Past Events: 2013

February

1-10 February

• World: World Wetlands Day: 2013: 2nd February. Celebrating the Ramsar convention. This year's theme is Wetlands and Wetland Management.
  • Essex: Essex WT: World Wetlands Day Bird Walk. "To celebrate World Wetlands Day, David Petts will be running a workshop on the wetland birds of Hanningfield. The morning session will focus on the ducks on the reservoir, and then you will return to the visitor centre for a warm cup of soup and a roll. After lunch the afternoon session will look at the different types of gulls we can find on the reservoir at this time of year." 2nd February, 2013. Booking essential.
  • Gloucestershire: Glos WT: Wildfowl Watch. "Every year an amazing spectacle comes to our Coombe Hill nature reserve when hundreds of thousands of overwintering waders and wildfowl visit this wetland retreat. Join us on World Wetlands Day for a guided walk with nature reserve manager, Jackie Birch, and learn about the many species which migrate to Coombe Hill every year." 2nd February, 2013. Booking essential.
  • Devon: Devon WT: Birdwatching walk on the Exe Estuary. Led by Roger and Liz Hamling from Exmouth & Bystock DWT Local Group. 2nd February, 2013.
  • Sussex: Sussex WT: World Wetlands Day Walk. 2 mile afternoon walk: "A high tide at dusk should give views of many wetland birds around Rye Harbour’s new saltmarsh". 2nd February, 2013.
  • Brecknock: Brecknock WT: River Usk Wildlife Walk. "Circular wildlife walk of about 4 miles by the River Usk and the Canal on the edge of Brecon, chiefly looking for birds such as goosanders, dippers, and siskins. Led by local naturalist Keith Noble." 2nd February, 2013.
• Yorkshire: Yorkshire WT: Woodland and pond management. "Come along and help with woodland pond management at Noddle Hill Nature Reserve. It's a great winter work out and a chance to learn about nature conservation." 2nd February, 10.00am.
• Glasgow: Friends of the River Kelvin: Regular Monthly Cleanup. 2nd February, 10.30am.
• London: Thames 21: An introduction to water quality monitoring: A one-day course designed to help you "spot the signs of an unhealthy waterway, and carry out simple tests to establish baseline data on common pollutants. You will have a go at a practical test during the session." February 2. Booking needed.
• Oxfordshire: River and Rowing Museum: Early 20th Century Thames Poster Art. The RRM exhibition of vintage posters from London Transport continues until 1 March 2013.
• London: Thames 21: Monday Stride Out (Community Walk): River Cray: February 4, 2013 11:00 am-2pm: "Following on from recent success our Thames21 Monday Stride Out (Community Walks) continue with a walk from Foots Cray Village to Old Bexley."
• Cumbria: Coracle Building Course at Overwater Boats. 2nd-3rd February, 2013.
• Warwickshire: IWA: Canal Work Party - Leamington Spa. A work party to clean up the Grand Union Canal in Leamington to remove trolleys and bikes from the canal, clear litter, trim overgrown vegetation and hopefully paint out graffiti. 3 February, 2013.
• Herts: Survey the Colne Valley for... Wildfowl!. "Learn how to identify and survey for wildfowl and become a volunteer wildfowl surveyor in the Colne Valley. Booking essential." Saturday 2 February, Rickmansworth.
• Somerset: Somerset WT: Reptiles and Amphibians in Somerset. "John Dickson is chairman of the Reptile and Amphibian Group of the Somerset Trust and was curator of reptiles at Bristol Zoo for ten years. His illustrated talk will show us these interesting animals hiding in our Somerset countryside." Tuesday 5th February 2013, Castle Cary.
• Cornwall: The Friends of the Fowey Estuary: Visit to the Marine Biological Association, Plymouth. Tuesday 5th February 2013.
• Midlands: Wildlife Trust BCN: Guided Walk at Grafham Water Reserve. "Bedford Local Group have organised a walk at Grafham Water with one of the Trust Wardens" 6 February.
• Derbyshire: Derbyshire WT: Alien Invaders in Derbyshire. 6 February: "Paul Bratby from the Food and Envrionment Research Agency in Nottingham tells us of the work of the Plant Quarantine Pest and Disease Inspectorate, highlighting quarantine (non-native) pests and diseases that have been found in Derbyshire and some that are heading our way!".
• Oxford: Oxford University: Re-creating meadows in a floodplain landscape. A talk by Dr. A. W. McDonald, Department of Plant Sciences, University of Oxford. 7 February 2012, 1.10-2pm.
• Norfolk: Norfolk WT: Wildfowl & Waders. "Sunday morning guided walks onto the reserve looking at the birds that spend the winter at Cley. They start at 10.30 and last about two hours, returning to the centre in time for lunch (not included)." Sunday 10 February.
• Cheshire: Cheshire WT: Spike Island/Widnes Warth Marsh. "A walk focusing on the birds of the Upper Mersey estuary and adjacent saltmarshes, a variety of wildfowl and waders should be present along with a selection of winter visitors." Sunday 10 February.

