Gwent Wildlife Trust

Gwent Wildlife Trust
Ymddiriedolaeth Natur Gwent

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GWENT WILDLIFE TRUST EVENTS –  2008


Everyone is welcome to Wildlife Trust events, but please observe booking arrangements where applicable. Please come prepared for the Welsh weather on outdoor meetings – warm outdoor clothing and waterproofs, sun hat and sun screen. Stout walking shoes or boots are also essential. We recommend you have an up to date tetanus injection. Bring torches for dusk events. For directions to reserves, see the reserve web pages, our Reserves Leaflet or buy our Reserves Guide (£3 for Members, £6 for Non-members).

To book events (where ‘booking essential’ is specified), ring GWT on 01600 740358, or write to the Trust office. Full details of courses will be sent as confirmation of booking. The Trust reserves the right to cancel courses. In such cases, full refunds will be given. In the event of cancellation by you, we will make a full refund provided at least two weeks notice is given.

Courses, which need booking, are marked in blue.  Courses with (F) are suitable for families, (D) are suitable for those in wheelchairs.

Alphabetical list of the location of each course       Download the whole events list


July 2008

Managing your Land for Wildlife Tutor: Gemma Bodé – Gwent Wildlife Trust Whether you own a small garden, a farm or a country estate, this course will help you to understand why managing your site for wildlife is worthwhile and how to go about it. Gemma Bodé, the Trust’s Conservation Manager has many years experience of managing sites large and small and is a favourite course leader. The course will include a walk around Pentwyn Farm Nature Reserve to look at how the Gwent Wildlife Trust manages its own land for wildlife. Tuesday, 1st July 10am – 2.30pm (please arrive for 9.45am) Pentwyn Farm, near Monmouth Cost: £15 members, £20 non-members Booking essential.

We have several events as part of Chepstow Festival:

Tuesday 1 July at 6.30pm there is a guided walk "People and Wildlife" around Mathern. Meet under the motorway bridge near the Millers Arms PH. Free to attend but no dogs allowed. Walk is about 3 miles, including some stiles and visits the churchyard, the reens, foreshore, fishing ponds and lakes. We will discuss the impact of people on wildlife and the environment. All walkers participate at their own risk.

Sunday 6 July 11.30am to 4.00pm at The Drill Hall, Chepstow "Local Conservation in Action", an exhibition with fun family activities concentrating on the unique Gwent Levels, their beauty, wildlife, conservation and current threats. In association with CALM. Free admission. Refreshments.

Sunday 6 July 4.00 to 5.30pm at the Drill Hall. Family Wildlife Quiz. Test your Wildlife knowledge. Prizes to be won! £5 per family team - 2 adults and up to 4 children (under 16). 

Charcoal Drawing Tutor: Emma Price – Lecturer for Coleg Gwent. The Trust makes its own charcoal using wood from coppice work undertaken for dormouse conservation. Students will receive guidance to develop drawings and techniques. Sketches will be used to produce a charcoal image; the location will provide a place of inspiration. Throughout the day, students will have the chance to observe and understand the terrain of this fascinating landscape whilst producing creative art. Saturday 5th July 10am – 4pm Silent Valley, near Ebbw Vale Cost: £17 members, £25 non-members Booking essential.

Introduction to Dormice Tutor: Jan Kinchington – Gwent Wildlife Trust If all wildlife was as cute as dormice, the Trust would have 20,000 members and everyone would want to work in conservation!! Here’s a chance to meet these elusive mammals and gain an insight into how they live and the work the Trust does to help them out. Sunday 6th July 9.30am – 11.30am Croes Robert (Cwmcarvan), near Monmouth Cost: £3 members, £6 non-members Booking essential LIMITED PLACES

WING - Allt-yr-Yn – Meadow Survey & Management Plan Review Sunday 6th July For more information, contact Roger James on 01633 215627

The Identification and Ecology of Dragonflies and Damselflies Tutor: Ian D Smith This in-depth, weekend course, led by well known local ecologist, Ian Smith, will concentrate on the species found in England and Wales using site visits to various nearby habitats in South Wales. The weekend course covers capture, observation, and release techniques, together with diversity and protective legislation, surveying, and monitoring. Includes lunches and an evening meal Saturday 12th July and Sunday 13th July –  Magor Marsh, near Newport Cost: £85 members, £95 non-members. Booking essential.   See full details and a programme.

