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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.
Download the new
GWT Events Guide for 2010
See the
list of
events connected to the Living Churchyards Project
February
Agriculture & Conservation
Speaker: TBA
An illustrated talk from the CCW on current policy &
initiatives by the CCW & Welsh Assembly Government
Tuesday 2nd February, 7.30pm
St Michaels Centre, Abergavenny
Contact: Abergavenny Local Group, 01873 852036
Cost: £1
The Introduction of Wild Boar to the Forest of Dean
Speaker: Simon Holloway
An illustrated talk by the Forestry Commission Ranger,
after a very brief AGM
Thursday 4th February, 7.30pm
Chepstow Leisure Centre, Chepstow
Contact: Chepstow Local Group, 01291 689326
Cost: £1.50 members, £2 non-members
Tea & coffee available
Solutia Meadows – Coppice Activities
WING Work Task
Spend just the morning or stay all day – the choice is
yours. Bring a flask & a packed lunch. The task is
usually finished by 4pm.
Sunday 7th February, meet 10.30am
Newport Civic Centre top car park, Newport
Contact: Wildlife in Newport Group, 01633 263374
Red Kites – a Welsh Success Story
An illustrated talk by Tony Cross
Monday 8th February, 7.30pm
Bridges Community Centre, Monmouth
Contact: Monmouth Local Group, 01600 740286
Cost: £1.50 recommended donation
An Introduction to Bird Ringing
Speaker: Denis Jackson
Denis introduces us to the ‘Whys’ and ‘Hows’ of bird
ringing.
Tuesday 9th February, 7.30pm
Glen yr Afon House Hotel, Usk
Contact: Usk Local Group, 01495 785530
Cost: £2 adults, children FREE
Loving your Wildlife
Leaders: Kathy Barclay & Helen John
An afternoon of family fun getting to the ‘heart’ of
your nature reserve at Magor Marsh. Crafts, trails and
activities centred around caring for wildlife.
Saturday 13th February, 1pm – 3pm
Magor Marsh, near Newport
Contact: Gwent Wildlife Trust
Cost: £1 children, adults FREE
No need to book
Stone Walling Course
Practical course led by Brian Polson Professional
Member & Qualified walling instructor of the Drystone
Walling Association. A section of Groeswen chapel
yard’s wall will be rebuilt using traditional
techniques.
Two day course – Saturday 20th & Sunday 21st February
2010 (expected run time to be confirmed: 10.00am-3.30pm,
& the course may be shorter depending upon progress).
Venue: Groeswen Chapel, Caerphilly.
FREE. BUT BOOKING IS REQUIRED. To book a place, please
contact Rebecca Price : rprice@gwentwildlife.org or
01600 740358.
The Changing Scenery of Magor Marsh
Leader: Paul Cawley
A guided tour around Magor Marsh with someone who knows
the intimate workings of site. This fascinating walk
will unlock the secret world of Magor Marsh so that you,
too, can recognise some of nature’s signposts! The
afternoon will begin with an informal chat inside
followed by a walk around the reserve. This is a series
of four courses showing the changes of the reserve from
winter to spring allowing attendees to discover for
themselves the flora and fauna of this wonderful site.
Sundays 21st February, 28th February, 7th March, 14th
March, 2pm – 4.30pm
Magor Marsh, near Newport
Contact: Gwent Wildlife Trust
Cost: £15 members, £25 non-members – includes all four
days
Booking Essential
Tree Planting Event – Rescheduled from Sunday 17th
January
Would you like to help us establish new woodland habitat
on Wyeswood Common? GWT, in collaboration with the
Woodland Trust, needs volunteers to help us plant 10,000
saplings and we’re holding a Tree Planting Event to kick
the work off. Trees to be supplied and a limited number
of spades, so bring your own spade if you have one! All
children must be supervised by an adult. Please note
there’s a long walk to the planting site (¼ mile) and a
steep climb on the way back.
Sunday 21st February, 10am – 3pm (latest arrival 2pm)
Wyeswood Common, near Monmouth
Contact: Gwent Wildlife Trust
Cost: FREE – no experience necessary
Please let us know in advance if you are able to help
Dry Stone Walling
Tutors: Terry Mead
Be involved in the restoration of an ancient landscape
feature. This practical course will teach you the
necessary skills to strip out and rebuild a strong,
stock-proof boundary wall, without the need for cement.
Learn the function of the different types of stone used
in a dry stone wall, and how to build safely and
effectively with them. This is a practical course.
Attendees should be prepared for a lot of heavy lifting.
Monday & Tuesday 22nd & 23rd February, 9.30am – 4.30pm
Pentwyn Farm, near Monmouth
Contact: Gwent Wildlife Trust
Cost: £45 members, £60 non-members
Booking Essential
March
Butterflies
Speaker: Clare Williams
An illustrated talk on woodland management for
butterflies and moths by Butterfly Conservation’s
Conservation Officer for Wales
Tuesday 2nd March, 7.30pm
St Michaels Centre, Abergavenny
Contact: Abergavenny Local Group, 01873 852036
Cost: £1
Forest School Taster Session for Adults
Tutors: Kathy Barclay & Helen John
Have you ever wondered what Forest School is? Or what
your children get up to at Forest School? Why do they
love it so much and why do they come back so muddy?! Why
not come and find out for yourselves! An adults only
session to give you a flavour of what Forest Schools are
all about, their ethos, and the opportunity to take part
in some hands on practical activities. Bring a packed
lunch, warm, waterproof clothing and sensible footwear.
