Events
Coach trips
How much does it cost? £15.00 for adults & £7.50 for school children. (cheque or cash on the day)
Who can come? Everyone welcome, beginners, experts, non-members.
What should I bring? Packed lunch, a drink, suitable clothing and footwear essential. Why not bring a camera and binoculars if you have them?
Where and when? Depart 8.15am from Colchester North Station Forecourt, then 8.30am from Colchester War Memorial outside the Castle Park unless otherwise stated in the event description. Please let Carole Rogers know your preferred point so we don’t leave anyone behind.
When do we return? Typically between 5.00 pm and 6.00 pm unless bad weather dictates otherwise.
Please note:
CNHS does not have ‘public liability’ insurance for coach trips so everyone who comes is responsible for their own safety when they are not in the coach. However, our leaders give guidance on the best routes for walks and point out any hazards likely to be encountered. In any case we normally keep together as a party.
Car Trips
How much does it cost? Free of charge
How do I get to the event? You can travel in your own car but we encourage car shares. Please phone David Barnard (01206 825645) or Joe Firmin (01206 241389) if you require a lift or would be willing to take someone else.
Where and when? We meet at the site at the time given in the event description below, usually 10.00 a.m. Most people bring a packed lunch and stay till mid afternoon.
What are the Tuesday meetings? Tuesday evening visits often have a botanical or survey element with experts on hand to guide beginners. We focus on important or threatened wildlife sites in and around Colchester.
Indoor Meetings
How much does it cost? Free of charge to members but donations are accepted for refreshments.
Where and when? Cardinal Bourne Hall, Priory Street, Colchester at 8.00 pm unless otherwise stated. The Hall is situated at the East Hill end of Priory Street with car parking almost opposite by the Roman Wall. CLICK HERE for an online map
RSPB Coach Outings
All bookings and other details about the trips, e.g. pick-up points, please ring
Mick Kenny on 01206 395366 at least two weeks prior to trip with a discretionary
charge of £5.00 for non-attendance after booking.
Sunday 29th January 2012 - 7.50am - Fishers Green, Herts £17 + admission charge
Sunday 26th February 2012 - 7.50am - RSPB Ouse Washes, Cambs £18 + admiss. for non-members
Events Calendar 2012
February 2012
Sunday 12th February - 10.00am - Car Field Trip to Old Hall Marshes RSPB Reserve
Meet at reserve car park at 10.00am.
Leader is Paul Charlton. Prime birding with plenty of waders, wildfowl, wintering finches and buntings, plus raptors - marsh and hen harriers and merlin. Bearded tits guaranteed as well as probable shorted-eared owls and even, if lucky, a peregrine falcon.
Tuesday 21st February - 8.00 pm - Cardinal Bourne Hall
Simon Taylor - Bivalve Molluscs & Theo Tamblyn - Related to the topic of Molluscs
Meet at reserve car park at 10.00am.
Leader is Paul Charlton. Prime birding with plenty of waders, wildfowl, wintering finches and buntings, plus raptors -
Tuesday 21st February -
© 2005-2012 Colchester Natural History Society ¦ Website design by Ecotrack
There will be two separate talks this evening, one with a powerpoint presentation from Simon Taylor who is very knowledgeable on bivalve molluscs and is the Mollusc recorder for the Essex Field Club. Simon is also chairman of Rivenhall & Silver End Nature Care Group, chairman of the British Shell Collectors Club & on the Council of Conchological Society of GB & NI. The second is by 15 year old Theo Tamblyn, our youngest active CNHS member, who is also interested in molluscs and he will give an additional talk related to this topic.
March 2012
Sunday 11th March - 10.00am - Car Field Trip to Alton Water & Tattingstone
Meet at 10.00am at Tattingstone White Horse Bridge parking area TM137377. Russell Leavett will lead this walk. This large reservoir supports good numbers of freshwater birds at this time as well as a varied selection of smaller birds in the scrub and trees on its shore.
Tuesday 20th March - 7.30 pm - Cardinal Bourne Hall - Members’ Slide Evening including digital, video and computer presentations.
This is now one of the most popular indoor events on our indoor calendar and an ideal opportunity to share your natural history exploits with other members, but as there are many technical aspects in catering for multimedia, it is ESSENTIAL that you book a slot with Darren Tansley if you want to take part.