Magor Marsh Open Day This is our annual celebration of GWT’s oldest nature reserve. There will be something for the whole family to enjoy from discovery trails to craft activities and birds to bugs. As well as displays of the Trust’s own work, many other local groups and organisations take part in what has become a major community event. Saturday 19th July 2pm – 5pm (F, D) Magor Marsh, near Newport Cost: £2 per adult £1 per child or £5 per family. No need to book

Nature Detectives Leader: Colin Titcombe – Local expert Do you know how to tell a badger footprint from a dog’s? Do you know how to find out if dormice have been visiting your local wood? How about telling your crows from your rooks? If you want to be a real nature detective, these are the sort of skills you need so why not join Colin Titcombe for some detective training and find out how its done? A great experience for families! Tuesday 29th July 10am – 1pm Pentwyn Farm (Monmouth), aimed at the over 10s Cost: £4 adults, £2 children (F) Booking essential

Childrens’ ‘Discovering Dragons’ dragonfly event at Llandegfedd Reservoir Torfaen Local Group in association with Welsh Water Thursday 31st July 11m – 1pm (F) Glascoed car park at the northern end of Llandegfedd Reservoir (SO 332006) For more information, contact the Torfaen Local Group on 01495 769281 Booking essential


August 2008

Nature Detectives Leader: Colin Titcombe – Local expert Do you know how to tell a badger footprint from a dog’s? Do you know how to find out if dormice have been visiting your local wood? How about telling your crows from your rooks? If you want to be a real nature detective, these are the sort of skills you need so why not join Colin Titcombe for some detective training and find out how its done? A great experience for families! Tuesday 5th August 10am – 12pm Magor Marsh (Newport), aimed at the under 10s Cost: £4 adults, £2 children (F) Booking essential

Introducing Dragonflies and Damselflies and their Identification Tutor: Ian D Smith An introductory course for dragonfly novices who would like to get to grips with their Emperors and Darters! This course will look at the wide variety of species found around Ebbw Vale. This upland area is particularly rich in varied habitats resulting from past industrial influences. Thursday 7th August 10am – 4.30pm Parc Bryn Bach and surrounding area, near Ebbw Vale Cost: £25 members, £40 non-members Booking essential.  See full details and a programme.

Gwent Wildlife Trust Open Day (including Open Gardens at Dingestow Court) Every two years the Trust opens its doors for people to come and see where we work and learn about the work we do. You can meet the staff too! We are very fortunate because the Trust office is located within the magnificent grounds of Dingestow Court. Visitors will be able to take a signposted tour around the gardens and there will be plenty of activities for the children too. Refreshments will be available. Friday 8th August 11am – 4pm (F) Dingestow Court, near Monmouth Cost: Free but donations welcome! No need to book

Bird Ringing Demonstration Tutor: Ian Vaughan – Ecologist How do we know where birds go in the winter? How do we know how long they live and how many of this year’s chicks will live through the winter to breed next year? The answer is through bird ringing: catching birds, placing a small metal ring with a unique number on their legs. In this practical demonstration, you will see how we catch the birds and ring them. Seeing birds this close is very special so don’t miss out and book early. Tuesday 12th August 8am – 12pm (F) Magor Marsh, near Newport Cost: £3 members, £6 non-members Booking essential

Bat walk along the canal Torfaen Local Group in with Torfaen County Borough Council Friday 15th August 8pm – 9pm Pontymoile canal basin (SO 291953) (F) For more information, contact the Torfaen Local Group on 01633 648066 Booking essential

Silent Valley Open Day Come and enjoy a day on the reserve with guided walks, charcoal making, sheep dog demonstration, pyrography, birdbox making, and much more. Saturday 16th August 10am – 4pm (F, D) Silent Valley, near Ebbw Vale Cost: 50p for all. No need to book

Nature Detectives Leader: Colin Titcombe – Chief Wildlife Detective! Do you know how to tell a badger footprint from a dog’s? Do you know how to find out if dormice have been visiting your local wood? How about telling your crows from your rooks? If you want to be a real nature detective, these are the sort of skills you need so why not join Colin Titcombe for some detective training and find out how it’s done? A great experience for families! Tuesday 19th August 10am – 1pm Silent Valley (Ebbw Vale), aimed at over 10s Cost: £4 adults, £2 children (F) Booking essential

Surveying for Dormice Tutor: Jan Kinchington – Gwent Wildlife Trust A brief introduction to dormouse ecology and their conservation needs, legal protection, where to find them and what signs to look for. A walk around Croes Robert looking at habitat, woodland management and signs of dormice. Saturday 23rd August 9.30am – 1pm Pentwyn Farm and Croes Robert, near Monmouth Cost: £10 members, £16 non-members Booking essential


