September 7th 2023
Marvellous Molluscs
Rosemary Winnall MBE, local naturalist, Wyre Forest Study Group
A focus on snails and slugs and how people have used them over the years, with details of some of our British land, freshwater and marine species.
October 5th 2023
Floodplain Meadows
Emma Rothero, Floodplain Meadows Partnership Project Manager and Chris Greensmith, Worcestershire Wildlife Trust Trustee and volunteer warden of Hardwick Green Meadows near Eldersfield
Our two presenters will cover a general overview of floodplain meadows, the need for their conservation and a focus on the Trust’s Hardwick Green meadows and the local Forgotten Floodplains project.
November 2nd 2023
Fungi and Tree Structure
Bob Watson, Head of School of Forestry and Woodland Management at The National School of Forestry
Fungi and other Tree Associations on or near Trees and their effect on Tree Structure and Survival .
December 7th 2023
Saving Wetlands for People and Wildlife
Jackie Harris, volunteer speaker, Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust
A look at WWT’s mission and the story of 4 major conservation projects at home and overseas (Bewick swans, Eurasian curlew, Madagascar pochard and spoon-billed sandpiper)
January 4th 2024
Title TBC
Tomos Holloway, Southern Reserves Officer Worcestershire Wildlife Trust
Twelve months in the work life of a reserves officer and the reserves he manages.
February 1st 2024
Don’t Count Your Butterflies Before They Pupate
Mel Mason, project Leader/Vice-chair West Midlands Butterfly Conservation
An update on the Malvern Hills Lost Fritillaries Project and reintroduction of the Pearl-bordered Fritillary. There will be many images and short videos illustrating the behaviour of the butterfly, details of the project, the problems faced and its successes.
March 7th 2024
The Work of the Vale Landscape Heritage Trust
Gary Farmer, Manager of the Vale Landscape Heritage Trust
This Trust works with volunteers, funders, farmers and Government to protect and conserve some of the old orchards and flower-rich grasslands in and around the Vale of Evesham and Pershore.
We hope to organise a guided walk in June to Hipton Hill, a VLHT reserve, to view the orchids growing there.
April 4th 2024
Creatures of the Twilight
Paul Wilkinson, Canal River Trust, a herpetologist and ecologist for British Waterways
Vampires, dragons and flying mice – a look at the strange world of the nocturnal species of the UK.
May 2nd 2024
Fascination of Plant Galls – Identification, Biology and Ecology
Dave Taft, U3A Natural History, local naturalist
What causes the strange and wonderful growths called galls? Dave will give us an insight into their fascinating natural history and highlight the galls starting to appear in spring.