Wildlife Walks and Talks 

February  10^th  Friday  Explore the South Moors shore and streams for winter birds

Come and explore the streams and shore between Bedhampton and South Moors looking for winter birds including ducks geese and maybe kingfishers.  Meet at 1000 in the car-park in Bidbury Lane Old Bedhampton.  SU703063    John Goodspeed 023 9222 1361 or 078 1143 5252

February 22^nd:  Chichester harbour wildlife and conservation

7:30 at Warblington School.  Judi Darley will give an illustrated talk on the birds and conservation work undertaken in the harbour.    Admission £2.50.

March Saturday 3^rd  Explore the Lanes and Woods north of Stansted.

 Come and see what we can find on a 6 mile circular walk to Watergate farm and back.  Bring a hot drink.  Meet at 09:30 and park by the entrance to Stansted Forest opposite Forestside church.  SU 757123  Suggested donation £1.50.  John Goodspeed 023 9222 1361 or 078 1143 5252 

March 14th - The Geological Profile of Portsdown

Professor John Underhill of Edinburgh University will talk at this Friends of Portsdown meeting at 7:45 at The Church of Resurrection Hall Penarth Avenue Drayton.  Hios talk will deal with the Park's twinning with a conservation project in Uganda.  Admission £2,

March Thursday 29^th  Explore the Langbrook Stream

On this short afternoon walk (circa 2 hrs) we will wander down the Langbrook stream to the shore and back looking for birds and early wild flowers.  Meet at 14:00 at the junction of Solent Road and Park Road South in central Havant.  SU717061   Use public transport or town centre car-parks.  Suggested donation £1.50  John Goodspeed 023 9222 1361 or 078 1143 5252 

Wednesday April 25^th   Woodland Flower Walk

19:00  Come for a short 1½ mile walk looking for early spring flowers in Hollybank Woods on the Hants/Sussex border. It may be wet underfoot.Park on the roadside in Emsworth Common Road and meet at the gate into Hollybank Woods  SU 743084  Suggested donation £1.50  Contact: John Goodspeed 023 9222 1361 0r 078 1143 5252

Friday April 27^th  Walk on Harting Down and over Beacon Hill

10:30 – 15:00   This walk of about 6 miles will involve a number of steep slopes on the downs with a less arduous return below the scarp slope.  There should be birds, flowers, butterflies and good views.   Bring a picnic.  Meet and park carefully at the cross roads in the village.  SU786195 Suggested donation £2   Contact John Goodspeed 023 9222 1361 or 078 1143 5252

 Wednesday May 2^nd  Explore the slopes of Butser Hill & Grandfathers Bottom

19:00  Join us for a walk of around 2 miles to enjoy spring flowers and maybe birds on the steep banks of Butser Hill.   Park in the pay and display car-park off Limekiln Lane and meet at the gate.  Su711199 Suggested donation £1.50  Contact John Goodspeed 023 9222 1361 or 078 1143 5252

 Wednesday May  9^th   Flowers & Moths on Portsdown

20:00  Take a short walk on Portsdown and then visit a garden to see what moths we can find – and identify!  Refreshments will be available.  Meet and Park in the view point car-park on Portsdown Hill Road  east of ‘The George’   Su670063 Suggested donation £2.00  Contact:  John Goodspeed 023 9222 1361 or 078 1143 5252

 May Wednesday 16^th   Nightjar and Woodcock walk in Havant Thicket

20:30 till at least 22:00  Join this annual exploration of Havant Thicket to hear and see nightjars and woodcocks.  Meet at the entrance to the car-park off Manor Lodge Road Rowlands Castle Su724102.  We will advise on whether the car-park is available on arrival at the site. Suggested donation £1.50  Contact:  John Goodspeed 023 9222 1361 or 078 1143 5252

 Saturday May 19^th   Explore the northern shores of Pagham Harbour

10:00 to 14:30  Explore the fields and shore around the north of Pagham harbour with prospects of good birds and flowers.  Around 6 miles.  Bring a picnic.  Meet and park at the Reserve visitor centre on the B2145 at Sidlesham.SU856966 Suggested donation £2.00  Contact:  John Goodspeed 023 9222 1361 or 078 1143 5252

