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YNU AGM in Barnsley on Saturday 16 November with blue plaque unveiling and presentations

A special meeting will be held on Saturday 16 November at the Library@the Lightbox. Barnsley Nats are hosting the Yorkshire Naturalists’ Union (YNU) Annual General Meeting.

Jeff Lunn is this year’s YNU President and is giving a presentation during the afternoon with the title: ‘A Sense of Place, A Sense of Purpose‘.

In the morning there will be a presentation by Peter Roberts covering some highlights of the history of Barnsley Nats and in particular the story of Thomas Lister, Barnsley Postmaster, Poet & Barnsley Nats President 150 years ago. Following this a Blue Plaque to commemorate Thomas Lister will be unveiled.

The programme starts at 10.30am and it would be useful to have some idea of who is likely to come along that day. For the YNU AGM itself please book:
https://www.ynu.org.uk/news-events/news.

Saturday November 16 Yorkshire Naturalists’ Union AGM
Library @ the Lightbox hosted by Barnsley Nats.
10.30am, Presentation: Barnsley Nats historical highlights.
11.30am, Ceremony: Unveiling of Blue Plaque for Thomas Lister.
1.15pm, YNU AGM, Business session.
2.30pm, Presentation: Presidential address by Jeff Lunn:
‘A Sense of Place, A Sense of Purpose.’

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Gardening for Wildlife talk

Will Tomson is giving an illustrated talk –Gardening for Wildlife– on Wednesday 23rd October at 7pm at the Worsbrough Common Community Centre (Vera Mawby Centre) on Warren Quarry Lane, Barnsley S70 4ND.
7pm, Worsbrough CCC a presentation by Will Tomson. Ample parking on the roadside. Everyone is welcome, if you are keen to hear more about the topic, do come along.

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Return of our Winter indoor meetings

Our winter programme is nearing completion for both indoor and outdoor meetings, and will be published soon. But in the meantime here are some tasters of what is coming up.

The indoor meetings will include our Christmas get-together on December 18th; with the ever popular (fun) quiz, compiled by Jill. We will be starting off with Gardening for Wildlife on October 23rd. And we also have a presentation on Bees, Beekeeping and the Asian Hornet to look forwards to.

Our next outdoor field visit is on October 12th. When we will be looking at a local nature site at Stairfoot. Then on November 9th, we have our annual fungi walk. A chance to share knowledge into the fungi we observe, as we often find over 20 different species. This often sees many of us on our knees for a closer look at what we find and get some good photos. As usual our outdoor meeting may change from the published visit, as they all depend on a successful reconnaissance of the group leader for the day. And of course the British weather can have an impact on our walks too.

On Saturday November 16th the YNU (Yorkshire Naturalists’ Union) will be having their AGM in Barnsley. at the Library@the Lightbox. Barnsley Nats are hosting the event. There are two presentations and a blue plaque is being unveiled.

Information on our meetings is also emailed to people on our email list. To be included please drop us an email at [email protected]

Hedges and Meadows – 7 September 2024

Our next Barnsley Nats field visit is on Saturday 7th September for a morning’s look at the hedges and meadows on public footpaths up from Netherwood Country Park. Leader Catherine Artindale.

When Catherine did her recce, there were lots of insects on the wild flowers; let’s see whether they are still there! 

We are meeting in the Netherwood Country Park car park [not tarmac] for 10.00am. The grid reference for the car park is SE 3956 0404. The What Three Words location is ///organisms.prickly.crossing —look out for them! The postcode S73 8AU takes you to the general area.

YNU VC63 visit: Anston Stones Wood

This coming Saturday, 18 May, Yorkshire Naturalists Union has its annual field excursion to South Yorkshire; Barnsley Nats and other affiliated societies are invited. Last year Barnsley Nats joined them on a visit to Potteric Carr and the year before to Brockadale. They were splendid visits which we all enjoyed.

This year Barnsley Nats are invited to join the YNU in a visit to Anston Stones Wood off the A57 Worksop Road. It’s a species-rich area of mixed woodland, a SSSI, where Anston Brook cuts through a Magnesian Limestone gorge.

