BNA Conference 2015: Bugs, Birds and Antlers

The British Naturalists' Association held their national conference in Epping Forest yesterday. The BNA is 110 years old this year, which makes it an association of some standing by any account. It attracted as speakers Nick Baker, Professor Ian Newton, and Norma Chapman, outstanding naturalists all.

BNA 2015 National Conference held in Forest School, Epping Forest

I attended the conference with my partner Natasha, as my second BNA conference and her first. The day commenced in the Great Hall of Forest School with an introduction from BNA chairman Roger Tabor, and then we dived straight into the Field Workshops. Attendees had to choose which session to attend, ranging from "Botany and Bats" to nature haiku writing, which was no easy task! Natasha and I elected to attend the Spider Safari first, followed by a session of Owl Pellet Analysis. Attendees then reconvened in the Great Hall for a buffet lunch, and this was superb.

The afternoon consisted of presentations and talks in the Theatre. A number of awards and fellowships were received by the worthy, and then attendees were treated to talks from Nick Baker on 'Building a Naturalist', Norma Chapman on 'Deer in Britain', and Professor Ian Newton on 'Bird Migration'.

The conference was excellent throughout, and I would very much recommend attending one! If you want to know more about the BNA, you can visit their website at www.bna-naturalists.org.

Nick Baker receiving a BNA Fellowship Honoris Causa

Nick Baker delivers his talk, 'Building a Naturalist'

One Tree Hill Bioblitz

Sunday 3rd May 2015

1pm-4.30pm: Bioblitz!
5pm onwards: “Thank you” BBQ

Langdon Hills Country Park, One Tree Hill, Corringham, Essex. SS17 9NH.


An afternoon of surveying, a race to record as many species as possible! This will be a group effort open to experts, amateurs, and anyone with interest and enthusiasm. The Bioblitz will be a chance to find out more about the Country Park and try your hand at surveying for wildlife. Meet at One Tree Hill main car park (by Information Room), and base camp will be nearby.

The afternoon will finish with a free BBQ, providing a chance to socialise and to find out more about the Friends of Langdon Hills. This will also be a thank you to everyone for taking part! Food and soft drinks provided. Please get in touch with any special dietary requirements.

Please RSVP if you plan to attend the BBQ to ensure there will be food for you! Please get in touch with the Country Park on langdon.hills@btconnect.com or 01268 542 066 to RSVP or for more information.

BNA Brightlingsea Boat Trip

On 25th January we joined the BNA (British Naturalists' Association) for one of their events: a Brightlingsea Creek Boat Trip. The BNA ran two boat-trips on Brightlingsea Creek in Essex, with local bird specialists on board as guides. In between there was a talk in Brightlingsea’s historic Wreck House overlooking the harbour, from former Assistant Harbour Master Brian Percival, covering his experiences and sightings of wildlife in the harbour. The building itself was fascinating, and Brian's records of wildlife were impressively detailed and persistent over a long period of time.

The Wreck House, Brightlingsea, Essex

Natasha and I attended the talk first, and then took the second boat trip onto the creek. It was cold out on the water in January, but there was much birdlife to see and we were in knowledgeable company. BNA Brightlingsea posted their list for the day on facebook, and included: redshank, little grebe(dabchick), avocet, grey plover, ringed plover, green plover ( lapwing), dunlin, black tailed godwit, shellduck, curlew, oystercatcher, marsh harrier, brent goose, grey lag goose, herring gull, black headed gull, turnstone, pigeon, mallard, teal and mute swan. Phew! Quite a list.

Ritchie Jacobs shares his knowledge of Brightlingsea birdlife

A variety of birds were spotted in and over the creek

Nuclear Fallout: 8km Mud Run with obstacles

Fundraising target achieved!

02/11/14 07:10 
Finished the mud run, phew!!! Lots of mud, some very cold water, some tricky obstacles... but lots of fun. Thanks to everyone that's supported, we're up to 65% of our target and some donations still coming in! :D

05/11/14 06:02

I still can't believe the race is over, but I've got a shiny medal to prove it hehe. Thanks to everyone that's sponsored, we've reached our target of £200. All thanks to you guys!

  

As promised, pictures from the event:

8km of muddy running, with plenty of obstacles...

Before the race: clean and smiling!

Tough going on London Clay

A mountain of haybales. Flashbacks of summer!

The Deathslide! Definitely one of the more exciting obstacles.

Mud, mud, everywhere.

Crossing the finish line!