Wednesday June 20^th   Peregrines and other wildlife

19:00  Find interesting flowers and, if they have returned this year, peregrines on the Portsdown slopes – some of them steep!  Meet and park in lay-bys at the entrance to the old ARE buildings on James Callaghan Drive.  SU632067 Suggested donation £1.50  John Goodspeed 023 9222 1361 or 078 1143 5252

 Thursday June 21^st June.  Iping and Stedham Common butterflies

13:30 – 16:30  Explore these Sussex commons to see what butterflies etc we can find.  Meet in the car-park off the A272 east of Midhurst.  SU 853220 Suggested donation £1.50  John Goodspeed 023 9222 1361 or 078 1143 5252

 Wednesday June 27^th  Brook Meadow and the River Ems

19:00  Come for a gentle 2½ mile walk from Emsworth to Westbourne and back.  We will pass through the Brook meadow reserve and paths along the route of the river Ems looking for birds and flowers.  Meet and park in the Palmers Road car-park Emsworth SU750060 Suggested donation £1.50  John Goodspeed 023 9222 1361 or 078 1143 5252

 Wednesday July 4^th  Old Winchester Hill

19:00  Come and see what this great site has to offer on a summer evening – flowers, birds and if the weather is good maybe some butterflies.  Part of the walk will involve steep slopes.  Meet and park in the NNR car-park on Old Winchester Hill Lane. SU646208 Suggested donation £1.50   Contact:  John Goodspeed 023 9222 1361 or 078 1143 5252

 Wednesday July 11^th.  Blendworth to Chalton Windmill

19:00  Join us to explore the paths and views on Horndean and Blendworth Downs.  Meet and park at Blendworth church car-park SU712136 Suggested donation £1.50  John Goodspeed 023 9222 1361 or 078 1143 5252

Thursday July 12^th  Wildlife on Gipsies Plain and in Leigh Park gardens

10:00 – 13:00  Come and walk through the fields of Gipsy Plain into Staunton CP and see what we can find.  Around 4 gentle miles.  Bring coffee.  Meet in the car-park off Manor Lodge Road Rowlands Castle. SU 723102 Suggested donation £1.50  John Goodspeed 023 9222 1361 or 078 1143 5252

 Wednesday July 18^th  Glow worms on Portsdown

20:30  Come for a walk on Portsdown with the chance of finding glow-worms on your way back to the car.  Numbers on this walk will be limited so please phone to book a place.   Meet and park carefully at the junction of Grant Road and Gillman Road Drayton.  Busses to the Sunshine pub on Havant Road.  SU683060 Suggested donation £2  Contact:  John Goodspeed 023 9222 1361 or 078 1143 5252

 Wednesday July 25^th  Thorney Island for birds and snails!

19:00  We will walk from Emsworth down the western shore of Thorney Island looking for birds and look for some scarce pointed snails.    Meet in Queen Street Emsworth by the Mill Pond.  Park in car-parks where there may be charges or on road sides.  SU752057 Suggested donation £1.50  John Goodspeed 023 9222 1361 or 078 1143 5252

 Thursday August 10^th  Brownwich shore and the Titchfield Canal

10:00  Come for a 6 mile walk to the Solent shore at Brownwich  and back via the Titchfield canal path.  Some road walking   SU 541055.  Bring a picnic.  Meet and park in the car-park off Bridge Street Titchfield SU 543054 Suggested donation £2.00   John Goodspeed 023 9222 1361 or 078 1143 5252

Work Parties

Portsdown Conservation Volunteers

There are work parties every Wednesday from 10:00 till 15:00 on Portsdown managing the area on the Site of Special Scientific Interest.  Meet at 10:00 at the East entrance of Fort Widley.  Tools, gloves and hot drinks are all provided but you will need to bring your lunch if you are staying to the end.  (You don't have to!)

There are also work parties on the third Sunday of the month.

Friends of Langstone Harbour

This group works roughly monthly usually towards the end of the month at various sites round the harbour.  Jobs include litter picking, scrub control and path clearance.  Details are available from John Goodspeed 7-10 days before the events.  We usually work from 9:00 to lunch time on Saturday mornings.  Gloves and tools are provided but you should bring nay refreshments you need.  If you want to be added to the distribution list for information e mail John Goodspeed or write to him at 22 Hilltop Crescent Cosham PO6 1BD.

The programme for the next few months is likely to be as follows:

Þ November 5th Oyster beds - scrub cutting.

 

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