Indoor meetings
| Date | Speaker | Title | Description | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday September 4th | Paul Carpenter | Life in the Rain Forest | Paul is a semi-retired local authority pest control officer with a lifelong interest in invertebrates. For the past 20 years Paul has travelled to tropical forests of South and Central America, Africa and Asia to study and photograph insects, spiders and other fauna. During these field trips a number of new species have been discovered including a tarantula spider which has been named after Paul. | |
| Thursday October 2nd | Natalie Jaworska | Worcestershire’s Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) | Natalie is Worcestershire’s LNRS Officer. The LNRS aims to protect and improve wildlife. It sets out local priorities for restoring habitats and boosting wildlife populations. During the summer of 2025 there will be a public consultation on the proposals suggested. Details of this will be available on the WCC website worcestershire.gov.uk under Environmental Policy. | |
| Thursday November 6th | Rory Johnson | The Work of the Herefordshire Meadows Charity | Rory is the Director and Meadows Adviser of Herefordshire Meadows which supports the creation, restoration and conservation of species rich grasslands across Herefordshire. His talk will include a broad overview and some specific case studies. A guided walk may be possible at a later date | |
| Thursday December 4th | Richard Newton | The Biodiversity of Castlemorton Common | Richard is a keen local naturalist and wildlife photographer. He set up and chairs the Malvern U3A Natural History Group. During 2023-4 some members of the group undertook an in depth study of the flora and fauna of Castlemorton Common. An illustrated book will be produced of their findings and a database has been compiled of the organisms identified | |
| Thursday January 15th | Tej Kaushal | Close-up nature photography in 3D | Tej joined QinetiQ in the 1990s to work on thermal camera technology before moving into software and 3D scanning. He is a member of the Beacon Camera Club and in his talk he’ll explore the intricate beauty of nature with stereoscopic 3D photos and video (red-cyan glasses will be provided). If time permits, Tej will attempt a live demonstration of 3D videography. | |
| Thursday February 5th | Alison Uren | The Wildlife of the Avalon Marshes | Alison Uren is a past Chairperson of the Malvern Local Group. Since moving from Malvern to Somerset she has been very active in nature conservation, volunteering at RSPB Ham Wall and for the Somerset Wildlife Trust. Alison has used her observations and research to write a book entitled The Wildlife of the Avalon Marshes. It is to be published in October and is illustrated with photographs taken by several photographers and profits from its sale go to the RSPB. Alison will have some discounted copies for sale at the meeting. | |
| Thursday March 5th | Alan Peace | The Barn Owl – Its Plight and The World Owl Trust | Alan describes the Barn Owl as the most beautiful but endangered owl in the UK. He has been involved with owls since 1971 and his talk is built around an owl he hand-reared from an egg and which lived in his house. Alan will also talk about the work of the World Owl Trust. (No live birds are used in this presentation.) | |
| Thursday April 2 nd | Wendy Carter | What to Look for in Spring | Wendy leads the Worcestershire Wildlife Trust’s communications work. This includes press and media liaison, publications, website and social media. She is a keen and very experienced wildlife photographer and her talk will be illustrated by her own photographs. | |
| May 7 th | Matthew Terry | The Bats of Worcestershire | Matthew is a trustee of the Bat Conservation Trust, chair of the Worcestershire Bat Group and a former bat rehabilitator. |