We’ll provide the campfire! This course was very popular
last year and enjoyed rave reviews so book early to
avoid disappointment!
Thursday 4th March, 10am – 2pm
Magor Marsh, near Newport
Contact: Gwent Wildlife Trust
Cost: £2 members, £4 non-members
Booking Essential
BBC Wildlife Magazine, the Inside Story!
Speaker: Fergus Collins
An illustrated talk by Fergus, BBC Wildlife Magazine
Features Editor
Thursday 4th March, 7.30pm
Chepstow Leisure Centre, Chepstow
Contact: Chepstow Local Group, 01291 689326
Cost: £1.50 members, £2 non-members
Tea & coffee available
Solutia Meadows – Reen Clearance
WING Work Task
Spend just the morning or stay all day – the choice is
yours. Bring a flask & a packed lunch. The task is
usually finished by 4pm.
Sunday 7th March, meet 10.30am
Newport Civic Centre top car park, Newport
Contact: Wildlife in Newport Group, 01633 263374
Flowers, Carnivores & Worms: Darwin’s Later Years of
Genius
Speaker: Dr Brian Willott
Monday 8th March, 7.30pm
Bridges Community Centre, Monmouth
Contact: Monmouth Local Group, 01600 740286
Cost: £1.50 recommended donation
Rocky Mountain Meander
Speaker: Paul Dunning
Paul Dunning returns, with his excellent slides, to tell
us of his exploration of the Rockies, with the wide
range of birds and mammals, against some magnificent
scenery.
Tuesday 9th March, 7.30pm
Glen yr Afon House Hotel, Usk
Contact: Usk Local Group, 01495 785530
Cost: £2 adults, children FREE
Blaenau Gwent Local Group Meeting
Wednesday 10th March, 7.30pm
King’s Arms, Newtown, Ebbw Vale
Contact: Blaenau Gwent Local Group, 01495 308056
Cost: FREE
All welcome, including non-members
The History of Millstone Extraction
Leader: Bob Trett & Roger James
Short illustrated talk on millstone extraction in the
Penalt area in the medieval barn at our Pentwyn Farm
nature reserve. This will be followed by a walk through
another reserve, Prisk Wood examining many features and
old quarries within the landscape. The day will include
discussion of features and their uses will be given and
explained. This course is largely outdoors and the barn
is not heated to please dress accordingly.
Saturday 13th March, 11am – 2.30pm
Pentwyn Farm Reserve, Prisk Wood, near Monmouth.
Contact: Gwent Wildlife Trust
Cost: £5 – kindly subsidised by Overlooking the Wye
Booking Essential
Hedgelaying
Tutor: Kevin Williams
A practical introduction to Hedgelaying. Participants
will learn how to prepare a hedge for laying and how to
select the right trees for laying. It will include a
brief discussion of the various styles of hedgelaying.
You will also be shown how to use and sharpen the tools
provided.
Monday 15th March, 10am – 4.30pm
Pentwyn Farm, near Monmouth
Contact: Gwent Wildlife Trust
Cost: £25 members, £35 non-members
Booking Essential
Opening Learning Doors for Parents
Tutor: Richard Waller
Participants will discover and explore different
learning styles (visual, auditory, and kinaesthetic) as
well as investigating the language of learning. We will
use a range of practical activities, indoors and out,
including many employed by our own Education Officers
team in their highly regarded work with local schools.
Saturday 20th March, 10am – 1pm
Magor Marsh, near Newport
Contact: Gwent Wildlife Trust
Cost: £3 members, £6 non-members
Booking Essential
Introduction to Wildlife Gardening
Tutor: Veronika Brannovic
Spend the day finding out how you can have a productive,
attractive garden that also provides a much needed home
for some of our wildlife. Many wild creatures are
beneficial to gardens by, for example, helping to
control pests, but lots of these are under threat
because they are running out of places to live. Even
those with the smallest gardens can help. During this
workshop you will discover the basic needs of wildlife,
how you can address those needs and how this will help
you garden for wildlife productivity. There is a small
practical aspect to this course, so you may get dirty!
Wednesday 24th March, 10am – 3pm
Magor Marsh, near Newport
Contact: Gwent Wildlife Trust
Cost: £7 members, £12 non-members
Booking Essential
Eggstravaganza
Leaders: Kathy Barclay & Helen John
Come along to eggsplore the Marsh with the whole family.
There will be loads of things to see and do, all with a
wildlife theme and the chance to get sticky toasting and
eating marshmallows over a real log fire. It will be
hopping good fun for everyone. (Fire provided – no need
to bring your own!)
Saturday 27th March, 1pm – 3pm
Magor Marsh, near Newport
Contact: Gwent Wildlife Trust
Cost: £1 children, adults FREE
No need to book
April
Away Day on a Trust Reserve
WING Work Task
Spend just the morning or stay all day – the choice is
yours. Bring a flask & a packed lunch. The task is
usually finished by 4pm.
