The
Vale of Belvoir Barn Owl Conservation Group presents a
CONSERVATION
EVENING
FRIDAY12TH
DECEMBER 2014
VILLAGE HALL
WALTHAM ON THE WOLDS
LE14 4AG
Only
30 minutes from Loughborough, 45 minutes from Leicester and Nottingham and only
one hour from Lincoln.
Illustrated talks;
The
sparrowhawk
Britains leading ornithologist
Professor Ian Newton OBE, FRS, FRSE,
D.phil, D.Sc, emeritus fellow Centre for Ecology and hydrology, Vice President
RSPB and recently Chairman of the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO). Following in depth
studies Ian has written a number of acclaimed books on birds. After a lengthy
study Ian published The Sparrowhawk. Ian
will include in his illustrated talk on this spectacular yet often shy bird,
territory, hunting, feeding and nesting behavior, chick rearing, fledging, nest
failures, predation and migration.
The ecological benefits
of a maintained Grantham Canal
Dr Bruno Broughton,
BSc, (Hons), phD, FIFM, C.Env. Bruno is a Fellow of the Institute of Fisheries Management. One of the country’s leading fisheries
consultant will present the case for why a maintained Grantham Canal which
meanders from Grantham through Leicestershire to Nottingham provides an
improved ecology compared with no maintenance.
Lincolnshire
and Vale of Belvoir peregrine falcons
Bob
Sheppard, awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) in 2012 for services to conservation. In recent years Bob
has been involved in providing nest platforms and monitoring peregrine falcon
breeding in Lincolnshire and at Bottesford in the Vale of Belvoir in Leicestershire.
Bob will include in his talk, working with church authorities and other
building owners, the breeding cycle, hunting habits, types of prey items and
the colour ringing scheme.
Using bat detectors,
Leicestershire and Rutland Bat Group (LRBG)
Jenny
Harris of the LRBG has much experience of hands on bat conservation and rehabilitation of injured bats. Jenny is also a Conservation Officer for the
Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust. Jenny will tell us of the range of
bat detectors available, how to use for identifying different types of bats and
the different habitats where detectors can be used. Also, how bat detectors can
be used in conservation to survey populations and identify any conservation
work required.
Display
stands with information on;
·
Bumblebee
conservation and
the best garden plants for bees,
·
East Midlands Butterfly
Conservation with information on the grizzled skipper conservation plan that will
improve the biodiversity along the 5 miles of
disused railway line from Bottesford to Stathern in Leicestershire,
·
Supplementary winter
farmland bird feeding and the option to include within environmental
stewardship schemes,
·
Muston Meadows National Nature Reserve,
·
Grantham Canal Society,
·
Leicestershire and
Rutland Bat Group,
·
Vale of Belvoir Barn
Owl Conservation Group.
Open from 6-45 p.m.
First talk 7-30 p.m. Intermission 8-15 p.m. to 9 p.m. Formal closure 9-45 p.m. informal
time to 10-30 p.m.
Tickets only £6-00 reserved in advance please
by either telephone 01949 844319 or email valebarnowls@hotmail.co.uk Please contact us
if a student discount is required.
Proceeds after
expenses will be used by the Vale of Belvoir Barn Owl Conservation Group for
conservation work.
Read on for the full details
7-25 p.m –
Introduction
Illustrated
presentations
7-30 p.m. – Using bat
detectors, Leicestershire and Rutland Bat Group (LRBG)
Jenny
Harris of the LRBG has much experience of hands on bat conservation and rehabilitation of injured bats. Jenny is also a Conservation Officer for the
Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust and has a wide experience in nature
conservation. Jenny will tell us of the range of bat detectors available, how
to use for identifying different types of bats and the different habitats where
detectors can be used. Also, how bat detectors can be used in conservation to
survey populations and identify any conservation work required.
7-45 p.m. – Lincolnshire and Vale of Belvoir
peregrine falcons
Bob
Sheppard, awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) in 2012 for services to conservation. Bob has been a major contributor to the rise of barn owl
and kestrel numbers in Lincolnshire with his nest box schemes. During 2014 Bob
ringed over 1000 young birds of prey.
