Wild Times (Dec 14 to April 15) by Kaite Helps

Derbyshire Wildlife Trust

d l i W s e m i T

December 2014 to April 2015

• Guided Walks • Talks • Family Fun • Adult Workshops Protecting wildlife, Restoring landscapes, Inspiring people

Have a

Wild Time

1 Barton Pool

2 Broadhurst Edge Wood

11 Golden Brook Storage Lagoon

3 Brockholes Wood SSSI

12 Hartington Meadows

4 Carr Vale

13 Hillbridge and Park Woods

5 Carvers Rocks SSSI

14 Hilton Gravel Pits SSSI

6 Chee Dale SSSI

15 Hollinhill and Markland Grips

7 Cromford Canal LNR/SSSI

A628

16 Holly Wood

8 Derwentside Glossop

with us!

A57

18 Ladybower Wood SSSI 19 Lock Lane Ash Tip

10 Erewash Meadows

2 32

17 Hopton Quarry SSSI

9 Duckmanton Railway Cutting SSSI 18

A624

20 Long Clough

36 26

Welcome to Wild Times, your guide to Derbyshire Wildlife Trust events this winter. It may be the dark and cold time of year but we’ve got something for everyone to enjoy. Our Nature Tots sessions at the Whistlestop Centre in Matlock Bath and the Wildlife Discovery Room at Carsington Water go from strength to strength, as do our events for adults – so from T.O.T.’s to O.A.P’s there’s something for you! Our eight local groups around the

Hathersage 13

21 Mapperley Wood/Woodside

6 37

22 27 38

Bakewell

Peak District National Park

25 Oakerthorpe LNR

26 Overdale

R Amber

27 Priestcliffe Lees SSSI

Matlock

Reservoir

Derbyshire County Border

28 Risley Glebe

42 7

29 Rose End Meadows

Alfreton

30 Rowsley Sidings

Ashbourne

Trunk Road River

Bolsover 24 North Wingfield

Chesterfield

A515

Reserve

Belper

31 Spring Wood SSSI

A38

16 21

A52

Motorway

32 Watford Lodge LNR Ilkeston

Town

Derby

A50 35

High Peak, organise an entertaining

and indoor meetings through the

35 Willington Gravel Pits 36 Hadfields Quarry

37 Deep Dale and Topley Pike SSSI

R Trent

33 Wyver Lane 34 Gang Mine

28 1

A50

22 Miller’s Dale Quarry SSSI 23 Morley Brickyards SSSI

A619

R Wye

KEY 1

county, from South Derbyshire to the and diverse programme of talks

A61

R Derwent A623

Buxton

38 Cramside Wood SSSI

miles

39 The Avenue Washlands 40 Drakelow 41 Woodside 42 Lea Wood

autumn and winter – everyone is welcome to come along and join in.

Volunteering

You can also volunteer for the DerwentWISE scheme, a

Our volunteer work parties on

new 5 year Heritage Lottery funded project which will

nature reserves continue through

help protect and enhance the special landscape of the

the

with

lower Derwent valley. The scheme area runs between

scrub clearing taking place on our

Matlock Bath and Derby, and volunteering opportunities

limestone grassland reserves while willow clearance and

will include practical habitat management, wildlife and

path maintenance are among the tasks we carry out on

built heritage surveying, working with schools or on our

our wetland and woodland sites. Take a look through the

arts based projects. If you would like to volunteer please

listings for details on these and all our upcoming events.

contact Dave Savage at the Trust on 01773 881188 or

Robin, Steve Waterhouse

autumn

and

winter,

dsavage@derbyshirewt.co.uk

Do you love wildlife? Would you like to discover more about nature? There are seven Wildlife Watch groups for young people around the county, where you can get involved in various activities including making bird feeders, pond dipping, tree planting and wildlife walks. Age ranges for groups vary so itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best to check with the leader of your nearest group.