Sunday 4th April, meet 10.30am
Newport Civic Centre top car park, Newport
Contact: Wildlife in Newport Group, 01633 263374
Update on the Work of the Trust
Speaker: Dr Richard Park
An illustrated talk by the CEO of Gwent Wildlife Trust
Tuesday 6th April, 7.30pm
St Michaels Centre, Abergavenny
Contact: Abergavenny Local Group, 01873 852036
Cost: £1
Spring Funday
Leader: Veronika Brannovic
A day of springtime fun at our brand new, ecofriendly
centre in Ebbw Vale. Come and have a look around the new
centre – find out how it was built and how it works.
Explore the wildlife garden and found out what you can
do to encourage wildlife into your garden. Have a go at
the Spring Wildlife Challenge, find out about local
wildlife and maybe bring a picnic to enjoy too.
Saturday 10th April, 1pm – 4pm
Environmental Resource Centre, Ebbw Vale
Contact: Gwent Wildlife Trust
Cost: £1 adults, children FREE
Booking not required
The Return of the Osprey to Wales
Speaker: Tim Stowe
Tim Stowe’s fine slides & talk details the RSPB’s
success in establishing this wonderful fishing eagle
within a few miles of Gwent’s borders.
Tuesday 13th April, 7.30pm
Glen yr Afon House Hotel, Usk
Contact: Usk Local Group, 01495 785530
Cost: £2 adults, children FREE
Reptiles and Amphibians in the Brecon Beacons
National Park
Speaker: Frances Baines
Learn how to identify our native species and how to take
part in a National Survey. What is NARRS? – The National
Amphibian and Reptile Recording Scheme. How can
volunteers take part? An illustrated guide to finding
and identifying our local reptiles and amphibians, and
the results of three years of surveying on the Blorenge
Mountain above Abergavenny.
Wednesday 14th April, 7.30pm – 9pm
Environmental Resource Centre, Ebbw Vale
Contact: Gwent Wildlife Trust
Cost: £3 members, £6 non-members
Booking Essential
Dormouse Ecology and Conservation – FULLY BOOKED
Tutor: Jan Kinchington
This theory course will cover dormouse ecology,
conservation, legal protection and handling. It will
include a supervised visit to check dormouse nest boxes.
This course is aimed at those wish to work towards their
dormouse handling licence. (Going on to obtain the full
licence typically takes one or two seasons of practical
surveying under supervision after this course before a
license may be granted. Spaces on our supervised surveys
are very limited and cost £10 per session. Please
enquire separately for this side of the licence
training.)
Saturday 17th April, 9.30am – 12pm
Contact: Gwent Wildlife Trust
Cost: £80 members, £120 non-members
Booking Essential
Dippers, Grey wagtails and River Life in the Angiddy
Valley
Tutor: Stephanie Tyler
Dr Stephanie Tyler is a local naturalist with a huge
amount of knowledge and experience. Together with Steph,
you will look for nesting dippers and grey wagtails. You
may even get to see some of the broods being ringed! You
will learn about these charismatic birds’ use of the
river, and their interaction with other creatures that
live there, such as aquatic insects. You will also get
the chance to learn about the riverside trees and
plants. A morning out with Steph is not to be missed!
Sunday 18th April, 9.30am – 12.30pm
Angiddy Valley, near Tintern
Contact: Gwent Wildlife Trust
Cost: £3 members, £6 non-members
Booking Essential
Trees of Silent Valley
Leader: Tim Green
Tim is a GWT Reserve’s Officer who has a particular
passion for trees. Join Tim on a guided walk through the
Silent Valley nature reserve for some basic tree and
shrub identification. You’ll also learn about how we
manage woodland for conservation and a little about how
woodland products were used in historical times. Silent
Valley is a special place – the highest naturally
occurring beechwood in Britain and the perfect place to
start learning about this fascinating group of plants.
Friday 23rd April, 2pm – 3.30pm
Silent Valley Reserve, near Ebbw Vale
Contact: Gwent Wildlife Trust
Cost: £3 members, £6 non-members
May
How to Find Bird Nests!
Tutor: Rodney Morris & Steve Carter
Taking part in the British Trust for Ornithology’s
National Nest Record Scheme can be a very rewarding
hobby and provides incredibly useful information to
assist bird conservation. The trouble is that bird’s
nests are not easy to find! Join two experts for an
indoor talk looking at birds and their breeding habits
followed by a practical demonstration outside and the
chance to practice your new-found skills under
supervision. We may visit a variety of sites depending
on where birds are actually nesting. The practical
session includes difficult terrain.
Saturday 1st May, 10am – 4pm
Environmental Resource Centre, Ebbw Vale
Contact: Gwent Wildlife Trust
Cost: £3 members, £6 non-members
Booking Essential
Away Day on a Trust Reserve
WING Work Task
Spend just the morning or stay all day – the choice is
yours. Bring a flask & a packed lunch. The task is
usually finished by 4pm.
Sunday 2nd May, meet 10.30am
Newport Civic Centre top car park, Newport
Contact: Wildlife in Newport Group, 01633 263374
A Beginners Guide to Woodland Management
Tutor: Tim Green
An introduction to woodland management for new woodland
owners/smallholders looking at some of the issues
involved with managing woods for multi-purpose use such
as conservation, firewood and timber production. The
course will begin with a presentation, followed by a
walk around Pentwyn Farm and Wyeswood Common looking at
woodland management ‘in the field’.