11-28 February

• Hampshire: Hampshire WT: From the Depths of the Pond. "Richard Osmand, expert on fresh water biology, will give a live display and talk about creatures of the pond such as frogs, newts, dragonfly larvae, leeches and more." 11th February.
• Suffolk: Suffolk WT: The wildlife and military history of Orford Ness. "All welcome to join us and learn more about Orford Ness with Grant Lohoar, Coast and Countryside Manager with the National Trust." 11th February.
• Somerset: Friends of the River Frome AGM. "We will be discussing the plans for town development and the Somerset Wildlife Trust initiative in the upper river catchment area." Tuesday 12th February, 7:30 pm at Canoe Club.
• South Wales: Welsh WT: Return of the Beaver: "Return of the Beaver: learn more about the ecology of the European beaver and how conservationists are working on a feasibility study to reintroduce the species to Wales." 12 February, Swansea.
• Avon: Avon WT: Water Voles: Wildlife expert Chris Sperring introduces us to the cuddly riverbank creatures on 13th February.
• Lincs: Lincs WT: Talk: Froglife and our Native Amphibians: "Froglife is a national wildlife charity committed to the conservation of amphibians and reptiles - frogs, toads, newts, snakes and lizards - and saving the habitats they depend on. Sivi Sivanesan of Froglife will speak to us about our native amphibians." 15 February.
• London: Thames 21: Leading a Waterway Clean Up: February 16, 2013.: "The first day of a two-part training course, designed to help you build the confidence and skills to lead a safe, effective and enjoyable waterway clean-up. By the end of day one, you will be able to plan your own clean-up, showing that you can select an appropriate site; organise tasks and equipment; spot hazards and ensure health and safety."
• Cornwall: Friends of the Fowey Estuary/Cornwall WT: Seaquest Sundays: February 17, 2013. Regular hands-on marine surveys on the Cornish coast.
• Yorkshire: Yorkshire WT: Sprotbrough Flash and the River Don. Guided tour of the nature reserve adjoining the River Don just outside Doncaster. 17 February, 2-3.30pm.
• Avon: Avon WT: The Great Crane Project: An illustrated talk by Damon Bridge. 17th February, Long Ashton.
• South Wales: Welsh WT: Welsh Marine Life and Marine Conservation: "A talk by Dr. Lou Luddington on our rich marine wildlife." 19 February, Swansea.
• Dorset: Dorset WT: Otters and Water Voles: An illustrated talk by Rachel Janes, Conservation Officer at DWT. 7.30pm, Fontmell Magna Village Hall, 20 February.
• Suffolk: Suffolk WT: Dragonflies of Suffolk. "Come along and learn about the dragonflies of Suffolk with expert Nick Mason." 21 February.