September 2008

Nature Detectives Leader: Colin Titcombe – Local expert Do you know how to tell a badger footprint from a dog’s? Do you know how to find out if dormice have been visiting your local wood? How about telling your crows from your rooks? If you want to be a real nature detective, these are the sort of skills you need so why not join Colin Titcombe for some detective training and find out how its done? A great experience for families! Tuesday 2nd September 10am – 1pm Springdale (Usk), aimed at adults Cost: £4 adults, £2 children (F) Booking essential

Introduction to Dormice Tutor: Jan Kinchington – Gwent Wildlife Trust If all wildlife was as cute as dormice, the Trust would have 20,000 members and everyone would want to work in conservation!! Here’s a chance to meet these elusive mammals and gain an insight into how they live and the work the Trust does to help them out. Sunday 7th September 9.30am – 11.30am Croes Robert (Cwmcarvan), near Monmouth Cost: £3 members, £6 non-members (F) Booking essential

Dry Stone Walling Tutor: Terry Mead has taught Dry Stone Walling for over 25 years. A practical course in the ancient art of dry stone walling. This course is suitable for beginners and teaching the basic principles of a skill that you could use in your garden or to take part in practical work parties with a wide variety of conservation organisations. This is always one of our most popular course so early booking recommended. Wednesday 17th September 9.30 – 4.30pm Pentwyn Farm, near Monmouth Cost: £25 members, £40 non-members Booking essential

Wyndcliff Walk Leader: George Peterken George has an intimate knowledge of the lower Wye Valley and his his book on the area was published in 2008 as part of the world-famous ‘New Naturalist’ series. Here’s an opportunity to accompany George for an ecological and historical introduction to the beautiful woodlands of the lower Wye Valley, identifying tree and shrub species together with looking at different habitats and their management. Feel free to bring your own copy of George’s book along to be signed. Saturday 27th September 11am – 4pm Lower Wye Valley – Tintern and Chepstow Cost: £3 members, £6 non-members Booking essential

Fungi Foray Tutor: Elsa Wood Britain has a great climate (for now at least!) for mushrooms and toadstools to flourish. Elsa has 40 years experience of finding and identifying them so come and join her on this informal walk, learning about, collecting, and identifying woodland fungi along the way. Sunday 28th September 2pm – 4.30pm Wentwood, near Usk Cost: £5 members, £10 non-members (F) Booking essential


October 2008

Fascinating Fungi – a course for beginners Tutor: Shelia Spence This course is aimed at the beginner who would like to learn about this fascinating group in more detail. The day will start with an indoor tutorial then it’s off to the woods for a hands-on experience in the local woods hunting down specimens, and examining them in detail, learning the basics of species identification. Saturday 4th October 10am – 4pm Dingestow village hall, near Monmouth Cost: £15 members, £20 non-members Booking essential

Introduction to Dormice Tutor: Jan Kinchington – Gwent Wildlife Trust If all wildlife was as cute as dormice, the Trust would have 20,000 members and everyone would want to work in conservation!! Here’s a chance to meet these elusive mammals and gain an insight into how they live and the work the Trust does to help them out. Sunday 12th October 9.30am 11.30am Croes Robert (Cwmcarvan), near Monmouth Cost: £3 members, £6 non-members (F) Booking essential

‘Wildlife Tracking’ family event at Llandegfedd Reservoir Torfaen Local Group in association with Welsh Water Sunday 12th October (F) Glascoed car park at the northern end of Llandegfedd Reservoir (SO 332006) For more information, contact the Torfaen Local Group on 01495 769281 Booking essential

Introduction to Bird Ringing Tutors: Stephanie Tyler, Bob Medland, and Denis Jackson: Licensed Bird Ringers. How do we know where birds go in the winter? How do we know how long they live and how many of this year’s chicks will live through the winter to breed next year? The answer is through bird ringing: catching birds, placing a small metal ring with a unique number on their legs. The morning will start with a short indoor presentation followed by a practical demonstration. You will see how we catch the birds and ring them. Seeing birds this close is very special so don’t miss out and book early. Saturday 18th October 9.30am – 1pm (F) Seddon House, Dingestow Court, near Monmouth Cost: £3 members, £6 non-members Booking essential

Caring for Apple trees Tutor: David Leat – Horticulturist A look at the historical development of growing apples through a selection of varieties and cultivars and the cultural techniques required to produce fruit. Propagation and orchard management will also be discussed. There will be an opportunity to visit the small orchard planted in 1999 to see and taste this season’s crop. Tuesday 21st October 10am – 1pm Pentwyn Farm, near Monmouth Cost: £18 members, £25 non-members Booking essential