Bob is also credited with what is now accepted as the national standard
design for little owl nest boxes. In recent years Bob has been involved in
providing nest platforms and monitoring peregrine falcon breeding in
Lincolnshire and at Bottesford in the Vale of Belvoir in Leicestershire. Bob
will include in his talk, working with church authorities and other building
owners, the breeding cycle, hunting habits, types of prey items and the colour
ringing scheme.
8-00 p.m. – The
ecological benefits of a maintained Grantham Canal
Dr Bruno Broughton,
BSc, (Hons), phD, FIFM, C.Env. Bruno is a Fellow of the Institute of Fisheries Management, author of a range of scientific papers
and books. Bruno has been an independent fisheries management consultant for
the last 26 years. His extensive and impressive list of clients includes a
large number of angling clubs; farmers and other riparian owners; national and
regional government agencies; local authorities; multi-national industries and
small businesses; environmental consultancies; and voluntary groups. Bruno is known as one of the country’s
leading fisheries management consultants. Now based in Shropshire Bruno is
revisiting the area where he worked until 1988 as a fisheries biologist and
District Fisheries Officer for Severn Trent Water. Bruno will explain why the
active maintenance of the Grantham Canal that meanders from Grantham through
Leicestershire to Nottingham provides a better aquatic ecology than being
neglected.
8-15 p.m. to 9 p.m. – Break – time for
refreshments and visiting the information stands
9 p.m. – 9-45 p.m. – The Sparrowhawk
Professor
Ian Newton OBE, FRS, FRSE, D.phil, D.Sc, emeritus fellow Centre for Ecology and
Hydrology, Vice President RSPB and recently Chairman of the British Trust for
Ornithology (BTO).
Before retirement Ian was the Senior
Ornithologist at the United Kingdom's Natural Environment Research Council. He
has also been head of the Avian Biology Section at the Monks Wood Research
Station, Chairman of the Board of The Peregrine Fund, Chairman of the Council
of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and visiting Professor of Ornithology
at the University of Oxford. Ian has also held the positions of President of
the British Ornithologists' Union and the British Ecological Society.
Ian has been awarded the RSPB gold medal.
Chris Packham names Ian as one of his heroes and mentors.
Ian
is respected world-wide both as a biologist with a special interest and expertise
in birds and as a communicator.
Following
in depth studies Ian has written a number of acclaimed books on birds. After a
lengthy study Ian published The
Sparrowhawk. Ian will include in his illustrated talk on this spectacular
yet often secretive bird, territory, hunting, feeding and nesting behaviour,
chick rearing, fledging, nest failures, predation and migration.
9-45 p.m. approximate
– formal close, feel free to chat or visit the information stands, vacate
building by 10-30 p.m.
Information stands
Grantham
Canal Society – Visit
the GCS people to hear about the latest plans to restore the canal to
navigation standard from Grantham in Lincolnshire to Redmile, future events and
volunteering opportunities.
East Midlands
Butterfly Conservation – Visit the local team to see and hear about the plans for
5miles of disused railway between Bottesford and Stathern, Leicestershire to
thin hawthorn trees and scrub to allow light to reach beneficial low growing
plants and the subsequent maintenance plan. This follows on from similar nearby
work in Nottinghamshire. Although the aim is to provide habitat for the
threatened grizzled skipper butterfly it is intended that the work will significantly
improve the flora and fauna.
Leicestershire
and Rutland Bat Group – Visit their volunteers to find out about their work and
how you can develop your interest in bats.
Vale of
Belvoir Barn Owl Conservation Group – Visit to find out how the Group’s work since
2008 has increased the number of barn owls in the area, barn owl information
including the ringing programme, information on movement of barn owls and the
other
species that have benefitted and the Group’s work. Visit to discuss the variety of volunteer
opportunities available.
Self
service information stands – free information on bumble bee conservation, the
best garden plants for bees, Muston Meadows National Nature Reserve will be
available to take away.
Also, free
Information to take away on the Nottinghamshire ‘bed and breakfast’ tree
sparrow work and supplementary winter feeding of farmland birds, including
feeder designs, some good value seed suppliers and information on how
landowners and farmers can add supplementary free seed to DEFRA stewardship
schemes.
Please contact us if
a student discount is required.
Teas,
coffee, soft drinks, sandwiches and light snacks available.
The venue is a modern
building with a separate room for the information stands, has ample free car
parking and disabled access. See www.walthamvillagehall.co.uk for more
information on the venue.