Tutor: Mike Russell
Venue: Woods Mill
Date: Wednesday 16th April
Time: 10:00 — 16:00
This course is aimed at those people interested in getting started in finding out about bird song and learning to recognise the song of a few of our common birds. It may also interest those who are a bit rusty on their bird song and would like a refresher.
Tutor: Laurie Jackson
Venue: Woods Mill
Date: Friday 11th April
Time: 10:00 — 16:00
This course looks at identifying small mammals and their field signs, conservation status, introduction to ecology (distribution, habitat requirements), survey and monitoring.
Tutor: David Plummer
Venue: Woods Mill
Date: Saturday 5th & Sunday 6th April
Time: 10:00 – 16:00 both days
A two day course for beginners with digital SLR cameras only. Day 1: Camera basics, manual control, manual metering, aperture priority and depth of field control. Day 2: advanced metering, composition, making a good shot better, fieldwork and supports, focussing and where it goes wrong, putting it all together.
The LAMBS website has another interesting article, this one on the implications of the Mayfield development for the regional hydrology:
“Every time it rains there would be massive floods which could wipe out Shoreham,” says Frank Preston who worked on the river for 30 years, as a Flood Defence Agent for Southern Water Authority. “The extra impervious run-off from houses and roads, that sort of thing, would just overpower the river.”
..
John Donaldson, former Operations Manager for the Environment Agency, with 35 years of experience in the water industry, says he was “horrified” when he heard of the plan. “The impact of the drainage system and surface water run-off will be a nightmare,” he says. “We can hardly manage the run-off that we’ve got at the present time. There’d be even greater flooding without doubt – to land, to property, to road systems and transport – everything. The upland catchment already has enough water in the meadows and fields – we cannot take any more water.”
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[Peter Haworth Booth:] “The implications of Mayfield are enormous. I think a lot of houses just won’t be habitable. I don’t know what the quantities of water are but the speed of the run-off is going to cause mega problems from here down to Bramber.”
Read the rest at the LAMBS website.
Woods Mill nature reserve will be closed this weekend due to flooding. They hope to re-open on Monday.
The Sussex Wildlife Trust has developed a Forest School programme specifically for pre-school age children (2-5 year olds) at Woods Mill. Nature Tots is a programme focused around getting pre-school children engaged in wildlife and outdoor activity. It begins on March 5th. More information here.
Sussex Wildlife Trust is looking for a trainee, aged 18-24 and living in Sussex, to start a year-long placement in April 2014 funded by The Prince’s Countryside Fund. For further details, please contact Mark Monk-Terry on 01273 492630.
Sussex Wildlife Trust is offering a course taught by Graeme Lyons in Woods Mill on Friday 28th February from 10:00am to 4:00pm:
An introduction to bryophytes, their taxonomy and ecology. We will learn the terminology and different parts of the plants before spending the morning identifying specimens in doors. After lunch we will venture into the woods where we will identify bryophytes in the field. Many of the plants are very small and use hand lenses are required throughout. Latin names will also be used in the absence of widely used English names. Suitable for people who have had some experience in plant identification and introduction to taxonomy. Also for ecologists, professionals, biology and ecology students.
Sussex Wildlife Trust is offering a package of five field trips, from February to November 2014, led by Mike Russell, and including the Henfield Levels (February); The Burgh, Burpham (April); Stedham and Iping Commons (June); Chidham and Cobnor (September); and Amberley Wildbrooks (November). The subjects covered will include bird identification techniques; migration and seasonal factors in bird distribution; and habitats. This is a multi-session package: individual trips cannot be booked.