Wednesday 5th May, 10.30am – 3pm
Pentwyn Farm, near Monmouth
Contact: Gwent Wildlife Trust
Cost: £15 members, £22 non-members
Booking Essential
Wyeswood Common – the Progress so Far
Leader: Annette Murray
A guided tour of Wyeswood Common by site manager Annette
Murray. Learn about the progress towards habitat
restoration on this beautifully located reserve and
contrast the potential at Wyeswood with the established
wildflower meadows of the Trust’s Pentwyn Farm next
door.
Sunday 9th May, 2pm – 4.30pm
Wyeswood Common, near Monmouth
Contact: Gwent Wildlife Trust
Cost: £3 members, £6 non-members
Booking Essential
The Work of the Gwent Owl Sanctuary
– Rescheduled from January 12th
Speaker: Dave Cooksey makes a welcome return to up-date
us on the work of his owl sanctuary, with plenty of
slides. He will bring live owls.
Tuesday 11th May, 7.30pm Glen yr Afon House Hotel,
Usk
Contact: Usk Local Group, 01495 785530 Cost:
£2 adults, children free.
Blaenau Gwent Local Group Meeting
Wednesday 12th May, 7.30pm
King’s Arms, Newtown, Ebbw Vale
Contact: Blaenau Gwent Local Group, 01495 308056
Cost: FREE
All welcome, including non-members
Introduction to Bird Ringing including a Practical
Demonstration
Tutors: Denis Jackson & Stephanie Tyler
How do we know where birds go in the winter? How long do
birds live? How many of this year’s house sparrow chicks
will survive to breed next year and just as importantly,
how are these and many other things changing over time?
The answers are revealed by bird ringing. On this
course, a short introductory talk will be followed,
weather permitting, by a practical demonstration.
Saturday 15th May, 8am – 12pm
Seddon House, near Monmouth
Contact: Gwent Wildlife Trust
Cost: £4 members, £7 non-members
Booking Essential
Grand Plant Sale & Bazaar
An opportunity to get all your garden plants for the
summer – Chepstow Local Groups Grand Plant Sale is
always extremely popular. Offers of help for the day and
plants to donate to Hilary Lee on 01291 689326.
Saturday 15th May, 10am – 1pm
Senior Citizens’ Hall, Cormeilles Square, Chepstow
Contact: Chepstow Local Group, 01291 689326
Cost: FREE
Tea & coffee available
Great Plant Sale
Leader: Veronika Brannovic
The Great Plant Sale offers plants for sale (obviously!)
– a range of vegetables, fruit, herbs and flowers – as
well as displays, talks and other things horticultural.
Learn about wildlife gardening, growing your own food,
local wildlife and lots more. Bring along any spare
plants, books and tools – you may be able to swap them
for someone else’s spares.
Saturday 15th May, 11am – 3pm
Environmental Resource Centre, near Ebbw Vale
Contact: Gwent Wildlife Trust
Cost: £1 adults, children FREE
Booking not required
Charcoal Making
Tutor: Jan Kinchington
Charcoal has a multitude of uses from firing that BBQ on
a summer’s day to useful and inspiring medium for the
artist. Historically, it had many other uses too and it
is an important component of our own industrial
evolution. This course will teach you all about charcoal
and, very specifically, you will take part in making it.
Activities will include stacking a kiln, controlling a
burn and unloading the finished product. Always a
popular course, early booking is advisable.
Wednesday 19th May, 10am – 4.30pm
Contact: Gwent Wildlife Trust
Cost: £5 – kindly subsidised by Overlooking the Wye
Booking Essential
Introduction to Wildlife Gardening
Tutor: Veronika Brannovic
Spend the day finding out how you can have a productive,
attractive garden that also provides a much needed home
for some of our wildlife. Many animals are beneficial to
gardens, helping to control pests, but lots of them are
under threat because they are running out of places to
live. Even the smallest garden can help. During this
workshop you will discover the basic needs of wildlife,
how you can address those needs and how this will help
your garden. There is a small practical aspect to this
course, so you may get dirty!
Friday 28th May, 10am – 3pm
Environmental Resource Centre, near Ebbw Vale
Contact: Gwent Wildlife Trust
Cost: £7 members, £12 non-members
Booking Essential
Go Quackers
Leaders: Kathy Barclay & Helen John
Come along to discover a whole new side to our feathery
friends. Firmly aimed at children, there will be plenty
for them to see and do. Warning: this fun afternoon of
ducky activities could seriously drive you quackers!
Saturday 29th May, 1pm – 3pm
Magor Marsh, near Newport
Contact: Gwent Wildlife Trust
Cost: £1 children, adults FREE
No need to book
June
The Landscape and Flora of Llanelly near Brynmawr
Tutor: Dave Green
Dave is an experienced botanist and has a unique way of
demystifying the countryside and its habitats. This is
limestone country and we will spend the morning learning
to identify some of the county’s lime loving plants.
We’ll also be looking at some of the old, abandoned
industrial sites in the area and discovering just how
valuable they can be for plants and other wildlife.
Sunday 6th June, 10am – 1pm
Disused limestone quarry/grassland at Ty yn y Coed, near
Brynmawr
Contact: Gwent Wildlife Trust
Cost: £3 members, £6 non-members
Booking Essential
Opening Learning Doors for Parents
Tutor: Richard Waller
Participants will discover and explore different
learning styles (visual, auditory, and kinaesthetic) as
well as investigating the language of learning. We will
use a range of practical activities, indoors and out,
including many employed by our own Education Officers
team in their highly regarded work with local schools.