Wildlife Watch Groups St Helenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s (Chesterfield) Contact Helena Stenton 01629 533020

Elvaston Castle Contact James Mounter 01629 533870

Shipley Park Contact Michelle Marriott 01773 719961

South Derbyshire (Rosliston) Contact Kate Allies 01283 535039

Whistlestop Centre (Matlock Bath) Contact Sarah Parkin 01629 581058

Hardwick Contact Jo Rawson 01246 851787

Longdendale (near Glossop) Hardwick Watch Group

Contact Sarah Wilks 01457 855487

Wednesday 3rd December

Guided Walks are suitable for adults and older children. Work parties are suitable for adults over the age of 18. Please bring food, a drink, work clothes, warm/ waterproof clothing and stout footwear or wellies. Talks are suitable for adults and older children.

Workshops/training are generally suitable for adults and older children. See individual listings for guidance.

The Sky at Night Alan Heath will give a general talk about the night sky, a little about the history up to the present day, and what you can expect to see if you look at the sky today. As this is our Christmas meeting there will be festive nibbles and a raffle. Come and join us and help us to get into the Christmas spirit.

7.30pm £2 per person Spondon Village Hall, Sitwell Street, Spondon, DE21 7FG. The hall is beside Spondon Library. Grid ref SK 401360. ( Trent and Lower Derwent Group. For more information contact Margaret Hobby on 01159 306457. £ *

Family friendly events. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Saturday 6th December Please note that our family events require a minimum number of attendees to run. If we don’t achieve this number we sometimes unfortunately have to cancel. Cancelling any of the events is something we try to avoid at all costs. If you need to check please call the Trust office on 01773 881188 or visit the website www.derbyshirewildlifetrust.org.uk

Big Tree Plant! Allestree Come and have a go at tree planting and help us reach our target of 500 trees. Remember to wear outdoor clothing, stout footwear and bring some gloves. This event takes place in National Tree Planting Week so we really can make a difference.

º 10am - 12pm and 1pm - 3pm £ Free and suitable for all ages * Allestree Park, Woodlands road car park, Derby, DE22 2HH Contact Derbyshire Wildlife Trust for more details ( 01773 881188

r e b m e Dec Monday 1st December

Nature Tots: Winter Wander Pre-school children aged 3 and over are invited to bring their adults along to this fun playgroup session. Discover who is sleeping through the winter and where they may be hiding.

10am - 11.30am or 12.45pm - 2.15pm £3/£1.50 for additional children Wildlife Discovery Room, Carsington Water Visitor Centre, DE6 1ST ( Booking essential as numbers are limited. Tel 01773 881188 £ *

Treemendous!

Sunday 7th December

Reserve Work Party, Hilton Gravel Pits

Mulled wine, mince pies and a fun quiz accompanied by a short wildlife talk (subject to be confirmed).

Join our volunteer team at Hilton Gravel Pits Nature Reserve, where we will be clearing around the mitigation pools. Bring food, outdoor clothes and appropriate footwear.

º 7.30pm £ £2 * Bradbury Community House, 10 Market Street, Glossop, SK13 8AR High Peak Group. Contact Alan Gamble 01298 815473 or ( Mick Hoult 01457 865806

Svalbard is the northernmost part of Norway, comprising a group of islands north of the Arctic Circle. Tony Clarke’s talk is based on a photographic visit to the islands and provides an introduction to the Arctic environment and its summer wildlife.

Hilton, Jeff Lawrence

º 7.30pm - 9.30pm £ £2.50 includes refreshments, free for under 16s. * Annunciation Church Parish Centre, Spencer Street, Chesterfield, S40 4SD Chesterfield and North East Derbyshire Group. Contact ( Irene Wilkinson on 01246 234924 or Angela Goodwin on 01246 236930

Sunday 7th December

Reserve Work Party, Miller’s Dale Join our volunteer team at Miller’s Dale Quarry Nature Reserve for limestone grassland management. Bring food, outdoor clothes and appropriate footwear.