Autumn family fun at Magor Marsh Leaders: Helen John and GWT staff Why do we feed the birds? How should we do it? What should we feed and when? All these questions and more will be answered during this celebration of the season of mists and mellow fruitfulness! Saturday 25th October 10am – 12pm Magor Marsh, near Newport (F, D) Cost: £1 per child. No need to book

‘Autumn Secrets’ childrens’ wildlife event at Llandegfedd Reservoir Torfaen Local Group in association with Welsh Water Tuesday 28th October 11am Glascoed car park at the northern end of Llandegfedd Reservoir (SO 332006) (F) For more information, contact the Torfaen Local Group on 01495 769281 Booking essential

Hedgelaying Tutor: Kevin Williams A well managed hedge, is great for wildlife including dormice and many birds but alas, the traditional skills required are rapidly dying out. On this practical introduction to hedgelaying you will learn just how important hedges are for wildlife and will be instructed in the correct methods and use of hand tools used to lay a hedge in the local style. The course is suitable for those who are just curious through to people who want to join volunteer work parties on wildlife reserves. This course is usually oversubscribed and early booking is recommended. Friday 31st October 10am – 4.30pm Pentwyn Farm, near Monmouth Cost: £22 members, £30 non-members Booking essential


November 2008

Birds in winter at Llandegfedd Reservoir Torfaen Local Group in association with Welsh Water Sunday 9th November 10am Glascoed car park at the northern end of Llandegfedd Reservoir (SO 332006) For more information, contact the Torfaen Local Group on 01495 769281 Booking essential

Wood Turning and Construction of a Shave Horse Tutor: Thom Board – Gwent Wildlife Trust Green Woodworking is an ancient skill that’s still relevant today. This course offers an introduction to making useable items such as breadboards, tool handles, and many others, from freshly felled wood. You will learn how to split and carve wood by hand and to make and use a shavehorse. You will also learn how to make a range of useful wood-carving tools. Wednesday 19th November 10am – 3pm Springdale Farm, near Usk Cost: £20 members, £30 non-members Booking essential


December 2008

Winter Tree Identification Tutors: Roger James and David Parsons Many of us can tell the difference between a beech and an oak in the summer and we can usually identify a few other trees too In the winter though, it’s a different story and a different set of skills in winter though. Participants in this course will spend the day learning to identify trees without their leaves by looking at shape, structure, bark and other signs. You’ll soon be impressing your friends with your new-found knowledge. Saturday 6th December 10am – 1pm Springdale, near Usk Cost: £5 members, £10 non-members Booking essential


WILDLIFE WATCH

Wildlife Watch leaders run a full programme of monthly activities for children aged between 5 and 12.
Abergavenny: Keith Bucknall, 01873 832072.
Magor (between Chepstow & Newport): Nic Hutchinson 01291 421568.
 

WORK TASKS

Volunteers carry out a variety of practical conservation tasks on Gwent Wildlife Trust Reserves every Thursday. Sessions are led by Gwent Wildlife Trust staff. For further information ring Jan Kinchington on 07738 231155.

WING also run reserve work tasks in and around Newport. For further details, contact Roger James on 01633 215627.

The wardens of Strawberry Cottage Wood are running work tasks, on the second Sunday morning of every month, at this site four miles north of Abergavenny. Sessions will start at 9.30am at the lay-by by the woods and finish about 12.30pm. For more information, contact Kaf and John Faragher on 01873 851562.
 

LOCAL GROUP CONTACTS:

(A)  Abergavenny Group - Keith White 01873 852036
(BG)   Blaenau Gwent Group - Bill Jones 01495 216728
(C)   Chepstow Group - Hilary Lee 01291 689326
(FOSV)   Friends of Silent Valley - Trust Office 01600 740358
(GWT)   GWT Office - 01600 740358
(M)   Monmouth Group - Caroline Tobin 01594 825095
(MMWC)   Magor Marsh Watch Club - Nic Hutchinson 01291 421568
(T)   Torfaen Group - Vicky Coghlan  01495 759139  coghlanrees@aol.com
(U)   Usk Group - Margaret Barford 01495 785530
(WING)   Wildlife in Newport Group - Roger James 01633 21562

FRIENDS OF SILENT VALLEY

This group also runs occasional work days at the local Nature Reserve. For further details, please contact the Trust Office on 01600 740600


Gwent Wildlife Trust home page.