Indoor meetings are held on the first Friday of each month from October to May in the Methodist Church, Witney. Please use the rear entrance from Woolgate (Waitrose) car park in Witan Way.
A printable version of the programme can be downloaded here. Please note that there are occasional ‘pop-up’ walks which are not in the printed programme. Details will be emailed to members and added to this page.
Talks and outdoor meetings are free to members and £3 for visitors. Please note that booking is required for some events where numbers are limited.
| Friday 2nd October 7:15 for 7:30pm INDOOR MEETING Mike Wallen: ‘A Quest for the Most Beautiful Bird in Europe’ (in the French Pyrenees). Sunday 18th October 10.30am in the car park: FUNGUS FORAY at BBOWT Warburg Reserve. A large variety of woodland fungi grow on this scenic reserve. The walk will take 2–3 hours mostly on marked trails. From the A4130 turn into Bix village then turn left at Rectory Lane. Go down a steep hill and left at the bottom, signposted Bix Bottom. Continue on a poorly surfaced lane for 1 mile to the car park on the right. Visitor Centre and toilets on site. The journey takes about an hour so please car share. Bix Bottom, Henley-on-Thames. Postcode: RG9 6BL. Map Ref: SU721878. What3Words:ownership.incurs.obvious. Leader: Peter Creed Friday 6th November 7:15 for 7:30pm INDOOR MEETING Steven Williams: ‘Spiders’. Sunday 22nd November 10.30am: BIRDWATCHING at Farmoor Reservoir. A 2–3 hour walk in a variety of habitats, calling on hides en route. Adequate parking but there may be a charge. Snacks available at the Café. Postcode: OX2 9NS. Map Ref: SP451067. Leader: Graham Lenton Friday 4th December 7:15 for 7:30pm INDOOR MEETING Andrew Lack: ‘Robins in Our Lives’. Sunday 13th December 10.30am: BURY DOWN RIDGEWAY WALK. A 3 mile walk on the Ridgeway hoping to see winter thrushes and corn buntings. Parking is marked on the OS map. Accessible from the West Ilsley Rd off the A34. Take the 1st exit after Chilton interchange signposted West Ilsley. Park on top of the hill after approximately ½ mile. Map Ref: SU478841. Leader: Sue Morton Saturday 2nd January 11am: NEW YEAR WALK around Finstock. Meet outside The Plough. The New Year Plant Hunt is the Botanical Society for Britain and Ireland’s flagship outreach activity during which plants in flower are recorded on a local patch in the depth of winter. The data collected monitors how wild/naturalised plants are responding to climate change.This is a wonderful reason to wrap up and meet with others, get fresh air and collect useful data. You can find information regarding procedure and previous results from the Botanical Society if you Google New Year Plant Hunt. Postcode: OX7 3BY (car park at the rear). Leader: Brenda Betteridge Friday 15th January 7:15 for 7:30pm MEMBERS’ NIGHT (Non-members equally welcome!) Bring items or photographs for identification or general interest. If you wish to show any pictures or give a short talk, please bring them on memory sticks and notify Sue Morton in advance. Friday 5th February 7:15 for 7:30pm INDOOR MEETING Dr Steve Head: ‘What’s in Your Pond?’ Thursday 11th February 2pm: NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM ENTOMOLOGY DEPARTMENT: LEARNING ABOUT SPIDERS. Following our talk on spiders in November, here’s a chance to learn more about them and to examine some fascinating specimens. Tour will be about 2 hours. Cost will be £5 cash per person. Numbers capped at 15. Meet at the Natural History Museum, Parks Rd. Park and Ride strongly recommended. Postcode: OX1 3PW. Leaders: Steven Williams and Louis Lofthouse Friday 5th March 7:15 for 7:30pm INDOOR MEETING Bob Cowley: ‘Deer’. Saturday 20th March 10.30am: WALK FROM STANDLAKE TO NEWBRIDGE. A 3 mile walk from Standlake to Newbridge and back, along a path that our leader, ecologist Craig Blackwell, helped to develop as part of the Lower Windrush Valley Project. We will call in at the reserve to see wildfowl and waders, with a coffee break half way at the Rose Revived. Meet in High Street, Standlake near the Black Horse pub and park nearby in the road. Car sharing recommended. Leader Craig Blackwell Friday 2nd April 7:15 for 7:30pm INDOOR MEETING Paddy Gallagher: ‘From Mexico to the Falklands’. Wednesday 21st April 10am: OTMOOR. A good time to look for migrant birds and possibly hear the bitterns booming. The car park is very small, so car sharing is important. Please let me know if you intend to come along so that I can organise lifts. NB: No toilets available. Postcode: OX3 9TD. Map Ref: SP570126. What3Words: dividers.sage.bibs. Leader: Graham Lenton Sunday 2nd May 5am: DAWN CHORUS AT RUSHY COMMON.(Come earlier if you wish to catch the first birdsong.) Meet in the Rushy Common car park off the Cogges to Stanton Harcourt road. Bring a torch and wellies as well as warm clothes. Postcode: OX29 5AN. Map Ref: SP381073. Leader: Adrian State Friday 7th May 7:15 for 7:30pm INDOOR MEETING Roger Newman: ‘The Life and Times of Butterflies’. |
