25 November, 7.30 – 9.30pm Illustrated talk by Alison Charles, Centre Manager Venue: Hempton Memorial Hall, NR21 7LG Cost: £2.50 FAKENHAM LOCAL GROUP | TALK

PROJECT GODWIT Thursday 28 November, 7.30 – 9.30pm Jess Owen of WWT Welney will show how their five-year project is working to restore the numbers of UK breeding Black-tailed Godwits. Venue: Hunstanton Methodist Church Hall, Austin Street, Hunstanton, PE36 6AL Cost: £2.50 NWT members, £3 non-members, including refreshments WEST NORFOLK LOCAL GROUP | TALK

December

BONES AND BITS NATURE QUIZ Tuesday 3 December, 7.30 – 9.30pm A quiz evening with Cliff Maidstone Venue: The Meeting Point, Withburga Lane, Dereham, NR19 1ED Cost: £2 NWT members, £2.50 non-members MID NORFOLK LOCAL GROUP | SOCIAL

BATS AND CHURCHES Wednesday 11 December, 7.30 – 9.30pm Philip Parker will give us a talk on the relationship between bats and the churches in the local area. Venue: Watton Christian Community Centre, High Street, Watton IP25 6AB Cost: £2 NWT members, £3 non-members including seasonal refreshments. BRECKLAND LOCAL GROUP | TALK

HOW HILL Wednesday 11 December, 7.30 – 9.30pm Simon Partridge, Director of the How Hill Trust talks about the Broadland treasure that is How Hill and its connection with Norwich Architect Edward Boardman. Venue: Alec Bussey Scout Centre off Rowington Road, Norwich, NR1 3RR. Cost: £2 including festive refreshments NORWICH LOCAL GROUP | TALK

THE WONDER OF BUTTERFLIES Thursday 12 December, 7.30 – 9.30pm Norfolk resident Patrick Barkham is a prolific journalist for The Guardian and author of critically acclaimed wildlife books. He will talk about the challenge of seeing all 59 species of British butterfly in a single summer, as described in the best-selling book The Butterfly Isles. Venue: Cley Village Hall, NR25 7RJ Cost: £2 NWT members, £3 non-members NORTH NORFOLK LOCAL GROUP | TALK

CHRISTMAS MISCELLANY Thursday 12 December, 7.30 – 9.30pm Members of the group will give a short presentation or just show a few of their favourite wildlife images. There will also be a ‘just for fun’ wildlife quiz and seasonal refreshments. Venue: Hunstanton Methodist Church Hall, Austin Street, Hunstanton, PE36 6AL Cost: £2.50 members, £3 non-members, including refreshments WEST NORFOLK LOCAL GROUP | SOCIAL

BOTSWANA’S OKAVANGO: AFRICA’S GREATEST WETLAND Thursday 12 December, 7.30 – 9.30pm Illustrated Talk by Nick Acheson about one of Africa’s truly great landscapes and the impressive populations of wildlife that live there. Venue: Town Green Centre, Wymondham, NR18 0PW. Cost: £2 WYMONDHAM LOCAL GROUP | TALK

THE NATHUSIUS’ PIPISTRELLE BAT PROJECT Friday 13th December, 7.45 – 9.30pm AGM followed by an illustrated talk by Eilish Rothney. The Nathusius’ Pipistrelle Bat Project aims to improve our understanding of the ecology, current status and conservation threats for Nathusius’ pipistrelles in Great Britain and determine their migratory origins. Venue: Ingham Village Hall, NR12 9TD Cost: NWT Members £2, Non-members £3, includes seasonal refreshments BROADLAND LOCAL GROUP | TALK

HOE BIRD WALK, HOE COMMON Sunday 15 December, 8 – 9.15am or 9.15 – 11.30 am A monthly walk to record and observe birds and wildlife. New members always welcomed. Venue: Meet in the lane to Hoe Common at Grid Ref: TF 989 173 Cost: Free MID NORFOLK LOCAL GROUP | WALK | 3 MILES, LEVEL 1

FILM VIEWING Monday 16 December, 7.30 – 9.30pm A wildlife film viewing, topic to be confirmed Venue: Hempton Memorial Hall, NR21 7LG Cost: £2.50 FAKENHAM LOCAL GROUP | TALK

WINTER WALK AT Sunday 5 January, 10am – 1pm Morning walk on the south side of Hickling Broad. Led by Jerry Simpson and Andy Beaumont. Venue: Meet at Potter Heigham Village Hall Cost: Free, donations welcome Booking essential: (max. 20) – Preferably by email [email protected] (or tel: 01692 630674) BROADLAND LOCAL GROUP | WALK, 3 MILES, LEVEL 2