SHROPSHIRE WILDLIFE TRUST BRANCH MEETINGS AND OTHER LOCAL EVENTS

Should you require further information about the Shropshire Wildlife Trust meetings please call the appropriate branch contact.  Telephone numbers are shown at the bottom of this page. 

For details of other events within Shropshire visit  http://www.shropshire.gov.uk/whatson.nsf/whatson.ns

Sat 7th June  2008 at 9pm  Prees Heath Common Reserve --National Moth Night, led by Stephen Lewis assisted by Peter Boardman.  An opportunity to see the moths that live on the reserve, using a variety of methods. Meet  on the access track opposite the Steel Heath turning off the A49.  Ware appropriate footwear and clothing.  Children much be accompanied by an adult.  Contact Stephen Lewis, Prees Heath Warden, Butterfly Conservation, for further information.  Tel 01743 340721 Mobile 07800 886809

Sunday 8th June 2008 - Save the Mosses volunteer task  10.00am-3.30pm  Find out more about volunteering with Natural England, as part of National Volunteers Week, by joining a light practical task to help restore Britain's third largest raised bog.  Meet at Fenn's Bank lay-by.  www.volunteersweek.org.uk  (See foot note re booking)

Thursday 12^th June 2008 -  A VISIT TO  'FIRWOOD' ON LLYNCLYS COMMON - Ellesmere Branch - An outdoor visit to a very large garden at the heart of Llynclys Common with owners David and Jackie Pedlow,  long-time volunteer wardens on the Reserve. Their garden contains all the habitats to be found on the wider Common, and this should be delightful visit on a fine June evening.  Full details will be announced at the May meeting.

Sat 14th June  2008 at 8am   Prees Heath Common Reserve  Silver-studded Blue emergence, led by Dr Jenny Joy of Butterfly Conservation. A unique opportunity to see the butterfly emerge from its chrysalis still attended by ants, as shown on the BBC last year.  Meet  on the access track opposite the Steel Heath turning off the A49.  Ware appropriate footwear and clothing.  Children much be accompanied by an adult.  Contact Stephen Lewis, Prees Heath Warden, Butterfly Conservation, for further information.  Tel 01743 340721 Mobile 07800 886809

Sunday 15th June 2008 - Dragonfly Discovery 1.00pm to 4.00pm  An afternoon walk and introduction to the wealth of dragonflies and damselflies on the mosses with Pete Boardman, as part of Wales Biodiversity Week.  Meet at Morris' Bridge, Whixall Moss car park.  www.biodiversitywales.org.uk (See foot note re booking)

Sat 28th June  2008 at 2pm  Prees Heath Common Reserve SSilver-studded Blue and other insects. A walk on the reserve for adults and children. Meet  on the access track opposite the Steel Heath turning off the A49.  Ware appropriate footwear and clothing.  Children much be accompanied by an adult.  Contact Stephen Lewis, Prees Heath Warden, Butterfly Conservation, for further information.  Tel 01743 340721 Mobile 07800 886809

Sun 29th June 2008 -  Haganella clathrata caddis fly event 1.00pm to 4.00pm  A chance to see one of the UK's rarest insects - the Net-winged caddis fly, only found at two other locations in the UK with Ian Wallace of Liverpool Museum as part of National Insect Week.  Met at Morris' Bridge, Whixall Moss car park.   www.nationalinsectweek.co.uk (See foot note re booking)

Sunday 27th July 2008 - Creatures of the Scupture Plaques walk.  1.00pm to 4.00pm  Help to celebrate International Bog Day with a guided tour (3.5km) of Whixall Moss with Joan Daniels of Natural England, to try to spot some of the bog creatures highlighted on the wood-carvings along the Mosses Trails.  Meet at Manor House NNR base.  Marking the start of Meres and Mosses Month.  www.meresandmossesmonth.info (See foot note re booking)

Wednesday 13th August 2008 - Bog Creatures biodiversity workshop for children 10.00am-4.00pm  A hand-on opportunity for children to hunt for and learn about the boggy wildlife of the Mosses with Caroline Evans of Natural England.  Meet at Manor House NNR base.  www.meresandmossesmonth.info   (See foot note re booking)

Sunday 31st August 2008 -  Woodcarving Prehistoric Pines on the Mosses day 11.00am-3.30pm  Join David Gerty of the British Woodcarvers Association on this woodcarving workshop to include a walk on the Mosses to hunt for ancient pine.  Meet at Manor House NNR base, Whixall.  A Meres and Mosses Month event.  www.bwa-woodcarving.fsnet.co.uk & www.meresandmossesmonth.info (See foot note re booking)

Sunday 21st September 2008 - A Peat-cutter's Life 1.00pm  A stroll around Fenn's Moss with Bill Allmark, a former peat cutter, to learn how life on the Mosses used to be and why the cutting has to stop!  Meet at Bettisfield old railway station.  A Natura 2000 Site Green Day event.  www.natura.org (See foot note re booking)

Wednesday 8th October 2008 - Marvellous Moths of the Mosses 7.30pm  An illustrated talk with Pete Boardman and Joan Daniels to show some of the Mosses 700 species and where they live.  To be held at the Whitchurch Civic Centre.  Free refreshments.  No need to book.

Sunday 12th October 2008 - Fungal foray 2.00pm  An afternoon walk to discover the fabulous fungi on the Mosses with Roy Mantle of the Shropshire Fungus Group.  Met at Manor House NNR base.  www.britmycolsoc.org.uk (See foot note re booking)

Sun 12th Oct 2008 at 2pm Prees Heath Common Reserve Fungi Foray, led by John Hughes of Shropshire Wildlife Trust.  The reserve is an excellent site for all sorts of mushrooms.  Meet  on the access track opposite the Steel Heath turning off the A49.  Ware appropriate footwear and clothing.  Children much be accompanied by an adult.  Contact Stephen Lewis, Prees Heath Warden, Butterfly Conservation, for further information.  Tel 01743 340721 Mobile 07800 886809

Wednesday 12th November 2008 - Success of the Mosses slideshow 7.30pm  An illustrated talk providing the last chance to catch up on the reserve's last 16 years.  To be held at the St. Oswald's Church Community Hall, Oswestry with Joan Daniels of Natural England.  Refreshments.  No need to book.

Sunday 7th December 2008 -  Come and cut a Christmas tree 10.30am  Come and clear the Moss by cutting your Christmas tree with Peter Bowyer of Natural England to celebrate International Volunteers Day.  Meet at the A495 Fenn's Bank lay-by.  www.volunteering.org.uk  (See foot note re booking)

Sunday 1st February 2009 Wildlife Gardening Workshop   10.00am to 4.00pm  Come and make wildlife homes for your garden with Joan Daniels, to celebrate World Wetlands Day, with a walk to collect materials from the Moss.  To be held at Manor House NNR base, Whixall.  www.ramsar.org  (See foot note re booking)

Please note that all Natural England events listed with the exception of talks MUST be booked IN ADVANCE and are free unless stated.  Please contact - Caroline Evans (weekdays) 01743 282005 or Joan Daniels (weekends) 07974 784799 E-mail caroline.evans@naturalengland.org.uk

Ellesmere            Jane Farncombe Tel: (01691) 622497

Whitchurch         Jeremy Hazard Tel: (01948) 780378