º 9.30am

* Meet Miller’s Dale station car park, grid ref SK 137732 ( Contact Charles Palmer on 01298 814830

Former popular Radio Derby presenter Ashley Franklin shares his wonderful photography and Derbyshire Ramblings!

Sunday 7th December

Wildlife Mosaics

º 10am - 4pm £ £30 per person (1 mosaic each) * Whistlestop Centre, Matlock Bath Railway Station DE4 3PT Booking essential as numbers are limited. Tel 01773 881188 ( Tuesday 9th December

Watch - Visit - Listen Join us for our annual quiz set by Jean and Paul Fletcher, followed by festive nibbles and mulled wine to celebrate the festive season.

º 7pm - 9pm £ £3. Raffle and refreshments available * Sharpe’s Pottery Museum, West Street, Swadlincote, Derbyshire, DE11 9DG South Derbyshire Group. Contact Kevin on 07852631419 ( or David on 01283 226488

Wednesday 10th December

Walking in Circles’ down the Derwent Valley

º 7.30pm £ £2 * Riddings Community Centre, West Street, Riddings East Derbyshire Group. Contact Shirley Hawkins, ( 07770 801539. Email: shirley.hrs@hotmail.com

Come along to this adult workshop and learn how to make nature inspired mosaics.

Tuesday 9th December

Svalbard and Christmas Social Event

º 9.30am

* Willowpit Lane entrance, grid ref SK 253313 Contact Kelvin Lawrence ( on 07815 105792

Tuesday 9th December

Quiz

Saturday 13th December

Wild Play Saturday: Christmas Crafts Come and join us to make Christmas decorations and presents from our natural and recycled materials. Definitely not a rubbish Christmas!

º 10am - 12pm or 1.00pm - 3.00pm £ £3 per child £1.50 per adult * Whistlestop Centre, Matlock Bath Railway Station DE4 3PT Booking essential as numbers are limited. Tel 01773 881188 (

Sunday 14th December

Reserve Work Party, Lea Wood Join our volunteer team at Lea Wood Nature Reserve. Bring food, drink, outdoor clothes and appropriate footwear. Mince pies today as it’s nearly Christmas!

Join our volunteer team at Rose End Meadows Nature Reserve. Bring food, outdoor clothes and appropriate footwear.

º 10am * Meet at St Mark’s Close, Cromford, grid ref SK 293567 Contact Paul Robinson on 01332 722219 (

º 9.30am - 1.30pm

* Meet at John Smedley car park, Lea Mills, Derbyshire DE4 5AG. Grid ref SK 3185633 For more information contact Dave Furniss on 01629 530888 ( or 07833 583095

Christine Gregory tells us about Bradford Dale, the subject of a beautiful book she has produced. The talk will be illustrated with Christine’s own wonderful photographs.

R eindeer Ramble at Lea Wood

º 7.30pm £ £2.50 * Darley Dale Methodist Church Hall, Dale Road, Darley Dale, DE4 2FT Wye and Upper Derwent Group. Contact George Wolfe on ( 01433 631308. Email: geowolfe1@gmail.com

– booking required

This will be a self guided walk around the wood at your own pace but it is likely to be muddy underfoot and there are some climbs through the woods. It is a woodland walk on unmade paths with tree roots and other natural hazards. Well behaved dogs on leads only.

º 10.30am - 1pm £ £3 per person (adults and children) * Contact the Trust for details of where to meet To book and for more information contact Derbyshire ( Wildlife Trust on 01773 881188

Monday 15th December

A River in Time

Sunday 14th December

Come and follow the self guided reindeer ramble and childrens quiz around our nature reserve, which is one of the best examples of ancient woodland in the area. At 30Ha of natural deciduous woodland there is much to explore with our own unique reindeer hiding along the way. Home to many bird species, the open upper slopes are a good place to look for the spectacular mounds of the northern hairy wood ant and enjoy the views along the Derwent valley. After your walk meet us at our Christmas camp in the meadow and enjoy a mince pie and hot drink (alternative snacks available) whilst the children can make their own mini wooden reindeer to take home!

