UTB Events Programme - Summer 2008

Non-members are welcome to attend our events. If you do so, please make yourself known to the event organiser/leader at the start of the event.

For all outdoor meetings please check with the Leader before turning out as some may be cancelled in adverse weather conditions.

 

► Field Meetings - June

► Field Meetings - July

► Field Meetings - August

► Field Meetings - September

► UTB 2008 Members' Day & AGM (1st November)

► Berks Moth Group

► Safety Code

 

Field Meetings

 

Saturday 31st May 2008 - 10.30am Lardon Chase N.T. Reserve

Our species champion, Maureen Cross, will be leading a walk to see the Adonis Blue on one of its few sites within the Upper Thames area. Other spring, chalk grassland butterflies should be on the wing too.
Very steep grass slopes.
Meet in N.T. car park at SU583807. Off the A4009 at the top of the hill from Streatley.
Leader Maureen Cross 01491 871239

 

Sunday 1st June 2008 - 11am Watlington Hill, Bucks/Oxon border

Spring butterflies including Dingy and Grizzled Skippers and Green Hairstreak.
Meet at National Trust car park at the top of Watlington Hill. SU709937 O/S 175.
Leader and contact Paul Bowyer 01628 526225

 

Saturday 7th June National Moth Night

8.30 onwards Holtspur Bottom Reserve for moth trapping.
Bring a moth trap if you want, the generator will run 2. Bring torch, hot drinks, adequate warm clothing.
Meet at reserve entrance in Riding Lane. SU918906 O/S 175.
Leader and Contact Paul Bowyer 01628 526225
Note: Riding Lane has been resurfaced and is not the potholed hazard of the past. Members who in the past have parked in Cherry Tree Road and walked down may still do so, but the footpath is now badly worn by horses kept in the field.

9pm onwards Waltham Place, White Waltham
For the first time, as well as having target species, National Moth Night has a target habitat - orchards. Waltham Place has 2 old orchards, as well as organic gardens and woodland.
Coming north-westwards along the B3024 from Paley Street, cross over the M4. After 500 metres, the B3024 bends to the left, Church Hill is straight ahead and a narrow track is on the right. Park at the barn at the end of the track.
Map Ref - SU857 770, OS175.
Bring a torch and warm clothes. Bring your own generator and trap if you can.
Leader and Contact Jan Haseler 0118 9414750

 

Sunday 8th June - 11.00am Holtspur Bottom Reserve

A walk around our reserve. Hopefully Small Blue will be present.
Meet at reserve entrance in Riding Lane. SU918906 O/S 175. (or park opposite Scout hut in Cherry Tree Road SU923916 and walk down the footpath opposite the end of the road. Turn left when Riding Lane is reached).
Leader and Contact Paul Bowyer 01628 526225
Note: Riding Lane has been resurfaced and is not the potholed hazard of the past. Members who in the past have parked in Cherry Tree Road and walked down may still do so, but the footpath is now badly worn by horses kept in the field.

 

Saturday 14th June - 10.45am Ruislip Woods Middlesex

View the management progress courtesy of Ruislip N.H.S.
Meet at car park at end of Reservoir Road, Ruislip. TQ086893 Pub lunch or bring own. Continue on common during afternoon.
Leader and contact Ched George 01494 484493

 

Sunday 15th June - 10.30am Swyncombe Downs, Oxon

Trip to find Small Blue with our new Small Blue champion.
Meet at the car parking area in woodland at the bend in the minor road 1.5 miles east of Ewelme. SU666914 O/S 175.
Leader and Contact Jim Asher 01865 391727

 

Wednesday 18th June - 10.30am Brentmoor Heath, Surrey Berks Border

Silver-studded Blue and Dartford Warbler
Meet at Grayspot Range gate, down stony track at end of Brentmoor Road, West End. TQ 187 117617.
Leader: Mary Adler.
Contact Frank Banyard 01494 672310

 

Sunday 22nd June - 11.00am Asham Meads, BBOWT Reserve, Bucks.