Saturday 12th June, 10am – 1pm
Magor Marsh, near Newport
Contact: Gwent Wildlife Trust
Cost: £3 members, £6 non-members
Booking Essential
Wyeswood Common – the progress so far
Leader: Annette Murray
A guided tour of Wyeswood Common by site manager Annette
Murray. Learn about the progress towards habitat
restoration on this beautifully located reserve and
contrast the potential at Wyeswood with the established
wildflower meadows of the Trust’s Pentwyn Farm next
door.
Sunday 13th June, 2pm – 4.30pm
Wyeswood Common, near Monmouth
Contact: Gwent Wildlife Trust
Cost: £3 members, £6 non-members
Booking Essential
Meadow Plant Identification for Beginners
Tutor: Rebecca Price
The course is a basic introduction to identifying some
of our more common meadow plants, using the
wildflower-rich meadows of Pentwyn Farm. Following a
short introductory talk, the rest of the morning will be
spent in the field looking at plants in situ. This
course is always very popular and is a great starting
point for those who would like to improve their
botanical skills.
Thursday 17th June, 10am – 1pm
Pentywn Farm, near Monmouth
Contact: Gwent Wildlife Trust
Cost: £7 members, £12 non-members
Booking Essential
A Practical Introduction to Moths
Tutor: Val Jackson
Have you wanted to learn more about moths but not sure
how to start? Val is a local lepidopterist, who is keen
to help you. She will be setting the moth trap the
previous night, and then opening it during the morning
session. There will be books, and internet access
provided, to help you learn how to identify the moths
and you will find it easier than you might expect. Val
will also explain the differences between the various
types of traps available and describe where the
equipment can be obtained. Come and be inspired by our
beautiful local moths, and then go and catch some of
your own!
Saturday 19th June, 10am – 1pm
Dingestow Court, near Monmouth
Contact: Gwent Wildlife Trust
Cost: £3 members, £6 non-members
Booking Essential
Dry Stone Walling
Tutors: Terry Mead
Be involved in the restoration of an ancient landscape
feature. This practical course will teach you the
necessary skills to strip out and rebuild a strong,
stock-proof boundary wall, without the need for cement.
Learn the function of the different types of stone used
in a dry stone wall, and how to build safely and
effectively with them. This is a practical course.
Attendees should be prepared for a lot of heavy lifting.
Monday & Tuesday 21st & 22nd June, 9.30am – 4.30pm
Pentwyn Farm, near Monmouth
Contact: Gwent Wildlife Trust
Cost: £45 members, £60 non-members
Booking Essential
Glow Worm Walk
Leader: Chris Hatch
Glow-worms are fascinating but most of us have never
seen one. Join Chris, one of our most popular tutors, on
a visit to one of the few sites in Torfaen where glow
worms can be found. We’ll be walking along a cycle track
looking for these rare creatures. Sightings can’t be
guaranteed but with Chris, you stand the best possible
chance of finding them!
Friday 25th June, 9.30pm – 11.30pm
Bevans Lane, Cwmbran
Contact: Gwent Wildlife Trust
Cost: £4 members, £6 non-members, £2 children
Booking Essential
Usk Gardens Open Days
This event is a must for keen gardeners and those
who just enjoy looking at stunning gardens. Nearly 30
private gardens in and around Usk will be on display and
Chepstow Local Group will again be having a stall in the
Gardener's Market on the Memorial Field in Maryport
Street.
Saturday 26th & Sunday 27th June, 10am – 5pm
Contact: Chepstow Local Group, 01291 689326
Cost: There will be a charge (adults) to see the gardens
but parking is free and refreshments are available.
No need to book
July
Introduction to Dormice
Tutor: Jan Kinchington
If all wildlife were as cute as Dormice, the Trust would
have 20,000 members and everyone would want to work in
conservation! This course is a chance to meet these
elusive mammals and to gain an insight into how they
live and the work the Trust does to conserve them.
Saturday 3rd July, 10am – 11.30am
Croes Robert, near Monmouth
Contact: Gwent Wildlife Trust
Cost: £3 members, £6 non-members
Booking Essential
Gardening for Wild Bees
Speaker: Marc Carlton
Learn how gardeners can encourage wild solitary bees and
bumblebees in their gardens through plant choices and
the provision of nest sites. The course will start with
a talk about pollinating insects and plant choices
followed by a tour of the beautiful walled gardens to
look at the interaction between bees and flowers. Please
note that this course will concentrate on wild bees
only, and will not cover honey bees or beekeeping.
Saturday 3rd July, 10.30am – 12.30pm
Dingestow Court, near Monmouth
Contact: Gwent Wildlife Trust
Cost: £3 members, £6 non-members
Booking Essential
How to Manage your Land for Bumblebees
Speaker: Pippa Rayner
This course is aimed at anyone who farms, owns or
manages land and may be interested in providing habitat
for bumblebees. The day will include a short talk
introducing bumblebees, why they need conservation and
the role they play in agriculture. This will be followed
by a walk around the farm to see some habitats that are
important for bumblebees and discussion of how simple
changes in management can benefit bumblebees. Weather
allowing, we will also take the opportunity to identify
the bumblebees that use the flower-rich habitats on the
farm.
Saturday 3rd July, 1pm – 3.30pm
Pentwyn Farm, near Monmouth
Contact: Gwent Wildlife Trust
Cost: £3 members, £5 non-members
Booking Essential
Allt-yr-Yn Meadow Survey & Management Plan Review
WING Work Task
Spend just the morning or stay all day – the choice is
yours. Bring a flask & a packed lunch. The task is
usually finished by 4pm.