Traditionally, this was just a slide evening but with the widespread use of digital technology it has expanded to incorporate digital photos, powerpoint presentations and even moving image. We want to give as many members as possible, a chance to show their images so in order to arrange for the correct equipment to be in place at the right time and ensure the smooth running of the evening phone Darren Tansley on 01621 862995 or email darrent@essexwt.org.uk with your details.
Meet at 10.00am at Tattingstone White Horse Bridge parking area TM137377. Russell Leavett will lead this walk. This large reservoir supports good numbers of freshwater birds at this time as well as a varied selection of smaller birds in the scrub and trees on its shore.
Tuesday 20th March -
This is now one of the most popular indoor events on our indoor calendar and an ideal opportunity to share your natural history exploits with other members, but as there are many technical aspects in catering for multimedia, it is ESSENTIAL that you book a slot with Darren Tansley if you want to take part.
Traditionally, this was just a slide evening but with the widespread use of digital technology it has expanded to incorporate digital photos, powerpoint presentations and even moving image. We want to give as many members as possible, a chance to show their images so in order to arrange for the correct equipment to be in place at the right time and ensure the smooth running of the evening phone Darren Tansley on 01621 862995 or email darrent@essexwt.org.uk with your details.
April 2012
Sunday 15th April - 10.00am - Car Field Trip to Landguard Point and Trimley Marshes.
Meet at 10.00am at the Landguard Point public car park TM286320. Mid-April should see the arrival of spring migrant birds and Landguard Point is a good place to catch up with these. Later in the day we will move on to the nearby Trimley Marshes Reserve – an excellent Suffolk Wildlife Trust site.
Tuesday 17th April - 8.00 pm - Cardinal Bourne Hall
Prof. Ted Benton - ‘Life in the Undergrowth’ continued…
This is a follow-up to a previous talk Ted did with Ian Rose on ‘life in the undergrowth’. The talk will include video film of insect behaviour – grasshoppers and crickets, butterflies and bees – many of them filmed in a town-centre back garden, others from much further afield…
Saturday 28th April - 8.00pm - Salary Brook Local Nature Reserve - Bat Evening (Ranger)
Take a walk through the reserve with our bat expert, using bat detectors to discover the species living there.
Booking: Essential. Suitable for all ages. Children must be accompanied. Bring a torch.
Cost: £3 donation per adult. Event Time: 8.00pm until 10.00pm (approximate finish time)
Meet: Titania Close off Avon Way.
Meet at 10.00am at the Landguard Point public car park TM286320. Mid-
Tuesday 17th April -
This is a follow-
Saturday 28th April -
Take a walk through the reserve with our bat expert, using bat detectors to discover the species living there.
Booking: Essential. Suitable for all ages. Children must be accompanied. Bring a torch.
Cost: £3 donation per adult. Event Time: 8.00pm until 10.00pm (approximate finish time)
Meet: Titania Close off Avon Way.
May 2012
Tuesday 1st May - 7.00pm - Hill House Wood, West Bergholt
Park at the old church at TL 952281. This Woodland Trust wood is well looked after by a local group including CNHS members Joe Firmin and Philip Smith, should be a picture if we have another early spring. Possible flowers include early purple orchids, bluebells, yellow archangel, ramsons, climbing corydalis and others. Spring migrants might include nightingale. Leader Joe Firmin contact no. 01206 241389
Sunday 13th May - Car Field Trip to Bradwell Brook (Curry Farm) Nature Reserve, Bradwell-on-Sea
The reserve is at Mill End which is signposted off the Bradwell Road, Tillingham which is a right turning off Maldon Road from Maldon (B1021). Parking is limited and visitors are asked to share cars. It is essential to contact Joe Firmin on 01206 241389 if you are thinking of going as car numbers are limited. The reserve is the site of what is claimed to be the world’s largest moth lamp, a walk-in brick built trap which has provided many national moth records especially rare immigrants. There are many uncommon species of butterflies, moths, dragonflies and damselflies and hosts many resident and migrant birds. The reserve will host field visits today and on Sunday July 8 and CNHS members are welcome. Today’s visit is good for spring butterflies including the green hairstreak.