The flora is characteristic of limestone woodlands some of which should be in flower at the time of our visit. The reserve also includes areas of ungrazed grassland managed by mowing annually in September.

There are several well-made paths, with steps leading from the upper meadows and woodland to the stream side, making a round walk of around 4km. The organisers will lead a walk around this suggested route for those who wish to join this.

Meet at 10.30 in the car park of North Anston Parish Hall, Ryton Rd, North Anston S25 4DL. What3 words: ///apart.animals.measuring. Grid Ref: SK521842.

Leave the M1 at J31 and take the A57 east. At traffic lights in Anston, turn left to North Anston and Dinnington. The turn off to the car park is signed ‘Parish Hall’ and is opposite the school in North Anston. The toilets will be open from 9.45am! Bring something to have for lunch.

We will return to Anston Parish Hall at 4pm to hear about what everyone has recorded. Tea and coffee will be available.

Silkstone Waggonway, Wednesday evening, 24 April

Our first evening field visit this year is a walk along Silkstone Waggonway to look for and hear migratory birds and spot any spring flowers. Our leader is Ron Marshall. The venue has changed from the programme!

We are meeting for 7pm on Wednesday 24th April at Pot House Hamlet, Silkstone, S75 4JU; SE292057; ///ripples.attitudes.rigs. It’s well signposted from the A628.

As the daylight fades we may look for bats on the way back to our cars; finishing before it gets really dark!

Stainborough Dyke, Boylins Walk

There has been a change to our planned field visit for the 13th of April, which now takes us to the woodland around Stainborough Dyke and by the reedbeds near Boylins. This is an area that we visit occasionally and offers a very good scope on many aspects of nature. It’s mainly within the Lowe Wood and Falthwaite Local Wildlife Site.

We will be meeting in the Strafford Industrial Estate car park off Gilroyd Lane for a 10:00am start. Grid ref SE 324 041; what3words: ///launch.water.beast. Please dress for the weather, as it could be muddy in places. Leaders: Annefie Roberts and Doug Brown.

Nine members attended with the weather was warm with April showers. We took a circular route past Boylins and the bottom of Lowe Wood, over what is then Horse Carr Dike and along to the reedbeds of Strafford Mine water treatment works and then back to the cars via the TPT . We looked mostly at plants and were pleased to see some ancient woodland indicators, but fungi and birds were observed . A highlight for me were six House Martin seen over the reed beds. Doug

Thanks to Doug Brown and Gill Richardson for the species list.

Anthony (Tony) Hindley, 1927-2024

Tony Hindley with Annefie Roberts and Pat Hemsley on a field visit to Broadstone Reservoir

Tony Hindley, former President, Secretary and a Honorary Life Member of Barnsley Nats, has recently died. His funeral – ‘a celebration of a life well-lived’ was held in a packed Cawthorne All Saints Church on Tuesday 2nd April 2024.

Tony was a longstanding member of the Society, joining as a young man; he stepped down as secretary when he was 80 but carried on coming to meetings —the dapper gentleman at the back— until he became too frail. He made a surprise appearance with his wife Cynthia at the Christmas Social in 2022 . 

Annefie and I saw him just before this last Christmas, full of stories of Barnsley Nats over the years. As a young teacher in Barnsley he taught a number of pupils who became members of Barnsley Nats.

Tony Hindley (on the right) at the 150th Anniversary of Barnsley Naturalist and Scientific Society in 2017

Tony Hindley (on right) at the Barnsley Naturalist & Scientific Society 150th Anniversary in 2017

In 2017 he joined the 150th anniversary celebrations of Barnsley Nats. In 1958 he was photographed as a 30 year old at a presentation to Ralph Atkinson on Ralph’s 21 years as secretary.

Our thoughts are with Cynthia, friends and family.
Peter Roberts

Wildflower meadows – Chris Tomson


Our next indoor meeting is on Wednesday 20 March: Chris Tomson is giving a talk on Wildflower Meadows.