Sunday 4th July, meet 10.30am
Newport Civic Centre top car park, Newport
Contact: Wildlife in Newport Group, 01633 263374
Managing your Land for Wildlife
Tutor: Annette Murray
Many of us would like to do our bit for wildlife but
when it comes to managing our land be it a small garden,
a farm or a country estate, it’s hard to know where to
start, especially when faced with the huge amount of
information that’s available. Aimed at the beginner,
this course will help you to understand why managing
your site for wildlife is worthwhile, and it will give
you a basic understanding of how it’s done. An indoor,
illustrated talk will be followed by a walk around the
Trust’s Pentwyn Farm and Wyeswood Common Nature Reserves
to look at how we successfully manage our own land to
maximise the benefit to local wildlife. There will be
plenty of opportunities to ask questions about your own
locations over the course of the day.
Tuesday 6th July, 10am – 3pm
Pentwyn Farm & Wyeswood Common, near Monmouth
Contact: Gwent Wildlife Trust
Cost: £15 members, £22 non-members
Booking Essential
Bumblebees for Beginners
Tutor: Marc Carlton
Bumble bee identification is not easy but if we are to
really understand how these important insects are doing,
we need more people looking to see what’s on their patch
and letting us know. This course is a beginner’s
introduction to identifying this fascinating group.
We’ll start with an illustrated talk concentrating on
the commoner species but quickly move outside for a walk
through the farm meadows (weather permitting) looking
for specimens to identify. (NB no specimens will be
deliberately killed and bees will not be harmed.)
Wednesday 7th July, 2pm – 4pm
Pentwyn Farm, near Monmouth
Contact: Gwent Wildlife Trust
Cost: £3 members, £6 non-members
Booking Essential
A Brisk Bog Trot!
Leader: Dave Green
Bog plants are truly amazing, living as they do in some
of the most challenging habitats. Bogs are often very
acidic and nutrient poor and yet some plants thrive
there. Indeed many of the species we will see simply
can’t survive anywhere else! Join Dave for an evening’s
in-depth botanical foray into this amazing little site.
A perfect companion course to our visit to the lime-rich
habitats we explored with Dave back in early June!
Friday 9th July, 6pm – 9pm
Henllys Bog, near Cwmbran
Contact: Gwent Wildlife Trust
Cost: £3 members, £6 non-members
Booking Essential
Magor Marsh Open Day
Leaders: Kathy Barclay & Helen John
Our summer open day is one of our most popular events –
probably because there is just so much for every member
of the family to get stuck into! Come and celebrate
GWT’s oldest Nature Reserve with pond dipping, guided
tours of the reserve, face painting, bug hunting,
stalls, refreshments and much more! A real family day
out!
Saturday 10th July, 2pm – 5pm
Magor Marsh, near Newport
Contact: Gwent Wildlife Trust
Cost: £2 adults (£1 members), £1 children, £5 family
No need to book
Blaenau Gwent Local Group Meeting
Wednesday 14th July, 7.30pm
King’s Arms, Newtown, Ebbw Vale
Contact: Blaenau Gwent Local Group, 01495 308056
Cost: FREE
All welcome, including non-members
August
Nature Detectives for the Family
Tutor: Chris Hatch
The trouble with wildlife is that often, it’s not easy
to find – you need to know how, where and when to look
and how to spot the signs that usually go un-noticed. On
this family morning, you will learn to identify tracks,
trails and all manner of signs of wildlife in the
countryside, covering a whole range of species. Perfect
for the budding nature detective…of any age!
Wednesday 4th August, 10am – 12pm
Pentwyn Farm, near Monmouth
Contact: Gwent Wildlife Trust
Cost: £4 members, £6 non-members, £2 children
Booking Essential
Outdoor Living Skills
Tutor: Gavin Cornthwaite
An exciting day learning safe knife and axe techniques
for all ages. Attendees will learn how to safely build
shelters and light fires in the countryside. Basic wild
foods that are edible will also be covered on the day.
Saturday 7th August, 10am – 4pm
Venue TBC (Torfaen or Blaenau Gwent region)
Contact: Gwent Wildlife Trust
Cost: £5 members, £10 non-members
Booking Essential
Blaenau Gwent Summer Funday
Leader: Veronika Brannovic
Good summer fun for everyone. Can you complete the
wildlife challenge? Would you like to explore pond life,
go on a minibeast safari and follow the tree and texture
trails? Find out about local wildlife on a guided walk
and enjoy games, music, crafts, stories and more.
Refreshments will be available.
Wednesday 11th August, 2pm – 5pm
Environmental Resource Centre, near Ebbw Vale
Contact: Gwent Wildlife Trust
Cost: £1 adults, children FREE
Booking not required
Bird Ringing Demonstration
Tutor: Ian Vaughan
The demonstration will provide a very special
opportunity for members of the public to see some of
Magor Marsh’s wild birds VERY close up. With luck, this
will include one of Magor’s specialties – the secretive
Cetti’s Warbler. Dr Ian Vaughan is an ecologist working
at Cardiff University and will help you learn how bird
ringing is carried out, why bird ringing is carried out
and the ways in which regular ringing at Magor
contributes to vital conservation work, locally,
nationally and internationally. This event is suitable
for beginners and families, provided that children are
accompanied by an adult.