Sunday 14th December

Reserve Work Party, Rose End Meadows

Monday 15th December

Nature Tots: Winter Wildlife Pre-school children aged 3 and over are invited to bring their adults along to this fun playgroup session. Discover where many of our birds have gone this winter and learn how to help those that have stayed behind to face the cold.

º 10am - 11.30am £ £3/£1.50 for a second child. Price includes a drink and snack. * Whistlestop Centre, Matlock Bath Railway Station DE4 3PT Booking essential as numbers are limited. Tel 01773 881188 (

Thursday 18th December

Christmas Cracker! Come and join us for an evening of Christmas cheer with festive food, member’s slides and our ‘easy’ quiz.

º 7.30pm - 9.30pm £ £2.00, free for under16s, refreshments 50p * St Peter’s Church Hall, Shepherd Street, Littleover, Derby, DE23 6GF West Derby Group. Contact Pat Gatenby, tel 01332 511381 ( or email: david.s.gibbons@gmail.com

Friday 19th December

The Avenue, Stewart Abbott

Scotland Land of Beauty and Adventure Norman Crowson shares his photographs from various vehicles and give us a Santa’s eye view of Scotland.

º 7.30pm £ £2.50, free for under 16s * St Margaret Clitherow Catholic Church, Hall Farm Road, Duffield, DE56 4FS Appletree Hundred Group. Contact Anne Morgan on ( 01332 556397

January

Sunday 21st December

Reserve Work Party, Willington Gravel Pits Join our volunteer team at Willington Gravel Pits Nature Reserve where we will be clearing the islands. Bring food, outdoor clothes and appropriate footwear.

º 10am - 2pm * Meet at the concrete blocks on Meadow Lane off the Willington to Repton Road Contact Richard Spowage on 01773 881188 (

Join our volunteer team at Hilton Gravel Pits Nature Reserve, where we will be trimming and laying hedges. Bring food, outdoor clothes and appropriate footwear.

Sunday 21st December

Reserve Work Party, Priestcliffe Lees Join our volunteer team at Priestcliffe Lees Nature Reserve, for limestone grassland management. Bring food, outdoor clothes and appropriate footwear.

º Meet 9.30am * Meet at Miller’s Dale station car park, grid ref SK 137732 Contact Peter Faulkner on 01629 732688 (

º 9.30am * Willowpit Lane entrance, grid ref SK 253313 Contact Kelvin Lawrence on 07815 105792 (

Join our volunteer team at Miller’s Dale Quarry Nature Reserve for limestone grassland management. Bring food, outdoor clothes and appropriate footwear.

Sunday 28th December

º 9.30am * Meet Miller’s Dale station car park, grid ref SK 137732 Contact Charles Palmer on 01298 814830 (

Join our volunteer team at The Avenue. Bring food, drink, outdoor clothes and appropriate footwear.

Monday 29th December

Winter Wildlife Mosaics Come along to the Wildlife Discovery Room and make a wildlife inspired mosaic.

º 10.00am - 12.30pm, 1.30pm - 4.00pm

£ £15 per mosaic plus £1.50 per person attending. * Wildlife Discovery Room, Carsington Water Visitor Centre, DE6 1ST Booking essential as numbers are limited. Tel 01773 881188 (

Sunday 4th January

Reserve Work Party, Miller’s Dale

Reserve Work Party, The Avenue Washlands

º 9.30am - 1pm * The Avenue Learning Centre, Mill Lane, Wingerworth, Chesterfield, S42 6NG Contact Stewart Abbott on 07799 276357 (

Sunday 4th January

Reserve Work Party, Hilton Gravel Pits

Wednesday 7th January

Hedgerows never fail to surprise me An illustrated talk by Lynne Pickering. Ancient hedgerows have long defined boundaries for landowners and farmers. What can our remaining hedgerows tell us about the past? What wildlife and plant life do they support now?