Possible Black and White-letter Hairstreaks and day flying Moths.
Meet at reserve entrance. SP590146 O/S 164
Leader and Contact Paul Bowyer 01628 526225

 

Saturday 28th June - 11am Homefield Wood Bucks

Summer walk in this BBOWT reserve. Target species White-letter Hairstreak and Silver-washed Fritillary.
Meet at reserve entrance SU814866 O/S175
Leader Paul Bowyer 01628 526225

 

Saturday July 5th - Dancersend BBOWT Reserve - Joint with Bucks Invertebrate Group and BBOWT

- Daytime meeting : 2.00pm. Leader Mick Jones.
Meet at 2.00pm at the entrance to the reserve. Grid Reference SP903096.
The entrance is on a sharp bend opposite a pond just north of Spencersgreen.
A chance to look for Duke of Burgundy larvae and other invertebrates. Bring your own refreshments if needed.
Please confirm attendance beforehand. 01908 695746 or 07818 624092.

- Moth trapping evening meeting : 9.15pm. Leader Peter Hall.
Location as for daytime.
The species tally for the reserve now stands at over 500. We hope to add a few more.
Please bring a torch and suitable clothing for cool and possibly wet conditions.
Please confirm attendance in advance: 01494 837518.

 

Saturday July 5th and Sunday July 6th - 10.30am Bernwood Forest, Bucks

Our Purple Emperor champion has chosen dates which are earlier than usual to search for this species but he seems confident it will have emerged by this time.
Meet in Oakley Wood car park off the Horton Cum Studley to Oakley Road, SP611117 O/S165.
Leader and Contact Dennis Dell 01296 397039

 

Friday July 11th - 9.00pm onwards Holtspur Bottom Moth Trapping

Meet at reserve entrance in Riding Lane. SU918906 O/S 175.
Bring a moth trap if you want, the generator will run 2. Bring torch, hot drinks, adequate warm clothing.
Leader and Contact Paul Bowyer 01628 526225

 

Saturday July 12th - 2.00 pm Holtspur Valley Reserves

A visit to both Holtspur Bottom and Holtspur Local Nature Reserves.
Earlier in July than in recent years, the reserves should be at their summer best.
Meet at Riding Lane car park. SU 905015 OS175.
Further parking at Holtspur Bottom also off Riding Lane.
Leader: Frank Banyard 01494 672310
Note: Riding Lane has been resurfaced and is not the potholed hazard of the past. Members who in the past have parked in Cherry Tree Road and walked down may still do so, but the footpath is now badly worn by horses kept in the field and dangerous when wet.

 

Sunday July 13th - 11.00am Ivinghoe Beacon, Bucks

Target species Dark Green Fritillary.
The walk and the butterflies were splendid last year. Let's hope for a repeat. Steep slopes and rabbit holes.
Meet at main car park SP963160.
Leader Paul Bowyer 01628 526225

 

Saturday 19th & Sunday 20th July - 11am - 5pm Surrey bi-Annual Butterfly Garden Show

Juniper Hall, Box Hill, Dorking Surrey.
Butterfly garden, talks exhibits moths and walks on the slopes of Box Hill. Refreshments available Juniper Hall Field centre is at TG 172 172527 OS186. Easily reached off A24 Leatherhead Dorking road, taking the minor road north between Mickleham and Box Hill.
More details from Phil Boys on 01306 885793.

 

Sunday 20th July - 10.00am Pamber Forest, Berkshire/Hampshire borders

"Save our Butterflies" Joint meeting with Hampshire Branch
Purple Emperor, White Admiral, Silver-washed Fritillary, Purple Hairstreak and many others.
Meet at 10.00 am at the car park in Impstone Road, Pamber Heath, at the north entrance to Pamber Forest, adjoining Silchester Common entrance (SU616 620).
Walk in woods in the morning, return to car park for lunch and extend the walk on to the common in the afternoon for those who wish. Take lunch.
Leader: Graham Dennis, HWT Reserves Officer (0118 970 0155)
Contact: Frank Banyard 01494 672310

 

Sunday 27th July - 26 Butterfly species in a day?

We shall be celebrating the end of "Save our Butterflies Week" and the Branch's 26th year of existence by ambitiously trying to see 26 species in a day. This is especially ambitious as we failed (but by only one) to see 25 species at the same time of year in 2007. But most of you will still remember the awful summer of 2007 well enough to realise the odds were stacked against us - surely 2008 cannot be as bad. This event will be advertised to members of the public so the attendance of experienced members to assist the leader in educating the less experienced in butterfly identification, the reasons for the different species at each site and publicising the plight of many of our butterflies will be gratefully appreciated.