Thursday 12th August 2010, 8am – 12pm
Magor Marsh, near Newport
Contact: Gwent Wildlife Trust
Cost: £3 members, £6 non-members
Booking Essential
Dingestow Court Open Gardens
Leaders: Helen Bosanquet & Denis Jackson
In previous years, despite the weather, hundreds of
people came to see the delightful gardens that Helen
Bosanquet has created at Dingestow Court – also home to
GWT’s HQ. Helen has created an excellent example of how
wildlife friendly gardening can also be beautiful
gardening and each year she opens the gardens to the
public to support the work of the Trust. As well as the
gardens, tea, cakes and plants for sale, we plan to
provide a number of activities for children including
pond dipping and minibeast hunts – a great day out for
the whole family.
Wednesday 18th August, 11am – 4pm
Seddon House, Dingestow, near Monmouth
Contact: Gwent Wildlife Trust
Cost: FREE
No need to book
Surveying for Dormice
Tutor: Jan Kinchington
This course is a brief introduction to dormouse ecology,
their conservation requirements, their legal protection,
where to find them and what signs to look out for. You
will join Jan on a walk around Croes Robert, looking at
habitat, woodland management and for signs of dormice.
Our dormouse courses are, without doubt, our most
popular. We always have a waiting list from previous
years to early booking is essential.
Saturday 28th August, 10am – 1pm
Pentwyn and Croes Robert, near Monmouth
Contact: Gwent Wildlife Trust
Cost: £10 members, £15 non-members
Booking Essential
September
Blaenau Gwent Local Group Meeting
Wednesday 8th September, 7.30pm
King’s Arms, Newtown, Ebbw Vale
Contact: Blaenau Gwent Local Group, 01495 308056
Cost: FREE
All welcome, including non-members
Introduction to Dormice
Tutor: Jan Kinchington
If all wildlife were as cute as Dormice, the Trust would
have 20,000 members and everyone would want to work in
conservation! This course is a chance to meet these
elusive mammals and to gain an insight into how they
live and the work the Trust does to conserve them.
Sunday 12th September, 10am – 11.30am
Croes Robert, near Monmouth
Contact: Gwent Wildlife Trust
Cost: £3 members, £6 non-members
Booking Essential
Dry Stone Walling
Tutor: Terry Mead
Be involved in the restoration of an ancient landscape
feature. This practical course will teach you the
necessary skills to strip out and rebuild a strong,
stock-proof boundary wall, without the need for cement.
Learn the function of the different types of stone used
in a dry stone wall, and how to build safely and
effectively with them. This is a practical course.
Attendees should be prepared for a lot of heavy lifting.
Monday & Tuesday 13th & 14th September, 9.30am – 4.30pm
Pentwyn Farm, near Monmouth
Contact: Gwent Wildlife Trust
Cost: £45 members, £60 non-members
Booking Essential
October
Wyndcliff and Pierce Woods: an Ecological and
Historical Introduction
Tutor: George Peterken
Gwent Wildlife Trust President and author of ‘Wye
Valley’ (New Naturalist 105), George Peterken is a noted
ecologist. This course is an opportunity to accompany
George on a testing walk from the river to the Wyndcliff. You
will learn about natural woodland and the picturesque,
as well as how to identify different tree and shrub
species and learn about their habitats and management.
Feel free to bring your copy of George’s book to be
signed.
Saturday 2nd October, 11am – 4pm
Wyndcliffe, near Tintern
Contact: Gwent Wildlife Trust
Cost: £3 members, £6 non-members
Booking Essential
A Brush with Nature – Painting and Drawing Wild Fungi
Tutors: Rick Park & Sheila Spence
Rick is GWT’s new Chief Executive and a talented
wildlife artist. Sheila is well known local fungi
specialist. This is a two day course: on Saturday, we’ll
be walking around the site looking for specimens to
collect. We’ll be assessing what is found and the places
or habitats in which they grow. On Sunday we’ll spend
the day learning from Rick how to draw and paint the
fungi using a variety of media.
Saturday 9th & Sunday 10th October, Saturday 2pm – 4pm,
Sunday 9.30am – 4.30pm
Magor Marsh, near Newport
Contact: Gwent Wildlife Trust
Cost: £60 members, £90 non-members
Booking Essential
An Exploration of Otter Hole & Chepstow Caves
Speaker: Forest of Dean Caving Club
Wednesday 20th October, 7.30pm
Chepstow Leisure Centre, Chepstow
Contact: Chepstow Local Group, 01291 689326
Cost: £1.50 members, £2 non-members
Tea & coffee available
Autumn Fruits
Leaders: Kathy Barclay & Helen John
Fruits are important. They help plants spread and they
provide a perfect food for many wild creatures,
especially birds. Come to Magor Marsh to find out about
the fruits that grow here. Have a go at painting with
natural paints and create your own little masterpiece.
An entertaining day out for all the family in this
season of mists and mellow fruitfulness.
Saturday 23rd October, 1pm – 3pm
Magor Marsh, near Newport
Contact: Gwent Wildlife Trust
Cost: £1 children, adults FREE
No need to book
Introduction to Dormice
Tutor: Jan Kinchington
If all wildlife were as cute as Dormice, the Trust would
have 20,000 members and everyone would want to work in
conservation! This course is a chance to meet these
elusive mammals and to gain an insight into how they
live and the work the Trust does to conserve them.