There are fewer traditional meadows today, affecting the numbers and diversity of insects and other wildlife. Chris has worked for many years with farmers on nature-friendly farming and we are looking forward to an informative and interesting presentation.

Wednesday 20 March, 7pm, at Worsbrough Common Community Centre, Warren Quarry Lane, Barnsley S70 4ND. Everyone welcome.

This will be our last indoor meeting until the Autumn; we look forward to seeing you there. During the summer we have our regular programme of field visits.

From Monk Bretton Priory to Barnsley Main field visit

This Saturday’s field visit will start by looking at the mosses on the walls near Monk Bretton Priory. Depending on the ground conditions, we will continue to the less managed part of the Barnsley Main former colliery site, looking at pioneering vegetation and wildlife. If you have a hand lens, do bring it. Our leader is Mark Dudley.

Meet at 10am, Saturday 9th March, at the public car park opposite the Mill of the Black Monks on Grange Lane, between Stairfoot roundabout and Cundy Cross. Grid reference: SE372064. What3words ///moss.breed.brains.

Meetings and field visits

Our next field visit is to the Monk Bretton Priory and Barnsley Main areas on Saturday March 9th, and our next indoor meeting is on Wednesday 20 March, a talk on Wildflower Meadows.

Barnsley Nats brings together people who share an interest in natural history and the wildlife of the Barnsley area. We have a programme of meetings and field visits throughout the year. Monthly indoor meetings take place from October to March at Worsbrough Common Community Centre. Field visits take place on the first Saturday morning of each month and on Wednesday evenings replacing the indoor meetings in the summer. See our programme page for details. Details for each event are also provided on this page.

Ancient Woodland Inventory Review

Wednesday 21 February, Worsbrough Common Community Centre, 7.00pm

Signs of Ancient Woodland?

England’s Ancient Woodland Inventory is being updated countrywide. David and Nick, from Sheffield & Rotherham Wildlife Trust, will be telling us how they are looking for woodland older than 400 years across South Yorkshire, including, of course, Barnsley. What are the signs? How can we be sure?

David and Nick are using previous research, historical maps & documents, mapping technologies (GIS), and field surveys of botanical & archaeological features. “It’s a big job but we’re excited to be involved in creating such a useful planning tool to protect these unique habitats.”

On Wednesday they will be sharing their enthusiasm. It should be a really informative session and no doubt will stimulate questions and discussion. And perhaps we can join in!

Wednesday 21 February, 7pm, at Worsbrough Common Community Centre, Warren Quarry Lane, Barnsley S70 4ND. Everyone welcome if you have an interest in our local ancient woodland. Just come along.

South Yorkshire Natural History Day

Saturday 17 February, 2024, at Miners Welfare, Arundel Street, TREETON
—Festival of Amateur Natural History—
10.30am—3.30pm

The South Yorkshire Natural History day is taking place on Saturday 17 February with a programme of talks and displays on nature and wildlife in South Yorkshire. No need to book in advance; just turn up on the day. It starts at 10.30am and ends at around 3.30pm. All welcome; no need to book.

There are talks on Farmland Bird Surveys in Rotherham, 35 years on; White Letter Hairstreak Butterflies; Tawny Owls; Saving Swifts; Insects/Botany on Brownfield Sites; and Water Plants and Bank Stabilisation in the canal at Thorne.

Details can be found on the Sorby Natural History Society website: sorby.org.uk/south-yorkshire-natural-history-day-2024/

Reasonably priced food (sandwiches, cakes and biscuits) and hot drinks will be available at all breaks, and there’s a bar at lunch time.

Getting there! —Treeton Miners Welfare, Arundel Street, TREETON, S60 5PW.

Treeton is a village accessed via the A630 Sheffield Parkway. Arundel Street is found when coming from Catcliffe, turning right straight after the traffic lights over the railway bridge (Or, if coming from Aughton, turn left before the traffic lights) by Cohens Chemist. Then go to the end of Arundel Street, where there is plenty of off-street parking.