Thu 6th September 2018 at 9.30am Sun 25th November 2018 at 10.00am Wed 13th February 2019 at 7.00pm LOCAL WALK: Nash, Hayes CAR TRIP: Oare Gunpowder Works Country Park and TALK: Looking for the Goshawk, Conor Jameson A walk through rolling countryside, home to farmland birds , Kent “Goshawks can cast a spell on you. I know because it including skylark and yellowhammer. Meet outside A morning visit to the woods of the Country Park, followed happened to me”. A gripping tale on the trail of our most Wickham Common School, Gates Green Road (BR4 9DG). by Oare Marshes in the afternoon, which for many is Kent’s mysterious and charismatic bird. Conor is an acclaimed best nature reserve. Led by Jonathan Barnard. Meet in the author and regularly writes in the national press. Wed 12th September 2018 at 7.00pm Oare Gunpowder Works Country Park car park, off Bysing TALK: Wildlife off the beaten track, Jeff Blincow Wood Road, Faversham (ME13 7UD). Sun 17th February 2019 (pick-up at 8.00am**) With enough exotic locations for a Bond film, Jeff will take COACH TRIP: Fingringhoe Wick and Abberton us on an adventure-packed journey to all corners of the Sat 1st December 2018 at 9.30am Reservoir (EWT), Essex globe in search of stunning wildlife and scenery. Jeff is an LOCAL WALK: Hawkwood, Overlooking the Colne Estuary, Fingringhoe Wick is a expert naturalist and a superb wildlife photographer. A walk through wildlife-rich pasture and woods. Meet in winter home to thousands of waders and wildfowl, including Gosshill Road, facing Chislehurst train station (BR7 5NN). up to 700 avocets. Abberton Reservoir is a renowned Sun 23rd September 2018 at 10.00am hotspot for waterbirds, including smew and goosander. CAR TRIP: Riverside Country Park, Kent Sun 9th December 2018 (pick-up at 8.30am**) An ideal spot for birding during the autumn migration. Led COACH TRIP: RSPB Dungeness, Kent Tues 5th March 2019 at 9.30am by Jonathan Barnard, international birdwatching tour- A great place for winter birding. Exceptional for waterbirds, LOCAL WALK: , Kent guide. Meet in the visitor centre’s car park, 333 Lower often including a rare grebe or diver, owls and seabirds. A stroll through undulating fields and woods in search of Rainham Road, Rainham, Gillingham (ME7 2XH). songbirds, including farmland specialists. Meet in Cudham Wed 12th December 2018 at 7.00pm Recreation Ground car park (TN14 7QB). Wed 3rd October 2018 at 9.30am Christmas Wildlife Quiz LOCAL WALK: Scadbury Park, Chislehurst Back by popular demand! Suitable for all, from budding Wed 13th March 2019 at 7.00pm Explore the park’s rich wildlife, plus a tour of the Manor by Attenboroughs to beginners! Please bring refreshments. TALK: The birds of the Thames Estuary, Rolf Williams Michael Meekeums ( & District Archaeological For five years Rolf photographed the North Kent Marshes Society). Meet in Old Perry Street car park (BR7 6PW). Wed 9th January 2019 at 7.00pm from the sky for the RSPB. Join him for a spectacular bird’s TALK: The Eagle Watcher: Observing and Conserving eye view, as he reveals their wildlife and surprising history, Wed 10th October 2018 at 7.00pm Raptors, Dr Ruth Tingay from the Romans to the Saxons, Dickens to Roosevelt. TALK: Saving Nature in the South East, Alan Johnson An impassioned talk from the frontline of nature Find out how the RSPB is saving the most threatened conservation. Ruth is a conservationist, researcher, Sat 23rd March 2019 at 10.00am wildlife and habitats in our region, from little terns to swifts, blogger and, above all, a fearless campaigner against the TUTORIAL: Identifying birds by sight and sound in woodland to heathland. Alan leads the RSPB’s illegal killing of the UK’s birds of prey. East Kent, led by Tony Swandale conservation work in South East England. A birdwatching tutorial in and around the Blean Woods. Sat 19th January 2019 at 9.30am Tony was a nature reserve warden for 25 years and now Sun 21st October 2018 (pick-up at 8.00am**) LOCAL WALK: Place Park leads bird ID courses for the . COACH TRIP: RSPB Pulborough Brooks, Sussex This large green space is a perfect location for spotting Set in the beautiful Arun valley in the South Downs, this is winter visitors, including fieldfare and redwing. Meet in the Early April 2019 (check website) one of the country’s richest areas for wildlife. A huge Mansion’s car park, Beckenham Hill Road (BR3 1UL). EVENT: Kelsey Park Bird & Heron Watch, Beckenham diversity of birds can be found in wetland, wood and heath. Annual joint event with the Friends of Kelsey Park. Sun 27th January 2019 at 10.00am Thurs 1st November 2018 at 9.30am CAR TRIP: Bedgebury Pinetum and Forest, Kent Wed 10th April 2019 at 7.00pm LOCAL WALK: Gravel Pits, Sidcup The UK’s finest collection of conifer trees and a winter TALK: The story of extinct birds, Michael Blencowe ’s best kept secret, this normally closed reserve roosting place for hawfinch, brambling, siskin and lesser An illustrated tale of extinct birds, heroic naturalists, boasts an impressive birdlife and a reputation for rarities. redpoll. Led by Simon Ginnaw, an ecologist and whistling Maoris, Hawaiian kings and feather thieves. Join Meet at Edgington Way entrance (DA14 5AD). Arrive early. international tour-guide. Meet in the car park (TN17 2SJ). Michael’s search for the beautiful huia, the clumsy spectacled cormorant and other long-lost birds. Michael is Wed 14th November 2018 at 7.00pm