We hope you all had a good Easter and are enjoying the recent warmer weather. Our local birds seem to like it if the volume of singing is any indication!
We invite you to join our Dawn Chorus walk on Sunday 26th April to appreciate early morning birdsong with our expert who will identify the singers for us.
Birds are beginning to nest. Please let us know if you know of any colonies of house sparrows nearby. They are in decline so identifying their preferred spaces could help us create more for them.
Our Wildlife Garden Awards Scheme is now open for applications. If you have wildlife habitat in your garden you could qualify for a bronze, silver or gold award. There is plenty of time to add a feature to boost your garden’s status before the scheme closes at the end of July this year.
We are planning our surveys for this year and hope that you will be able to join us exploring nature in our area looking at bats, wildflowers, pollinators, mature trees or pond life. We also have some wildflower patch maintenance planned if you want a little more strenuous activity 🙂
Events planned for April and May:-
All our events are free and open to all. Children and vulnerable adults need to be accompanied. Outdoor events may be cancelled due to bad weather – if you let us know you plan to come then we’ll let you know if it has to be cancelled.
Thursday 16th April 10:30 am to 12 o’clock
Wildflower patch upkeep at Victory Field. Parking on site. Please dress for gardening with gloves, bring a drink and a weeding trowel and/or secateurs if you have them. We will be by the fence along the edge nearest the road. https://what3words.com/mirror.nodded.latest or Google Maps
Monday 20th April 7:30 pm
A BFNHS talk: ‘Sulham Woodmeadows’ by Ed Cooper. In the Recital Room at South Hill Park Arts Centre, RG12 7PA. Doors open at 7 pm. Visitors are welcome and there is no need to book. Visitors £4, Members free. Cash at the door. More information here: http://www.bfnathistsoc.org.uk/
Friday 24th to Monday 27th April
The UK WaterBlitz – Join this citizen science project and help take samples and analyse our local water courses. We sample at locations on this map here. Timing to suit volunteers. Please email us to join the team. More information here: https://earthwatch.org.uk/greatukwaterblitz/
Sunday 26th April 6 to 8 am
Dawn Chorus Walk at Great Pond led by David Calcutt who will teach us how to identify the birdsong. Meeting at 6 am at the gate near the top of Watersplash Lane, Cheapside:- Google maps link here; what3words ///ranch.chefs.spell Dress warmly with walking shoes. Please email us to register so we can let you know if we have to cancel. Dress warmly with walking shoes.
Monday 27th April
Our Annual Free Fun Wildlife Quiz in The Stag Pub, Ascot High Street – start quiz 7:30 pm, please arrive earlier for drink, meal and a chat. We are just about full, but please drop an email if you want to attend as we are finalising teams in the next few days.
Wednesday 29th April 10 to 11:30 am
Please come and help refresh and create Wildflower patches at Ascot Locomotive Society. Parking adjacent to site. Dress for gardening with gloves, bring a drink and a weeding trowel and/or secateurs if you have them. Location on Google maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/qho34rgmMPKoEW7cA
Wednesday 29th April 8:20 to ~10 pm
Bat walk survey at Sunningdale Park. Meeting in the SANG carpark off Silwood Road. Everyone is very welcome to join us to find out more about bats and for a warm, dry, evening stroll. Please email to be informed if we have to cancel. Cancelled if it’s raining or there are high winds. We recommend warm clothes, comfy shoes, a torch (preferably with red light) and insect repellant.
Wednesday 6th May 8:30 to ~10 pm
Bat walk survey in Heatherwood woodland. Meeting at the gate on Brook Avenue. Everyone is very welcome to join us to find out more about bats and for a warm, dry, evening stroll. Please email to be informed if we have to cancel. Cancelled if it’s raining or there are high winds. We recommend warm clothes, comfy shoes, a torch (preferably with red light) and insect repellant.
Saturday 9th May 9:30 am to 12:30
Conservation work at Allens Field – work to be decided. Please bring gardening gloves and wear sturdy shoes/boots. Meeting in the car park – off Liddell Way, South Ascot SL5 9UZ here: https://maps.app.goo.gl/seRhoQSrTEsyqWw2A
Wednesday 13th May 12.30-15.30
Working Party at Ascot Heath Primary School – Infant school wildlife garden. Please come along, with gardening gloves, to help maintain this space for the children’s nature education. Meeting at the school reception. Rhododendron Walk, North Ascot SL5 8PN, Google maps link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/bhYjdUnG1pc5rigg8
Thursday 14th May 10 am to 12 o’clock
Refresh work on the Carnation Hall pollinator patch: weeding out grass, tidying edges and sowing wildflower seeds. Please come along, with gardening gloves and any favourite tools 🙂 Parking on site, patch near the entrance at Chavey Down Rd, Winkfield Row, RG42 7PA Google maps link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/NG3WjpxfDZKc6eCg9
Monday 18th May 7:30 pm
A BFNHS talk: ‘An Introduction to Bumblebees, Miners, Masons & Leaf Cutters’ by Trevor Smith. In the Recital Room at South Hill Park Arts Centre, RG12 7PA. Doors open at 7 pm. Visitors are welcome and there is no need to book. Visitors £4, Members free. Cash at the door. More information here: http://www.bfnathistsoc.org.uk/
Wednesday 27th May 9 to ~10:30 pm
Bat walk survey in North Ascot along Sandy Lane. Meeting at the end of Sandy Lane on Mill Ride. Everyone is very welcome to join us to find out more about bats and for a warm, dry, evening stroll. Please email to be informed if we have to cancel. Cancelled if it’s raining or there are high winds. We recommend warm clothes, comfy shoes, a torch (preferably with red light) and insect repellant.
Friday 29th May 8:30 to 10:30 pm
Nightjar walk in Swinley Forest. Join us to listen to the curious churring of nightjars and hopefully get to see these crepuscular birds. Led by BTO bird recorder David Calcutt. Meeting by the entrance at the end of Woodlands Ride, Google maps link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/egh4iXrGKQBbxfJY7 Parking available along Woodlands Ride. Dress warmly with long trousers and sleeves. A torch and mosquito repellant recommended.