º 7.30pm £ £2 per person * Spondon Village Hall, Sitwell Street, Spondon, DE21 7FG. The hall is beside Spondon Library. Grid ref SK 401360 Trent and Lower Derwent Group. For more information ( contact Margaret Hobby on 01159 306457.

Sunday 11th January

Reserve Work Party, Spring Wood

Tuesday 13th January

Rural and Countryside Policing

Join our volunteer team at Spring Wood Nature Reserve. Bring food, outdoor clothes and appropriate footwear.

From protecting the wildlife in our countryside to dealing with rural crime, the role of the police force is wide and varied. Join us for an insight into the life of a rural police officer from PC Simon O’Connor.

º 10am - 2pm * Meet at the Severn Trent car park near the southern end of Staunton Harold Reservoir For more information contact Jim on 01283 551442 or Wendy ( on 01283 480282

Tuesday 13th January

Iconic Islay Gordon Yates presents a film about one of his favourite subjects, the iconic Hebridean Island of Islay.

Bluebells at Spring Wood, Sue Crookes

º 7.30pm £ £2 * Bradbury Community House, 10 Market Street, Glossop, SK13 8AR High Peak Group. Contact Alan Gamble 01298 815473 or ( Mick Hoult 01457 865806

Tuesday 13th January

Golden Eagles and Falconry

Sunday 11th January

Reserve Work Party, Rose End Meadows Join our volunteer team at Rose End Meadows Nature Reserve. Bring food, outdoor clothes and appropriate footwear.

º 10am * Meet at St Mark’s Close, Cromford, grid ref SK 293567 Contact Paul Robinson on 01332 722219 (

Monday 12th January

Nature Tots: Snow Tots Pre-school children aged 3 and over are invited to bring their adults along to this fun playgroup session. We will be exploring snow, what it is and how it affects wildlife. Plus we’ll make some jack frost paintings.

º 10am - 11.30am or 12.45pm - 2.15pm £ £3/£1.50 for additional children * Wildlife Discovery Room, Carsington Water Visitor Centre, DE6 1ST Booking essential as numbers are limited. Tel 01773 881188 (

Come and meet Dr David Fox, Chairman of the Midland Region of the British Falconers Club, and his eagle Golden Star. David has been flying hawks and falcons for fifty years and now specialises in eagles. Watch video footage of eagles in flight as we learn about the training, flying and hunting aspects of Golden Eagles used for falconry purposes in the UK, as well as Mongolia and Kazakhstan.

Wednesday 14th January

Jack Perks, Underwater Photographer Jack Perks shares his very unique photos and underwater photography. Starting out in Stoney Cove in Leicestershire to diving the stunning Red Sea his underwater photography has been taken all over the UK and this talk details the differences from land based photography and some of his experiences with seals, river fish and rockpools.

º 7.30pm £ £2 * Riddings Community Centre, West Street, Riddings East Derbyshire Group. Contact Shirley Hawkins, ( 07770 801539. Email: shirley.hrs@hotmail.com

Join our volunteer team at Priestcliffe Lees Nature Reserve, for limestone grassland management. Bring food, outdoor clothes and appropriate footwear.

º Meet 9.30am * Meet at Miller’s Dale station car park, grid ref SK 137732 Contact Peter Faulkner on 01629 732688 (

Join our volunteer team at Willington Gravel Pits Nature Reserve where we will be clearing willow. Bring food, outdoor clothes and appropriate footwear.

º 10am - 2pm * Meet at the concrete blocks on Meadow Lane off the Willington to Repton Road Contact Richard Spowage on 01773 881188 (

Friday 16th January Paul Bennet reports on the results of the habitat creation of the biggest reedbed in the East Midlands.

