Wednesday 3rd April

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.

Wednesday 20th March

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.

The Planning Process and Biodiversity

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!

Hedge Survey Field Visit on Saturday March 2nd

Having a look at a hedgerow with a Naturalist’s eye: Catherine Artindale is leading a field visit to a hedgerow and its neighbouring area in Stairfoot.

Weather permitting we will record plants and wildlife species, see what we make of Hooper’s hedgerow dating hypothesis, look at this brownfield site, see how nature is recovering, and check out a small wood and Yew plantation.

Meeting at 10am in the Stairfoot shopping precinct car park off Wombwell Lane. (near Tesco’s, B & M & Pets At Home )
OS grid reference SE37700509

If coming by car, drive in the main entrance by the traffic lights on Wombwell Lane, bear left and then take the first left into the car park that abuts the main road; it’s opposite Pets at Home (the former Carpetright store).

Saturday 23rd February

There are two activities that we have the option of attending on this date. South Yorkshire Natural History Day or Your Woods Your Future

South Yorkshire Natural History Day.
This event is taking place at the Treeton Miners Welfare, Arundel Street, Treeton, S60 5PW; OS grid Ref SK430876. The meeting will start at 10:00 am and finish at approximately 15:20 pm. Off street parking is available for visitors travelling by car. Buses run from, both, Sheffield and Rotherham; please check www.travelsouthyorkshire.com for up to date information.
There are planned intervals throughout the day; with refreshments available from the bar; prices reasonable.

There will be a number of talks, presentations and displays on many natural history topics of South Yorkshire. Ornothology, Sundew Plume Moth, crayfish and flies are among the topics being covered; full details on the Sorby website.

Booking a place at this event is free and can be done via email to Peter Clegg [email protected]. Further / changed information can be obtained from the Sorby website

Your Woods Your Future
This event will take place in The Ironworks building in the Elsecar Heritage Centre, Wath Road, Elsecar, S74 8HJ, OS Grid Ref SK384999. This meeting will start at 10:00 am and finish at 16:00 pm approximately. There is a large car park at the Heritage Centre to which is on Wentworth Road (SK384998). From there it is a short walk into the Heritage Centre grounds; which consist of a number of building with good signposting enabling you to get to the correct one. Elsecar Train Station is a short walk away; with trains from both Barnsley and Sheffield. Please check times and be aware that some trains do not stop at Elsecar. Buses run from Barnsley; please check on times and services; www.travelsouthyorkshire.com. Tea and Coffee are mentioned on the itinerary, but no there is no mention of cost. There is a cafe in the Heritage Centre and a pub on the edge of the car park.

This presentation is organised by the Dearne Valley Landscape Partnership (DVLP). Some of the topics being covered are woodland archaeology, biological recording and Willow Tits; all of the topics are related to the woodland environment.

To book to attend this event please go to www.eventbrite.com/e/your-woods-your-future where there is a link to the Register page

30 Years of Garden Wildlife

Our next indoor meeting will 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.

Some sad news:

Gordon Bristowe, Barnsley Naturalist and Scientific Society President for over 15 years, passed away early on the morning of Wednesday  6th February following time in hospital and a care home.

We remembered Gordon at our Barnsley Nats meeting on that Wednesday evening.
He was our President for many years, a fount of knowledge on all aspects of natural history, and always ready to share his knowledge.
Originally a ‘birder’ he developed a keen interest in all forms of plants. He surveyed a number of kilometre squares in Barnsley for the South Yorkshire Plant Atlas and contributed his extensive plant records to the Barnsley Biological Record Centre.
Gordon was a keen and expert photographer and was instrumental in bringing the Society – and its members  –  into the digital age. He launched the society’s website, took care of all of the society’s equipment, and supported their use for digital presentations at meetings.
We have many memories of Gordon and he will be much missed.

    Field visit – Old Park Wood

    Warren Dike in Old Park Wood

    Saturday 9 February in the morning – Geoff Jackson is leading a field visit to The Old Park Wood, part of Rockley Woods Local Wildlife Site.

    We will be following Warren Dike looking at ferns, mosses and other plants -as well as any wildlife we see!

    We are meeting at 10.00am, meeting near Old Park wood, off Rockley Lane just on the other (north/east) side of the M1. Grid reference: SE339017

    Members’ presentations

    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! 

    We had a good turn out for the bat field visit. Our host, Rob Bell from the South Yorkshire Bat Group, was most informative. Giving us a insight to the bats roosting and breeding habits, as well as information on what their group does in monitoring and conservation.

    Field visit: Bat roosts

    Following on from the presentation in November by Rob Bell about local Bat roosts , he is leading us on a field visit to a roost on Monday morning 21st January. Rob is an ecologist and licenced for bat roosts. 

    We are meeting in the car park at Oxspring at 10.15am, ready to set off for 10.30am. We will be walking for a mile along the TPT and then down a bit of a rough footpath. The car park (SE 272019) is just a little down Sheffield Road from the Wagon and Horses Pub.

    Please let us know if you intend coming.