Wednesday January 22nd. With the diversity of our members personal topics being so vast, this is a highly interesting evening. Filled with short talks, photo and video clips, as well as hands -on samples for us to observe. Fell free to add to the evening or just come and see what others have brought along.
Our members presentation evening was, as usual, action packed with a wide range of topics. Both hands-on and projected images. May I offer a very big thank you to everybody for their presentations.
May we take this opportunity to wishing everybody a Happy New Year. You are more than welcome to come along and join us for any of our meeting or field visits.
We kick start 2020 with an indoor meeting on January 8th. This will be a presentation by Alwyn Timms; entitled The Discreet World of Barnsley’s Small Blue Butterfly
We also have a field visit on January 11th. Details to be confirmed. And on January 22nd our indoor meeting is a members short presentations. This is very much a nature wide array of topics.
Our updated 2020 Spring Summer Programme will be available for viewing shortly.
This coming Wednesday December 11th we have our Christmas Social. A selection of food will be provided by members of the committee, but you are welcome to bring something along too. We have also arranged tea, coffee and soft drink.
Our next Barnsley Naturalists meeting is Wednesday 27th November.
Bilberry bumblebee. Image: John Fielding / Bombus monticola / CC BY-SA 2.0
Tom Aspinall, from Moors for the Future, is our guest speaker for the evening. Tom is giving a talk on bumblebees and solitary bees. This will include identifying the different species, where you may find them, their behaviour and life-cycle. Lots to interest us. All welcome, Barnsley Town Hall, 7pm.
We have to make a change to the presentation in our printed programme. The presentation will now be- ‘Migration and Orchids on Lesbos, Cyprus and Samos’ by Colin and Linda Graham.
As usual our in-door meeting start at 7 pm at Barnsley Town Hall
We are having a change of plan for our indoor meeting this Wednesday, October 30th. We are sorry for any inconvenience that this may cause you, but we do have an equally interesting alternative lined-up: We will let you know when Alwyn is able to do his The Discreet World of Barnsley’s Small Blue Butterfly presentation.
Ron Marshall has kindly brought forward his From Catalonia to Finland presentation for us to enjoy.
How modern science is revealing their story’ is the title of our next talk to be given by our guest speaker Professor John Reilly at Barnsley Town Hall on Wednesday 16 October at 7pm.
When and where did the ancestors of modern birds evolve? What enabled them to survive the meteoric impact that wiped out the dinosaurs? How did these early birds spread across the globe and give rise to the 10,600-plus bird species we recognise around the world today. John Reilly’s talk sets out to answer these fundamental questions on the evolution of birds. It is based on the latest scientific discoveries and enriched by his personal observations.
All of our talks are open to anyone with an interest in the topic. So please pass on the invitation to anyone with an interest in birds and their history on our planet.
John Reilly’s presentation on ‘The Ascent of Birds: how modern science is revealing their story’ is based on the latest scientific discoveries and enriched by personal observations.
When and where did the ancestors of modern birds evolve? What enabled them to survive the meteoric impact that wiped out the dinosaurs? How did these early birds spread across the globe and give rise to the 10,600-plus species we recognise today.
John Reilly’s talk sets out to answer these fundamental questions.
Open to all. Wednesday 16 October, 7pm, Barnsley Town Hall
This field visit is an exception to our usual plans. Not only will we be meeting at a later time, this is to be a two meeting event, with an indoor meeting the following day. The meeting point is Cote Lane, south of Thurgoland (Grid reference SE 291 003).
Our field visit to the TPT near Thurgoland led by Doug Brown and Jill Hayler started with setting up some moth traps; it was getting a little dark for identifying plants but we managed to spot two bat species, common pipestrelle and noctule; and then counted 43 glowworms along the trail.
This was a couple of very interesting and intense meetings for both the 10th and 11th. The glowworm count was over 40; while the moths traps had an array of different species.
The moths recorded were: GEOMETRIDAE: Riband Wave, Northern Spinach, July Highflyer and Peppered Moth SPHINGDAE: Elephant Hawkmoth ARCTIDAE: Buff Ermine and Cinnabar NOCTUIDAE: Heart and Dart,Large Yellow Underwing, Double Square- Spot, Common Wainscot, Dark Arches, Uncertain, Silver Y and Beauitiful Golden Y MICRO MOTH: Small Magpie
We are working on our next round of programme events for our indoor meetings and field visits.
If there is anything you would like us to try and arrange please contact us. We are always open to ideas.
While our outdoor field visits tend to concentrate on the plant and animals we come across; and many are based on a specific topic; our indoor meetings often include a wide range of topics that takes into account the very diverse aspect that influence the nature we experience. With site history, human activities and planning being just the tip of the iceberg.
This is the date for our next indoor meeting: Wildlife and Management at Wharncliffe Heath LNR. This will be a joint presentation by Dave Buttle, Albin Smith and Andrew Hill. Their combined knowledge will surely keep us entertained. Presentations about any of the Local Nature Reserves are normally multi-topical and this one will be no exception.
Yet again, for our last indoor meeting of our Spring/Summer programme, we had a fascinating presentation about the work that this trust is doing in the LNR. Thee trust are taking a softer slower approach to restoring the ecology; which is therefore allowing the natural species to, somewhat, lead the way. More details of their work can be obtained from their website at http://www.whtrust.org.uk . This link will also can also be found on our Links page for easier access in the future.
Wings across the Ings – the Garganey Trust is creating new habitats on the farmland between Broomhill Flash and Wombwell Ings. Some of this farmland is being converted into wet grassland, open water and reedbeds. They have now obtained the final planning consent and work started in February.
Jeff Lunn, chair of the Garganey Trust, is giving an illustrated talk on the “Wings across the Ings” project at this meeting of the Barnsley Nats.
There are bound to be lots of questions and discussion; as usual from our members and visitors.
Following Jeff’s talk and questions, we have the Barnsley Nats’ annual general meeting.
We would like to know how you see the future of the Society, so please come full of ideas and suggestions.
All welcome
This proved to be a fascinating presentation, so many complex issues were covered by Jeff. Along with the nature and conservation, we were given an insight into the history of the Gargney Trust, historical land use of the Ings to securing funding.
Further information about the Trusts work can be found on their website. http://www.garganeytrust.org.uk This link is also being posted on our Links page to enable easier access.
Our next indoor meeting takes place on Wednesday March 6th. With a presentation by Trevor Mayne. Trevor is Barnsley Council’s biodiversity officer and is back to give us further insight about how the planning process can protect wildlife and encourage developers to consider and perhaps even enhance biodiversity.
So no doubt lots of discussion and questions on this highly complex but interesting topic!
Our next indoor meetingwill take place on Wednesday February 20. Featuring a presentation by John Bowers entitled 30 years of Garden Wildlife.
John has recorded the wildlife – birds, butterflies, moths, bees and much more – in his garden in Headingley Hill for well over thirty years. His article in the YNU’s ‘The Naturalist’ – based on his records – supports the idea of the importance and richness of suburban gardens for wildlife and biodiversity.
He is a long-standing member of both Leeds Naturalists’ Club & Scientific Association and Yorkshire Naturalists’ Union.
Barnsley Town Hall, 7pm, Wednesday 20 February – all welcome.
This next Wednesday, 6th February, at 7pm at Barnsley Town Hall, we have another evening in which different members give short presentations on any natural history topic they choose.
It can be anything – with images on the screen or just saying a little about something seen or heard about. It’s also an opportunity to bring something along to identify or provoke discussion.
Please come along and join in. Let us know what you would like to tell us about / show us – or let it be a surprise!
All welcome of course – with or without something to show!