Pre-school children aged 3 and over are invited to bring their adults along to this fun playgroup session. Find out why the birds need our help, make a feathered friend collage and a bird feeder to take home.

Sunday 18th January

Join our volunteer team at Lea Wood Nature Reserve. Bring food, drink, outdoor clothes and appropriate footwear.

Lea Wood, Sue Crookes

Monday 19th January

Nature Tots: Birds and Feathers

Reserve Work Party, Lea Wood

º 9.30am - 1.30pm * Meet at John Smedley car park, Lea Mills, Derbyshire DE4 5AG. Grid ref SK 318563 For more information contact Dave Furniss on 01629 530888 ( or 07833 583095

Sunday 18th January

Reserve Work Party, Willington Gravel Pits

Langford Lowfields

º 7.30pm - 9.30pm £ £2.50, free for under16s, including refreshments * Woodlands Evangelical Church, Blenheim Drive, Allestree, DE22 2GP Appletree Hundred Group, contact Anne Morgan on ( 01332 556397

Sunday 18th January

Reserve Work Party, Priestcliffe Lees

Monday 19th January

Sri Lanka Brian Hobby visits us to present the wildlife of Sri Lanka which is a real pearl of the Indian Ocean. Some of its exotic and endemic species are will be featured.

º 7.30pm £ £2.50, including refreshments. * Medway Centre, New Street, Bakewell, DE45 1DY Wye and Upper Derwent Group. Contact George Wolfe on ( 01433 631308

Sunday 25th January

Reserve Work Party, Chee Dale Join our volunteer team at Chee Dale Nature Reserve for limestone grassland restoration. Bring food, outdoor clothes and appropriate footwear.

º 9.30am * Meet Miller’s Dale station car park, grid ref SK 137732 Contact Steve Price on 01298 814830 (

Friday 30th January

W ildlife Gardening Workshop: Michelin star winter garden

Thursday 22nd January

Namibia Because of it’s harsh climate, Namibia is one of the less frequently visited countries in Africa. Despite this it is home to a variety of wildlife as Paul Bingham discovered on his travels. This evening he will share his experiences with us through his excellent slides and commentary.

Saturday 24th January

Wild Play Saturday: Fly Away Birds Find out where all the birds have gone this winter and what we can do to help those that have stayed behind. Try to survive the migration game.

º 10am - 12pm or 1.00pm - 3.00pm £ £3 per child £1.50 per adult. * Whistlestop Centre, Matlock Bath Railway Station DE4 3PT Booking essential as numbers are limited. Tel 01773 881188 (

Sunday 25th January

Reserve Work Party, The Avenue Washlands Join our volunteer team at The Avenue. Bring food, drink, outdoor clothes and appropriate footwear.

º 9.30am - 1pm * The Avenue Learning Centre, Mill Lane, Wingerworth, Chesterfield, S42 6NG Contact Stewart Abbott on 07799 276357 (

Join us for the first of our series of workshops. We will be covering the skills and knowledge needed to make your garden more friendly to wildlife as well as some basic wildlife recording techniques that you can do at home. This month we will be showing you how to cater for the winter wildlife: make a bird table, a bird feeder and discuss what plants could help during the cold winter months.

º 10.30am - 2.00pm £ £10 per person or £20 for 3 sessions * Wildlife Discovery Room, Carsington Water Visitor Centre, DE6 1ST Booking essential as numbers are limited. Tel 01773 881188 ( Whistlestop garden

Wednesday 4th February

Peru – From Dry Coast to Rain Forest Brian Hobby journeys to the Amazon Basin staying in lodges and ending up at the Manu Wildlife Centre looking for wildlife of the area.

y r a u r b Fe

Reserve Work Party, Hilton Gravel Pits

Join our volunteer team at Rose End Meadows Nature Reserve. Bring food, outdoor clothes and appropriate footwear.

Join our volunteer team at Hilton Gravel Pits Nature Reserve, where we will be coppicing willow. Bring food, outdoor clothes and appropriate footwear.