- Part 1 Morning: Greenham Common near Newbury Berks. 10.00am.
Meet in the control tower car park SU501652 O/S174.
The car park is situated off Bury's Bank road which runs along the north side of Greenham Common.
Hopefully here we should get a good number of common grassland species but our real target will be an early Grayling and a Clouded Yellow would not go amiss.

- Part 2 Midday: Baynes Wood, BBOWT near Newbury Berks. 12noon
After maximising our count at Greenham Common we will travel just over half a mile up the road to the BBOWT Reserve car park (SU511652) where we will be met by Roger Dobbs, Voluntary Warden at 12.00 noon with the intention of adding species such as Silver-washed Fritillary, White Admiral, Speckled Wood and Comma to our list.

- Lunch and Recuperation. Hopefully having moved our count into the lower 20's we will have a short rest for lunch in the reserve car park before heading off for part 3.

- Part 3 Afternoon: Lardon Chase, NT near Streatley, Berks. 3pm.
A 12 mile drive mainly along the B4009 will take us to this wonderful reserve overlooking the River Thames where we will re-gather for the final time at 3.00pm in the reserve car park, SU 583807 on the left before the B4009 drops down into Streatley. Hopefully at Lardon Chase the Small and Chalkhill Blues plus any expected but "missing" species at Greenham Common will mean we achieve our target of 26 species.

Bring lunch if brave enough to complete the full course. More detailed instructions for travel between the sites will be available on the day.
Leader David Redhead 01865 772520

 

Friday 1st August - 8.30pm Stoke Common Bucks. Joint with Bucks Invertebrates Group for Moths.

This site has been recently acquired by the City of London who will manage the site.
Dress for the cold and bring a torch.
Meet in lay-by opposite the Pickeridge in Stoke Common Road Ref SU985857, OS175
Leader and Contact Paul Bowyer 01628 526225

 

Sunday 3rd August - 10.30am Aston Rowant (Linkey Down) NNR and Shirburn Hill Oxon

A walk with our species champion for the Silver-spotted Skipper.
Chalkhill Blue also likely. This is the central part of the Aston Rowant reserve.
Meet at 10.30am at the northern end of Cowleaze Wood car park near the start of the sculpture trail. SU726958 O/S165.
Meet at 2.00pm at the same meeting point for the afternoon on Shirburn Hill.
Bring picnic lunch if coming for the day. Steep grass slopes.
Leader and Contact Richard Soulsby 01491 835226

 

Sunday 10th August - 9.30am Brown Hairstreak Field Meeting at Whitecross Green Wood

The enigmatic Brown Hairstreak should have started to emerge a fortnight ago and the numbers of adults assembled in ride side ash and oak trees should be near their maximum during this weekend at this known hotspot for the species. David Redhead, our Brown Hairstreak champion, will be on hand to assist members in locating the adults whilst they are up in the tree canopy. If we are really lucky we may be able to spot a mating pair high up in an ash or oak tree and witness the first of the mated females coming down to the blackthorn to lay her eggs. Adults nectaring on ride side wild angelica are also not out of the question. The start time is deliberately early because if the weather is good, tree canopy activity seems to maximise about 10.00am. However since much earlier activity has been noted by other observers the leader will actually be arriving about 7.00am to see if anything is happening. If you are interested in joining him in this speculative adventure please give him a ring to ensure his enthusiasm has not faltered in the meantime.
Meet in the reserve car park SP600150 just off the Murcott to Boarstall road.
Leader: David Redhead 01865 772520

 

Saturday 16th August - 10.30 Lardon Chase N.T. Reserve. Joint with the Kintbury Wildlife Group

Species champion, Maureen Cross will be leading a walk to see the Adonis Blue on one of its few sites within the Upper Thames area. Very steep grass slopes.
Meet in the N.T. car park at SU583807. Off the A4009 at the top of the hill from Streatley.
Leader Maureen Cross 01491 871239

 

Sunday 17th August - 11.00am Aston Upthorpe Downs, Oxon

For summer downland species.
Meet at SU550844 OS174. From A417, 1 mile east of Blewbury, turn south along narrow lane opposite turn to Aston Upthorpe. Park at grain drier half a mile along lane. Steep chalk banks.
Leader Mike Wilkins 01235 831300

 

Sunday 24th August - 11.00am Bernwood Forest, Bucks

What's left of the summer walk. There could be a lot, maybe very little.
Meet in Oakley Wood car park off the Horton Cum Studley to Oakley Road, SP611117 O/S165.
Leader and Contact Paul Bowyer 01628 526225

 

Friday September 12th - 8.30pm onwards, Holtspur Bottom Moth Trapping.

