Plantlife events, walks & workdays
Welcome to a packed programme of events across the UK for autumn and winter 2009. Click on one of the links to the right to see what's on near you.
Events are open to all and free of charge to Plantlife members, except where stated in the event details, for example where an entry fee is charged by another organisation. For more information, please get in touch with the contacts listed under each section or event.
Conservation activities
Volunteers are vital for many of the conservation
tasks Plantlife undertakes to monitor some of
our rare wildflowers, other plants and fungi, or
to maintain their habitats. You do not need to be
an experienced botanist to take part in surveys
and workdays, as full guidance is given.
Everyone is welcome.
How to book events
-
Please book for all events – this is important in case of
any changes due to weather or
other circumstances, or when
there are limited places.
- Please book with the
contact listed under each
event, or at the top of
each section in this events
supplement. If in doubt,
phone the main Plantlife
office.
- For the garden visits,
please book your place by
sending a cheque payable to
Plantlife to: Garden visits,
Plantlife, 14 Rollestone St,
Salisbury SP1 1DX and enclose
your contact details.
- When booking, please leave
your telephone number in the
unlikely event of any changes.
If you have any special needs
please mention them at this
stage.
- If you intend to travel by public transport but need a pick-up, please discuss possible arrangements with the contact given.
What to bring
Any special items that you should
bring are stated in the event
details - tools and gloves are
supplied by us when needed for
conservation workdays. In general
we recommend the following, as
appropriate:
- Outdoor clothing appropriate to
the weather
waterproof outers
(top & bottom).
- Sturdy footwear – e.g. walking boots.
- Sun hat and sun block
(or high-factor cream).
- Something to drink, plus a packed lunch if appropriate.
We ask that children under the age of 16 are accompanied by an adult and that dogs are left at home.
Events for Autumn / Winter 2009
East Anglia
Sat 16th January, 9.30am-12.30pm, Hampton Nature
Reserve, Peterborough.
Winter Stonewort walk. Come for a bracing walk around this astonishing post-industrial nature reserve, led by Tim Pankhurst. See some of the many stonewort species that are looked after by Amphibian and Reptile Conservation. Meet on Nature’s Way, grid ref TL 164942. You won’t find this road on your maps as it is quite new! Turn south off the parkway at the roundabout at TL 166951 and you will see the reserve on your right; meet about 900 hundred yards down this road. Wear stout, waterproof footwear and appropriate winter clothing. Contact Tim Pankhurst for more details on 01223 762052 or email tim.pankhurst@plantlife.org.uk.
London and South East England
Various dates to be confirmed.
Juniper workdays . This autumn there will be a series of Juniper workdays – collecting berries, for example, or helping to install special seedling cages. Although dates and venues have yet to be decided at the time of going to press, if you are interested in
participating, please contact Tim Wilkins by emailing tim.wilkins@plantlife.org.uk or by phoning 01722 342746.
Events at Ranscombe Farm Reserve in Kent
Please contact Ranscombe’s warden Ben Sweeney on 01471 824180 or 07983 578201 or email ben.sweeney@plantlife.org.uk. for more details, timings and to book a place for events at the reserve.
Sat 12th December, 7-9pm
Observing Meteors and Skywatch. Around Christmas is the best time for observing meteor showers. Spectacular shows are predicted for 12th December. Come along and observe these fascinating phenomena and learn all about them and the night sky. Minimum age 10 years. Booking required. Contact Valley of Visions – 01634 242826, mail@vov.kentdowns.org.uk or book online www.valleyofvisions.org.uk.
Mon 28th December
Ranscombe Christmas walk. A seasonal opportunity to leave the sofa, walk off the mince pies and get out and about on
the reserve for 2-3 hours. Come and see Ranscombe’s woodlands and fields in winter.
Wednesday mornings throughout the winter, 9am–1pm,
Ranscombe Farm volunteer work days. Every Wednesday through November, December, January, February and March (except for Wed 30th December). Learn more about conservation and
gain practical skills with our regular volunteer group. Everyone is welcome to come and join in with practical jobs around the reserve, learning conservation skills such as habitat
restoration and wildlife surveying along the way. This autumn and
winter, the jobs will primarily focus on habitat management. All tools and materials supplied, as well as a hot drink and a snack. Please contact the warden if you need any further information on volunteer activities – and to find out where to meet.
Midlands & Northern England
Sun 22nd November, 10am - 4pm, Deep Dale Nature Reserve, Sheldon, Derbyshire.
Workday. Join Plantlife’s local volunteers for a day clearing invasive Hazel and Hawthorn scrub amidst wonderful limestone scenery. Please bring a packed lunch. For further details and to let us know that you will be coming, please contact Joe Costley by phoning 01722 342734 or emailing joe.costley@plantlife.org.uk.
South West England
Tuesdays throughout the winter (see below for dates), Ryewater Farm Nature Reserve,
Corscombe, Dorset.
Generation Ryewater. If you would like to learn about practical conservation and fancy volunteering outdoors at a stunning
nature reserve with amazing meadows surrounded by ancient hedgerows then this is for you. You need to bring lunch
and be dressed ready to spend the day getting muddy and using tools. Warm clothes and waterproofs can prove useful! Join us from 10am until 4pm on the dates below:
December: Tues. 8th and 15th
January: Tues. 12th, 19th and 26th
February: Tues. 2nd, 9th, 16th and 23rd
To book a place, get directions or arrange transport please call Bex House on 07946841322 or email becky.house@plantlife.org.uk.
Scotland
For details and timings of all events in Scotland, and to book a place, please phone Jill Williams at the Plantlife Scotland office on 01786 479382 or email Scotland@plantlife.org.uk.
Sun 10th January 2010, 1pm-4pm, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh.
Drop-in session of
family activities – Scotland’s plants. Come to the John Hope gateway, RBGE. Scotland is home to a huge range of plants, lichens and fungi. Find out more about Scotland’s
native plants, where they grow and what we can all do to help them - and make a paper plant pot to take home.
Wales
Sat 5th December, 2pm-4pm, Doldowlodd House, Newbridge on Wye, Powys.
An afternoon with ancient trees. Get to know more about the lichens, fungi, mosses and liverworts of ancient trees at this joint
event with the Brecknock Wildlife Trust and Radnorshire Wildlife
Trust. Meet at Doldowlodd House, grid ref SN997625 on the A470 between Rhayader and Newbridge on Wye. Ring Ray Woods on 01597 824661 for more details.