º 10am * Meet at St Mark’s Close, Cromford, grid ref SK 293567 Contact Paul Robinson on 01332 722219 (

º 9.30am * Willowpit Lane entrance, grid ref SK 253313 Contact Kelvin Lawrence on 07815 105792 (

Sunday 8th February

Reserve Work Party, Rose End Meadows

Sunday 1st February

Reserve Work Party, Miller’s Dale Join our volunteer team at Miller’s Dale Quarry Nature Reserve for limestone grassland management. Bring food, outdoor clothes and appropriate footwear.

º 9.30am * Meet Miller’s Dale station car park, grid ref SK 137732 Contact Charles Palmer on 01298 814830 (

Monday 2nd February

N ature Tots: Muddy Puddle Tots Pre-school children aged 3 and over are invited to bring their adults along to this fun playgroup session. Come and get mucky playing with mud. Make mud pies, decorations and paintings and find out who is living in the mud!

º 10am - 11.30am or 12.45pm - 2.15pm

£ £3/£1.50 for additional children * Wildlife Discovery Room, Carsington Water Visitor Centre, DE6 1ST Booking essential as numbers are limited. Tel 01773 881188 (

Bee, Ben Spencer

Tuesday 10th February

The Bee Keeping Season Bees are vital to our ecosystem and under great pressure from disease and decline. Chairman of the Burton Beekeepers group Richard Matkin will take us through the beekeeping season, giving an insight into this fascinating subject.

Tuesday 10th February

Night and Day A talk about the hidden world of moths and their behaviour by Dr Mike Dockery.

Around 1500 plant species have been recorded on the island of Jersey, including several that are rare or absent from the mainland. In addition plants from all around the world have found the mild climate of the island to their liking and have become naturalised. Despite its small size Jersey has a large variety of natural habitats, including granite cliffs, coastal heathland, sand dunes, marshes and woodland, as well as arable and pasture land in the interior. Ken Balkow shows a selection of photos of plants and landscapes to give a flavour of the island and its flora.

º 7.30pm £ £2 * Bradbury Community House, 10 Market Street, Glossop, SK13 8AR High Peak Group. Contact Alan Gamble 01298 815473 or ( Mick Hoult 01457 865806

Tuesday 10th February

º 7.30pm £ £2 * Riddings Community Centre, West Street, Riddings East Derbyshire Group. Contact Shirley Hawkins, ( 07770 801539. Email: shirley.hrs@hotmail.com

Hedgerows Tonight Lynne Pickering will unravel the past through our hedgerows which have framed farmers’ fields, creating the patchwork quilt of the countryside we all know and love. Learn about the importance of this habitat and the wildlife and plants that thrive in it by joining us for this illustrated talk.

º 7.30pm - 9.30pm

W ild Wednesday: Barmy about Barn Owls! Come and discover more about one of our most beautiful native birds, the barn owl. Find out how they are superbly adapted to their lifestyle and study an owl pellet to discover what barn owls eat and why Barn Owl they need our help. Have a go at some owl crafts and get the chance to get up close and personal to a real live barn owl. Bring your cameras! (Those wanting to just meet the owls can have the chance between 12 and 1.30 at the price of £2.50 per person). 10.00am - 12.00pm and 12.30pm - 2.30pm º £ £4 per person. * Wildlife Discovery Room, Carsington Water Visitor Centre, DE6 1ST ( Booking essential as numbers are limited. Tel 01773 881188

Friday 13th February

Love wildlife

£ £2.50 includes refreshments, free for under 16s * Annunciation Church Parish Centre, Spencer Street, Chesterfield, S40 4SD Chesterfield and North East Derbyshire Group. Contact ( Irene Wilkinson on 01246 234924 or Angela Goodwin on 01246 236930

Wednesday 11th February

Flowers in Jersey

Get ready for Valentines day by getting crafty. Make some wildlife presents for Mum, that someone special, or for yourself.

