Events

FOR COACH TRIPS

Outings now depart at 8.15 am from Colchester North Station Forecourt, then at 8.30 am as normal from Colchester War Memorial outside the Castle Park (except for our Fungi Foray on 14th October which departs 7.45 am and 8.00 am respectively). This is due to the increased parking costs at Priory Street Car Park. The Colchester North Station Car Park cost at the time of going to print is £1.00. We hope that this will give our members a choice of where to park for our coach outings.

Please inform Carole Rogers if you intend to alight at Colchester North Station Forecourt or Colchester War Memorial when booking, especially for North Station as we don’t want to leave anyone behind! We return to Colchester North Station Forecourt and the Colchester War Memorial from all our outings between 5.00 pm and 6.00 pm unless bad weather dictates otherwise.

Come along and join us for an enjoyable day out, you do not have to be an expert. We are a friendly group with varying knowledge and interests. Everyone is welcome including non-members too. Please bring along a packed lunch, a drink, suitable clothing and footwear. Payment for the trip will be taken on the coach, £10.00/£12.00 for adults & £5.00/£6.00 for school children. (Cheques will be accepted).

Please note that for coach trips CNHS does not have ‘public liability’ insurance, 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.

FOR CAR TRIPS

We try to car-share in order to save costs and to help those who may not otherwise be able to go. Please let Dave Barnard (01206 825645) or Joe Firmin (01206 241389) know if you require a lift or would be willing to give a lift. We meet at the site at the time given, usually 10.00 a.m. Most people bring a packed lunch and stay till mid afternoon.

Tuesday Evening Schedule

Tuesday evening visits this year focus on some of the more important wildlife sites in and around Colchester. Several of these sites have been suggested by Colchester Borough Council, who appreciates our help with recording and monitoring target species. Others are sites we know will soon be developed for new housing, where we may be able to influence which parts are left as open space. Many sites are experiencing increasing numbers of visitors. The management plans for several of the sites have been made available to us for reference.

Indoor Meetings

Our talks are free to members but donations accepted for refreshments. Unless otherwise stated all indoor meetings are held at the Cardinal Bourne Hall in Priory Street, Colchester and usually start at 8.00 pm. The Hall is situated at the East Hill end of Priory Street with car parking almost opposite by the Roman Wall. Remember there are special events such as the AGM which start early. Don’t get caught out!

CLICK HERE for an online map

Photo © Peter Douch:

Pont duGard during one of CNHS's European excursions

July 2008

Sunday 6th July - 10.00 am - Colchester Annual Wild Walk Day
Meet at the War Memorial at 10.00am for a walk led by Ted Benton through the Colchester Castle Park to Highwoods Country Park and back. Enjoy the varied habitats along the way with experts on hand to help with identification if needed, interesting plants, birds and insects including butterflies and dragonflies. Bring a packed lunch and drink if staying for the whole trip.

Tuesday 8th July - 7.00 pm - Westlands Park, Shrub End
The newest Colchester Country Park created from a landfill site. Meet at the Gosbecks car park (as for 10th June). There is great interest in whether this brownfield site will develop into a new haven for invertebrates. The leader will again be John Thorogood.

Friday 11th July - 9.00 pm to midnight - Moth Recording at Colchester Castle Park
Arranged for Colchester Borough Council. Leaders: Joe Firmin, Ian Rose and Dave Barnard.

Sunday 13th July – Coach trip to Hadleigh Castle Country Park, Benfleet, Essex
8.15 am North Station Forecourt / 8.30 am War Memorial. As our last trip was successful, we have decided to return again. Hadleigh Castle Country Park is one of the largest in Essex. The mixture of scrub, grassland and woodland provides many places for plants and wildlife to live.

Friday 18th July – 9.00 pm - Moth Recording Evening at Bunting’s Meadow LNR
Moth lamps session at Bunting’s Meadow LNR - 9.00pm to midnight. Meet Hubert Road entrance, off Glen Avenue, Colchester. Leaders: Joe Firmin, Ian Rose and Dave Barnard.

Saturday 19th July - 10.00 am - Butterflies and summer insects walk
Butterflies and summer insects walk led by Joe Firmin at Hilly Fields and Bunting’s Meadow local nature reserves. Meet at Sussex Road entrance to Hilly Fields at 10 am, parking in road. Sites are always good for a wide number of invertebrate species including dragonflies and damselflies at the Hilly Fields wet areas.

Tuesday 22nd July - 7.00 pm - High Woods Country Park
Concentrating on the northern extension. Meet at the main visitor centre car park, from where we will walk to the northern areas of grassland and scrub to check out the plants, invertebrates and anything else we see. Leader Ernie Wells, CNHS committee member and High Woods volunteer ranger.

August 2008

Tuesday 5th August - 7.00 pm - Bull Meadow and Cowdray Avenue Local Nature Reserve
Use the ‘Leisure World’ car park, (there may be a charge?), from where we will walk to the sites along the riverside. A large housing development is due to be built between these two small reservoirs for wildlife. It will be useful to establish what lives there now. Leader: Ted Benton.

Tuesday 19th August - 7.00 pm - Ferry Marsh, Wivenhoe and Wivenhoe Wood
Park at the official car park off the High Street going down to the Quay, or on the roads around if it is full. Darren Tansley will lead and tell us about the water vole and other mammal habitats. Get up close to saltmarsh habitat whilst it is still there!

Wednesday 20th August – 10.00 am - Hockley Wood, near Thorrington
Meet at Hockley Wood, near Thorrington (TM 090219) at 10.00am. Return to Hockley Wood, near Thorrington (see 28th May) for later season recording, all orders. Leader: Russell Leavett.

September 2008

Sunday 7th September – Coach trip to Fishers Green, Lee Valley Park, Nr Waltham Abbey, Essex
8.15 am North Station Forecourt / 8.30 am War Memorial
An area of the Lee Valley Country Park consisting of a large lake, marsh, woodland, hedgerows and meadows.

Tuesday 23rd September - 8.00 pm
Cardinal Bourne Hall – Dr. Simon Cox – Argentina, the Falklands & Antarctica
An illustrated talk by Dr. Simon Cox, President of the Essex Bird Watching Society, on the wildlife of Argentina, the Falklands & Antarctica.

October 2008

Sunday 19th October – Coach trip to Holkham Pines and Wells-next-to-the-Sea, Norfolk for the annual fungus foray
7.45 am North Station Forecourt / 8.00 am War Memorial
This is one of our favourite sites for the Society’s annual fungus foray with Ian Rose as our leader. It is not only good for fungi but for winter birds too. We generally walk through Holkham Pines to Wells-next-to-the-Sea through the different habitats which include woodland and sand dunes.

November 2008

Saturday 8th November - 10.00 am - Fungus Foray at Highwoods Country Park
Fungus Foray at Highwoods Country Park in collaboration with Highwoods Country Park, leader Ian Rose. Meet at Centre 10.00 am.

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