Sunday 7 September 2014

Conservation Evening Friday 12th December 2014


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.       

 Tickets only £6-00, please book in advance by either telephone 01949 844319 or email valebarnowls@hotmail.co.uk 


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.