Joint with Wycombe Wildlife Group.
Meet at reserve entrance in Riding Lane. SU918906 O/S 175.
Bring a moth trap if you want, the generator will run 2. Bring torch, hot drinks, adequate warm clothing.
Leader and Contact Paul Bowyer 01628 526225
Note: Riding Lane has been resurfaced and is not the potholed hazard of the past. Members who in the past have parked in Cherry Tree Road and walked down may still do so, but the footpath is now badly worn by horses kept in the field. A torch is essential if footpath is used in the dark.

 

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AND A DATE FOR YOUR DIARY - A reminder from Frank Banyard ...

Saturday 1st November 2008 - Upper Thames Branch 2008 Members' Day & AGM
At the Fitzwilliam Centre, Beaconsfield Old Town

At the time of writing, the programme is almost finalised and Guests will include:

- Dr Keith Porter from Natural England. Keith is a founder member of UTB and has been much involved with the major, and currently very successful reintroduction of the Marsh Fritillary in Cumbria.

- Mandy Gluth, from our Norfolk Branch, who is the Catfield Fen Manager but will be talking primarily on the successful translocation of the Silver-studded Blue in Norfolk.

- Peter Lindsley, a UTB member who now lives in the land of the Swallowtails and has recently completed a video of the butterflies of the Morecombe Bay and Silverdale area of Lancashire. Many members will know that this is an outstanding area for butterflies and moths and it is also the most requested location for our away events. For those of us who have been it will bring great memories; for those who have not it is certain to whet appetites.

In addition there will be our traditional Photo competition and all the usual other displays. Gillian Oldfield has bravely offered to take over the role of catering manager for the day; bravely that is in the footspeps of Jaci Beaven and Margaret Price who have done so much to make our Members Day food renowned far and wide.

Good luck Gillian!

P.S. Just do make a note of the date in your diaries now. Each year we have plaintive apologies from those who forgot to do so as it seemed so far off! It is not worth missing a really great day.

 

BERKSHIRE MOTH GROUP

 

The Berkshire Moth Group meets every second Thursday in the month at 19:30 at Maiden Erleigh Local Nature Reserve Interpretation Centre, Instow Road, Earley, near Reading, SU 749 709 (OS175).

Contact : Grahame Hawker 01189 700144.

 

SAFETY CODE

As with any other activity, there are hazards in the countryside and everyone taking part in a Field Meeting, Work Party or other event has a responsibility (duty of care), for their own safety and that of others. We try hard to ensure that our events present no hazards but please note and act on the following:

 

1.      Wear appropriate clothing and footwear. If there are unusual requirements, these are noted in the individual event details. Stout shoes are a minimum requirement.

2.      During the main summer season you may be exposed to strong sunshine for much or all of the walk. Take a hat, use sun cream or protection for exposed skin. Make sure that you have adequate food and liquid to drink with you. Equally, sunshine can easily turn to cold and rain during the day. Be prepared.

3.      Winter events may result in exposure to very cold conditions although events are cancelled in extreme conditions. Warm and waterproof clothing and footwear should always be worn. It is sensible to bring a warm drink.

4.      The leader will provide a briefing on the event before starting, with details of any known particular hazards, and will also give advice on what to do in an emergency.  Please listen carefully.

5.      At the briefing, please let the leader know if you have a mobile telephone and are willing to take it with you and/or you have First Aid qualifications.

6.      Joining the event is an indication of your interest in butterflies. By their nature butterflies do not remain conveniently by the main path and will offer many opportunities (temptations) for you to wander away.   Take particular care to look out for hazards – rabbit holes, fallen or hanging branches, barbed wire, boggy areas, etc. Beware of wet grass, particularly on sloping ground. Children are welcome at our events, but if under 16 must be accompanied by at least one adult for two children. It is the responsibility of the accompanying adult(s) to ensure that the event is within the children's ability.

7.      Dogs are normally welcome on walks but not at work parties. They must be kept under control. Any exceptions are shown in the individual event details.

8.      If you are uncertain about any details of the event, ring the leader/contact in advance. There is always a telephone number given with the event details.

9.      If you decide to leave the event early, tell the Leader.

10.   Take care at all times, but ENJOY YOURSELF.