Park at the old church at TL 952281. This Woodland Trust wood is well looked after by a local group including CNHS members Joe Firmin and Philip Smith, should be a picture if we have another early spring. Possible flowers include early purple orchids, bluebells, yellow archangel, ramsons, climbing corydalis and others. Spring migrants might include nightingale. Leader Joe Firmin contact no. 01206 241389
Sunday 13th May -
The reserve is at Mill End which is signposted off the Bradwell Road, Tillingham which is a right turning off Maldon Road from Maldon (B1021). Parking is limited and visitors are asked to share cars. It is essential to contact Joe Firmin on 01206 241389 if you are thinking of going as car numbers are limited. The reserve is the site of what is claimed to be the world’s largest moth lamp, a walk-
Tuesday 15th May - 7.00pm - Gravelpit Wood, Copford.
TL 931234. Park on the main road, meet at entrance to Hall Road, a short walk up the lane. This part of ancient wood has open and wet areas, the remains of old gravel diggings. There could be interesting entomology if the weather is obliging, in addition to some interesting plants. Leader Peter Wilson contact no. 01206 766217
Friday 18th May - 8.30pm - Lexden Park Local Nature Reserve - Bat Evening (Ranger)
Take a walk through the Park with our bat expert, using bat detectors to discover the species living there. Normally exceptional views of bats are gained over the lake. Bring a torch.
Booking: Essential. Suitable for all ages. Children must be accompanied.
Cost: £3 donation per adult. Event Time: 8.30pm until 10.30pm (approximate finish time)
Meet: Lexden Park car park off Church Lane.
Tuesday 29th May - 7.00pm - Greenstead Slopes, Harwich Road, Colchester
TM 017259. Park on the Harwich Road at the entrance to the Park if possible, or alternatively in Greenstead along Juniper Way and walk down to the site. Meet near the children’s play area. The slopes have an interesting flora especially near the wet flushes, including cuckoo flower, yellow vetchling, greater birdsfoot trefoil and a good mix of grasses. There is also a remnant of ancient woodland. Leader Peter Douch with Jim Aird contact no. 01206 574960.
Wednesday 30th May - 10.00a.m - Colchester Hythe Lagoons, Colne Estuary and Marshes.
This is the first of the two day recording sessions at this site led by Russell Leavett. (see 25th July) A whole day looks at this interesting area between the Hythe and Rowhedge. This will be an “all orders” survey day but with special emphasis on plants and invertebrates. Part of the site is owned by Colchester Borough Council, who is keen to know more about the value of it for wildlife. Equally the Upper Colne Marshes SSSI is relatively poorly known and would benefit from a closer look. Meet at the end of Haven Road opposite to the offices of Fieldgate & Co. TM022236
Stout footwear essential, wellies if after a period of heavy rain.
Booking: Essential. Suitable for all ages. Children must be accompanied.
Cost: £3 donation per adult. Event Time: 8.30pm until 10.30pm (approximate finish time)
Meet: Lexden Park car park off Church Lane.
Tuesday 29th May -
TM 017259. Park on the Harwich Road at the entrance to the Park if possible, or alternatively in Greenstead along Juniper Way and walk down to the site. Meet near the children’s play area. The slopes have an interesting flora especially near the wet flushes, including cuckoo flower, yellow vetchling, greater birdsfoot trefoil and a good mix of grasses. There is also a remnant of ancient woodland. Leader Peter Douch with Jim Aird contact no. 01206 574960.
Wednesday 30th May -
This is the first of the two day recording sessions at this site led by Russell Leavett. (see 25th July) A whole day looks at this interesting area between the Hythe and Rowhedge. This will be an “all orders” survey day but with special emphasis on plants and invertebrates. Part of the site is owned by Colchester Borough Council, who is keen to know more about the value of it for wildlife. Equally the Upper Colne Marshes SSSI is relatively poorly known and would benefit from a closer look. Meet at the end of Haven Road opposite to the offices of Fieldgate & Co. TM022236
Stout footwear essential, wellies if after a period of heavy rain.
June 2012
Sunday 10th June - Coach Field Trip to Chafford Gorges EWT Reserve
8.15am North Station Forecourt / 8.30am War Memorial
This reserve consists of former chalk quarries known as Warren, Lion and Gray Gorges together with the connecting land of Mill Wood and Wouldham Cliffs comprises approximately 200 acres of fantastic wildlife and geology. The chalky, sandy and gravely soils supports a number of unusual insects of national importance. Nine species of orchid are found here too along with other notable botanical plants.