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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.
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:
Environmental Resource Centre, near Ebbw Vale
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
The Severn Estuary: Energy at a
Price
Speaker: Dr Rick Park, GWT CEO Tuesday 12th October,
7.30pm Glen yr Afon House Hotel, Usk Contact: Usk Local
Group, 01495 785530 Cost: £2 adults, children free
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
The National Trust’s Brecon Beacons
Speaker: Joe Daggett Tuesday 9th November, 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 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 - Rodney
Morris - 01495 - 308056
(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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