SPRING PROGRAMME 2015

Meetings are on Tuesdays at 7:30pm for 8:00pm

in the Cruck Barn at the City Discovery Centre

Visitors are most welcome.

Jan
6th	A BRIEF HISTORY OF STONY STRATFORD NATURE RESERVE
	Welcome in the New Year with Martin Kincaid and one of our local places of growing interest! He has worked on the reserve from 1988 and has contacts who were there from the very beginning!
13th	BIRD RINGING FOR THE CURIOUS
	Kenny Cramer is a local bird ringer who has recently been ringing at the Hanson Centre. He will share his experiences, explain the training process and outline the scientific aims of the ringing scheme
20th	PHOTO COMPETITION – THE RON ARNOLD SHIELD
	You can submit up to 10 unmounted prints of up to A4 size. This time you must submit these in advance – by January 13th. Full rules in The Magpie.
27th	BRAZIL: FROM RIO TO THE PANTANAL
	Stunning wildlife of the Atlantic Rain Forest and the world-famous Patanal plus a quick look at Rio too. Chris Ward has been travelling again and will share his experiences – and brilliant photographs – with us
Feb
3rd	THE ICE AGE
	We welcome back Dr Jill Eyers, a professional geologist who has visited us several times previously. She will be looking at what causes ice ages before looking at the different environments created across the UK by the last Ice Age and how to recognise and interpret them.
10th	MEMBERS’ NIGHT
	A traditional Members’ Night. Offers of contributions of 10-15 minutes or so to Jean Cooke or Julie Lane in advance, please.
17th	SUMMER PLANNING
	It’s that time again! Gordon Redford will lead us through the process of creating a Summer Programme when we can feel our fingers and toes!
24th	CLIMATE CHANGE AND LOCAL WILDLIFE
	Chief Executive of the Beds, Cambs and Northants Wildlife Trust, Brian Eversham, visits us again – this time to give us his considered view on the impact of climate change on the wildlife we all love and value.
Mar
3rd	TURKISH DELIGHT
	Jean Cooke will tell us about what she saw on a trip to the far east of Turkey. Plenty of plants, quite a lot of insects, just possibly a bird and mammal!.
10th	FAMILY FAVOURITES
	Our President, Roy Maycock, thanks those members who have given him ideas of their favourite plants – those who haven’t can share some of his own choices.
17th	ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
24th	CONNECTING PEOPLE TO NATURE IN THE LOWER WINDRUSH VALLEY
	Jane Bowley, Project Officer for the Lower Windrush Valley Project, tells us how the valley has been transformed by gravel extraction over the last 100 years from a green, pastoral landscape to one dominated by open water bodies. Some may rue the changes but others revel in the abundance of birds, fishing and variety of views
31st	CALL MY BLUFF (IN MEMORY OF JOAN WEST)
	Dr Hilary Erenler, Northampton University, makes a welcome return. This time she will talk to us about insect and plant diversity on a Central American active volcano
Apr
7th	Easter Break
12th	A Society visit to Kew Gardens is planned. Look out for full details at Meetings! (Sunday) Martin Kincaid is making the arrangements.
14th	ODONATA – A LOCAL UPDATE
	Alan Nelson, one-time Chairman of MKNHS, has agreed to come and share with us his latest information on the occurrence of damsel and dragonfly species in our area.
21st	PRACTICAL EVENING - AMPHIBIANS (postponed from 2013 and 2014)
	Is it third time lucky! A look at the native amphibian species around Milton Keynes. Martin Kincaid will show us how to identify and sex newts, frogs and toads. Weather permitting we will look around the grounds at Bradwell Abbey to see what is about!
28th	BEING COMFORTABLE IN YOUR OWN SHELL! – THE LIFE AND HISTORY OF TORTOISES
	Recently retired Biology teacher, and far from retired tortoise enthusiast, Liz Carter will share her passion with us! She may even bring a few friends!
	5th May 2015 – Next Meeting (Outdoors) – 7.00 pm