Sunday 24th October, 10am – 11.30am
Croes Robert, near Monmouth
Contact: Gwent Wildlife Trust
Cost: £3 members, £6 non-members
Booking Essential
Autumn Funday
Leader: Veronika Brannovic
Autumn fun for all ages. Learn about the wildlife that
lives locally and complete the autumn wildlife
challenge. Find out how you can help birds and other
wildlife through the winter – make bird boxes and bird
food cakes to take home. You can also have a go at green
woodworking and other woodland crafts, hear woodland
stories and have your face painted (optional for
adults!).
Wednesday 27th October, 11am – 3pm
Environmental Resource Centre, near Ebbw Vale
Contact: Gwent Wildlife Trust
Cost: £1 adults, children FREE
No need to book
A Brush with Nature – Painting and Drawing Wild Fungi
Tutors: Rick Park & Sheila Spence
Rick is GWT’s new Chief Executive and a talented
wildlife artist. Sheila is well known local fungi
specialist. This is a two day course: on Saturday, we’ll
be walking around the site looking for specimens to
collect. We’ll be assessing what is found and the places
or habitats in which they grow. On Sunday we’ll spend
the day learning from Rick how to draw and paint the
fungi using a variety of media.
Saturday 30th & Sunday 31st October, Saturday 2pm – 4pm,
Sunday 9.30am – 4.30pm
Ebbw Vale
Contact: Gwent Wildlife Trust
Cost: £60 members, £90 non-members
Booking Essential
November
Blaenau Gwent Local Group Meeting
Wednesday 10th November, 7.30pm
King’s Arms, Newtown, Ebbw Vale
Contact: Blaenau Gwent Local Group, 01495 308056
Cost: FREE
All welcome, including non-members
Creating Simple Living Willow Structures
Tutor: Tom Richards
An opportunity to learn how to make basic living willow
structures using hand tools. This course, which is aimed
firmly at the beginner, will equip participants with the
knowledge and skills they need to start experimenting
with this fascinating living artform. Living structures
are a great addition to any garden and are a great
activity for those working with children in schools and
groups too.
Saturday 13th November, 10am – 2pm
Magor Marsh, near Newport
Contact: Gwent Wildlife Trust
Cost: £10 members, £15 non-members
Booking Essential
Dealing with Injured Wildlife
Speaker: Mike Edwards
What to do if you find an injured animal. How to
approach and the best course of action if you find a
wild animal injured. A chance for an interesting and
lively discussion with plenty of first hand stories!
Monday 15th November, 7pm – 8pm
Environmental Resource Centre, Ebbw Vale
Contact: Gwent Wildlife Trust
Cost: Donations to be split between City Wildlife Care
and GWT
Booking Essential
Winter Wildlife
Speaker: Chris Hatch
Wednesday 17th November, 7.30pm
Chepstow Leisure Centre, Chepstow
Contact: Chepstow Local Group, 01291 689326
Cost: £1.50 members, £2 non-members
Tea & coffee available
Hedgelaying
Tutor: Kevin Williams
A practical introduction to Hedgelaying. Participants
will learn how to prepare a hedge for laying and how to
select the right trees for laying. It will include a
brief discussion of the various styles of hedgelaying.
You will also be shown how to use and sharpen the tools
provided.
Saturday 27th November, 10am – 4.30pm
Springdale Reserve, near Usk
Contact: Gwent Wildlife Trust
Cost: £25 members, £35 non-members
Booking Essential
December
Nature Detectives for Adults
Tutor: Chris Hatch
Learn to identify tracks, trails, and all manner
wildlife signs in the countryside, covering a whole
range of species. A repeat of Chris’ course back in
August but this time for an adult audience.
Tuesday 7th December, 10am – 12pm
Magor Marsh, near Newport
Contact: Gwent Wildlife Trust
Cost: £4 members, £6 non-members
Booking Essential
Crafts & Carols at Magor Marsh
Leaders: Kathy Barclay & Helen John
This afternoon event will get the whole family in the
Christmas spirit. GWT have teamed up with St. Mary’s
Church, Magor, to present an afternoon of Christmas
craft followed by some heart-warming carol singing round
the camp-fire (weather permitting).
Saturday 11th December, 2pm – 5pm
Magor Marsh, near Newport
Contact: Gwent Wildlife Trust
Cost: £1 members, £1.50 non-members
Booking Essential
The Future of Gwent Wildlife Trust
Speaker: Rick Park, CEO GWT
Wednesday 15th December, 7.30pm
Chepstow Leisure Centre, Chepstow
Contact: Chepstow Local Group, 01291 689326
Cost: £1.50 members, £2 non-members
Tea & coffee available
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 - Luke
Philips
gwentbirder@fsmail.net 01495 350852
(C) Chepstow Group - Hilary Lee 01291
689326
(FOSV) Friends of Silent Valley -
Trust Office 01600 740600
(GWT) GWT Office - 01600 740600
(M) Monmouth Group -
Alison Willott,
01600 740286
(MMWC) Magor Marsh Watch Club - Nic
Hutchinson 01291 421568
(T) Torfaen Group - Vicky Coghlan
01495 759139
(U) Usk Group - Margaret Barford
01495 785530
(WING) Wildlife in Newport Group -
Roger James 01633 215627
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
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