Sat 9th February 2019 at 9.30am a nature writer and works for the Sussex Wildlife Trust. TALK: Birds in a Cage, Derek Niemann LOCAL WALK: Lilly’s Wood, Orpington The fascinating and inspiring true story of how a passion Local ecologist Jamie Fletcher will show us his favourite Sun 14th April 2019 (pick-up at 8.00am**) for birds enabled four young men to escape the horror of birding patch, which supports flocks of threatened farmland COACH TRIP: RSPB Minsmere, Suffolk internment in a German Prisoner of War camp. Derek is a birds. Meet at the wood’s entrance, next to the eastern A visit to a magical place for nature – with its scrapes, celebrated author and columnist for The Guardian. entrance to Park, Lane (BR6 7TH). reedbed, woodland and heathland teeming with wildlife. Wed 24th April 2019 at 9.30am nature are better connected. Beth Collier is a trustee of the LOCAL WALK: Sevenoaks Wildlife Reserve KWT, Kent National Park City Foundation, the charity that has led the A walk searching for our much-loved summer migrants. campaign. Beth’s talk will be preceded by a short AGM. Meet in the reserve’s car park (TN13 3DH). 15 min walk from Sevenoaks or Bat & Ball train stations. Sat 15th June 2019 at 8.30pm NIGHTJAR WALK: RSPB Broadwater Warren, Kent Thu 2nd May 2019 at 9.30am Hear the unforgettable, unique sound of ‘churring’ nightjars LOCAL WALK: Birthday Wood, Pratts Bottom and other crepuscular wildlife. Meet in the reserve’s car Immerse yourself in birdsong in this peaceful wood, with its park, off Broadwater Forest Lane (TQ554372). carpet of wildflowers. Park in Downs View Close, off Ringwood Avenue, which is off Rushmore Hill (BR6 7SU). Sun 30th June 2019 from 2 to 5pm Bromley Local EVENT: Countryside Day at Mon 6th May 2019 at 10.00am Stall at the Friends of ’s annual event. Group TRIP: Leybourne Lakes Country Park, Kent This park, near Maidstone, is the best place close to Sun 7th July 2019 (pick-up at 8.00am**) Bromley to hear singing nightingales. Plus hobby, cuckoo COACH TRIP: Titchfield Haven, Hampshire and warblers. Meet in the main car park (ME20 6AA). This watery wonderland is rich in wildlife. Bearded tits breed in the reedbeds and the Solent coast is a magnet for Wed 8th May 2019 at 7.00pm waders in their summer plumage. The reserve is also home TALK: A Prickly Affair, Hugh Warwick to over 20 butterfly species, dragonflies and water voles. Discover the many wonders of the hedgehog: a funny, charming creature of the countryside. Hugh is an ecologist Sat 13th July 2019 at 9.30am and writer of highly praised books. A regular in the national BUTTERFLY WALK: Keston Common, Hayes press, as well as TV and radio, he is also the spokesperson A walk through a mosaic of woods and open heath, in for the British Hedgehog Preservation Society. search of butterflies and birds. Meet in Keston car park, Westerham Road (grid reference TQ 419639). Sun 19th May 2019 (pick-up at 8.00am**) COACH TRIP: RSPB Arne, Dorset Famous as home of the BBC’s Autumnwatch, Arne is set in TALKS – talks are held in the United Reformed Church, the ancient Dorset heaths, on the shores of Poole Harbour. Widmore Road, Bromley, BR1 1RY. Doors open at 6.45pm Expect spectacular scenery, rare heathland wildlife for a 7.00pm start, ending by 9.00pm. The price is £3.50. (including Dartford warblers) and waders in the harbour. Programme of wildlife LOCAL WALKS – local walks start at 9.30am and end Fri 31st May 2019 at 10.00am around midday. They are a chance to learn about and enjoy talks, walks and trips CAR TRIP: RSPB Tudeley Woods, Kent the wealth of wildlife in Bromley. All our local walks are free. Get away from it all with a walk in the ancient woods and through the newly restored heathland and meadows. Tree TRIPS – trips normally start at 10.00am and last all day so Sept 2018 – July 2019 pipits and woodlark are returning, along with plentiful please bring a packed lunch. They take us the best nature wildflowers, butterflies and orchids. Meet in the reserve’s reserves close to Bromley. Lifts are usually available. They car park off Dislingbury Lane, near Tonbridge (TN11 0PT). are free (sometimes a reserve asks for a small donation). All events are open to everyone, of all ages: members and non-members, expert Sat 8th June 2019 at 9.30am **COACH TRIPS – all coach trips start with an 8.00am birdwatchers and absolute beginners LOCAL WALK: and around, Kent pick-up at Hawthorne Road, , BR1 2HH (at Bickley Explore the countryside that inspired Charles Darwin. The train station end) – except Dungeness in December (see meadows support rare orchids and butterflies. The woods above). Booking is essential (see website for price). Trips Visit our website: hold marsh tit. Meet outside St Mary's Church (BR6 7US). last all day so please bring a packed lunch. They are a rspb.org.uk/groups/bromley chance to visit outstanding reserves, see special wildlife Follow us on Facebook: Wed 12th June 2019 at 7.00pm and learn about conservation work. There will be a choice TALK: London National Park City, Beth Collier facebook.com/rspbbromley of joining a guided walk or doing your own thing. London is set to become the world’s first National Park City The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) is a registered in 2019. A city that is rich in wildlife and where people and Contact: [email protected] / 07392 790 719 charity: England and Wales no. 207076, Scotland no. SC037654.