CNHS Events 2012
For full details please visit our EVENTS page.
February 2012
Sunday 12th February - 10.00am - Car Field Trip to Old Hall Marshes RSPB Reserve
Saturday 18th February - 10.30am - Annual Meeting & Exhibition Essex Moth Group
Tuesday 21st February - 8.00 pm - Cardinal Bourne Hall
Simon Taylor - Bivalve Molluscs & Theo Tamblyn - Related to the topic of Molluscs
March 2012
Sunday 11th March - 10.00am - Car Field Trip to Alton Water & Tattingstone
Tuesday 20th March - 7.30 pm - Cardinal Bourne Hall - Members’ Slide Evening including
digital, video and computer presentations.
April 2012
Sunday 15th April - 10.00am - Car Field Trip to Landguard Point and Trimley Marshes.
Tuesday 17th April - 8.00 pm - Cardinal Bourne Hall
Prof. Ted Benton - ‘Life in the Undergrowth’ continued…
Saturday 28th April - 8.00pm - Salary Brook Local Nature Reserve - Bat Evening (Ranger)
May 2012
Tuesday 1st May - 7.00pm - Hill House Wood, West Bergholt
Sunday 13th May - Car Field Trip to Bradwell Brook (Curry Farm) Nature Reserve, Bradwell-on-Sea
Tuesday 15th May - 7.00pm - Gravelpit Wood, Copford.
Friday 18th May - 8.30pm - Lexden Park Local Nature Reserve - Bat Evening (Ranger)
Tuesday 29th May - 7.00pm - Greenstead Slopes, Harwich Road, Colchester
Wednesday 30th May - 10.00a.m - Colchester Hythe Lagoons, Colne Estuary and Marshes.
June 2012
Sunday 10th June - Coach Field Trip to Chafford Gorges EWT Reserve
8.15am North Station Forecourt / 8.30am War Memorial
Tuesday 12th June - 7.00pm - Wormingford Churchyard and arable field edges.
Wednesday 13th June – Moth lamp session - Spring Lane Nursery Meadow, Spring Lane
entrance at 9.00pm
Sunday 24th June - 10.15am - CNHS Colchester Annual ‘Wild Walk’ Day
Tuesday 26th June - 7.00pm - High Woods Country Park
July 2012
Sunday 8th July - Car Field Trip to Bradwell Brook (Curry Farm) Nature Reserve, Bradwell-on-Sea
Tuesday 10th July - 7.00pm - Friday Wood - Moth Lamp Session.
Wednesday 18th July – Lexden Park LNR, Church Lane entrance at 9.00pm
Sunday 22nd July – 10.00am – Marks Hall butterflies, dragonflies & summer insects walk
Tuesday 24th July - 7.00pm - Salary Brook, Greenstead.
Wednesday 25th July – 10.00am - Colchester Hythe Lagoons, Colne Estuary and Marshes.
This is the second of the two day recording sessions at this site led by Russell Leavett. (see 30th May) 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. TM 022236
Stout footwear essential, wellies if after a period of heavy rain.
Saturday 28th July -
Come and join in the successful annual butterflies and summer insect walk at the
Hilly Fields and Buntings Meadow local nature reserves led by Joe Firman. Meet at
Sussex Road entrance, off Lexden Road to the Hilly Fields at 10.00am, parking in
Sussex Road. As well as butterfly and day-
August 2012
Sunday 5th August – Coach Field Trip – Devil’s Dyke Reserve, Newmarket, Cambs
8.15am North Station Forecourt / 8.30am War Memorial
This Cambridge Wildlife Trust Reserve, on a linear ancient earthwork 11km long, is famous for its special chalk butterflies, moths and other insects as well as a very rich and special flora. The site is famous for its big colony of chalkhill blue butterflies and on our previous visit in 2010 the members who went will remember the experience of these special butterflies flying in their hundreds. John Dawson, the warden of this reserve and an expert on the uncommon wild flowers and insects associated with this beautiful ancient site, will be accompanying us once again.
Tuesday 7th August -
Park at the car park TL 884149. Their late summer flora will still be out, including the heather at its best. Insects will include groundhoppers, grasshoppers and bush crickets, day and evening flying moths, dragonflies plus a probable good selection of birds. Leader Joan Pinch and Sue More contact no. 07842110051.
Wednesday 8th August – Hilly Fields LNR, Hubert Road entrance.
Friday 17th August -
Take a walk with our bat expert through the Park, using bat detectors and find out what species are 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: 8.00pm until 10.00pm Meet: Visitor Centre
September 2012
Sunday 2nd September -
8.15am North Station Forecourt / 8.30am War Memorial
Dunwich Heath is an area of outstanding natural beauty and an important nature conservation area comprising a rare and precious habitat. The heath is home to special bird species such as the Dartford warbler and nightjars. Hopefully we’ll catch one of the last warm sunny days for butterflies, dragonflies and other insects too, along with the heath’s colours of pink and purple.
Saturday 15th September -
Take a walk with our bat expert through the reserve, using bat detectors and find out what species living there. Bring a torch.
Booking: Essential. Suitable for all ages. Children must be accompanied.
Cost: £3 donation per adult. Event Time: 7.00pm until 09.00pm Meet: Hubert Road Entrance
October 2012
Sunday 14th October -
This is another one of our favourite sites for the Society’s annual fungus foray with our fungi expert Ian Rose as our leader. There were numerous species found on our last trip here in 2010 so here’s hoping for early autumn rain and then warmth for a bumper crop of fungi. To see Ian’s report on our last visit here please see Cervus no 73 Winter / Spring 2011.
Sunday 28th October -
Join fungi expert Ian Rose on this forage around Welsh Wood Local Nature Reserve and discover the fascinating mushrooms and toadstools that grow there.
Booking: Essential. Suitable for all ages. Children must be accompanied.
Cost: £3 donation per adult. Children FREE Event Time: 10:00am – 12:00 midday
Meet: Woodlands Road
November 2012
Sunday 4th November -
Join fungi expert Ian Rose on this forage around the Park and discover the fascinating mushrooms and toadstools that grow there.
Booking: Essential. Suitable for all ages. Children must be accompanied.
Cost: £3 donation per adult. Children FREE Event Time: 10:00am – 12:00 midday
Meet: Visitor Centre
News - February 2012
CNHS AGM Awards
At the 2012 Colchester Natural History Society AGM the Bree Trophy was awarded to
Dougal Urquhart for his overall contribution to Natural History in North Essex. Dougal
is known to most people for his work at Cudmore Grove Country Park on East Mersea
but he is also warden of Chalkney Wood Reserve near Earls Colne and has a wide-
The Rose Bowl photographic award was split into two categories this year with the
Essex (local) winner being Peter Douch for his photo of a horsefly and the World
award going to Pete Hewitt with his shot of Chalkhill blue butterflies. Both received
presentation certificates from last year’s winner, Jonathan Greenwood who then presented
the Rose Bowl to the overall winner -
Category 1: Essex
Winner Peter Douch, Horsefly (and overall winner)
Second: Pam Wilson, Sawfly Larvae
Third: Darren Tansley, Cocksfoot