º 10am - 12pm or 1.00pm - 3.00pm £ £3 per child £1.50 per adult * Whistlestop Centre, Matlock Bath Railway Station DE4 3PT Booking essential as numbers are limited. Tel 01773 881188 (

Sunday 15th February

Reserve Work Party, Lea Wood Join our volunteer team at Lea Wood Nature Reserve. Bring food, drink, outdoor clothes and appropriate footwear.

º 9.30am - 1.30pm * Meet at John Smedley car park, Lea Mills, Derbyshire DE4 5AG. Grid ref SK 318563 For more information contact Dave Furniss on 01629 530888 ( or 07833 583095

Sunday 15th February

Reserve Work Party, Priestcliffe Lees Join our volunteer team at Priestcliffe Lees Nature Reserve, for limestone grassland management. Bring food, outdoor clothes and appropriate footwear.

º Meet 9.30am * Meet at Miller’s Dale station car park, grid ref SK 137732 Contact Peter Faulkner on 01629 732688 (

Sunday 15th February

Reserve Work Party, Willington Gravel Pits

Friday 20th February

Join our volunteer team at Willington Gravel Pits Nature Reserve where we will be clearing willow. Bring food, outdoor clothes and appropriate footwear.

W ildlife Gardening Workshop: Bug hotels large and small This month we will be making a bug hotel for the Whistlestop Garden as well as some smaller homes that you can take home.

º 10am - 2pm

* Meet at the concrete blocks on Meadow Lane off the Willington to Repton Road Contact Richard Spowage on 01773 881188 (

º 10.30am - 2.00pm £ £10 per session or £20 for three sessions * Whistlestop Centre, Matlock Bath Railway Station DE4 3PT ooking essential as numbers are limited. Tel 01773 881188 ( B

Monday 16th February

Nature Tots: Wiggly Worms Pre-school children aged 3 and over are invited to bring their adults along to this fun playgroup session. Just what do worms do? Explore the world of the wiggly worm and make your own pop bottle wormery.

º 10am - 11.30am £ £3/£1.50 for a second child * Whistlestop Centre, Matlock Bath Railway Station DE4 3PT Booking essential as numbers are limited. Tel 01773 881188 (

Wildlife hotel, Wessington

Saturday 21st February

Ecology of the amphibians of Derbyshire Join Chris Monk for a workshop on the ecology of amphibians commonly found in Derbyshire. Learn what to look out for in the coming months as these creatures become more active as the weather warms up.

Friday 20th February

Creating an NGS Garden Graham White recalls 17 years spent creating a garden. Friends urged him to open it and eventually persuaded him to apply to the National Open Garden Scheme. Hear more about what happened next.

º 7.30pm

£ £2.50, free for under 16s * St Margaret Clitherow Catholic Church, Hall Farm Road, Duffield, DE56 4FS Appletree Hundred Group. Contact Anne Morgan on ( 01332 556397

º 2.00 - 4.00pm £ £2.50 per person * Whistlestop Centre, Matlock Bath Railway Station DE4 3PT Booking essential as numbers are limited. Tel 01773 881188 ( Frogs at Rose End, Roy Smith

Sunday 22nd February

Reserve Work Party, The Avenue Washlands Join our volunteer team at The Avenue. Bring food, drink, outdoor clothes and appropriate footwear.

º 9.30am - 1pm * The Avenue Learning Centre, Mill Lane, Wingerworth, Chesterfield, S42 6NG Contact Stewart Abbott on 07799 276357 (

Sunday 22nd February

Reserve Work Party, Chee Dale

March

Join our volunteer team at Chee Dale Nature Reserve for limestone grassland restoration. Bring food, outdoor clothes and appropriate footwear.

º 9.30am * Meet Miller’s Dale station car park, grid ref SK 137732 Contact Steve Price on 01298 814830 (

Monday 23rd February

Close to Nature – Local Wildlife

Stephen Williams, avid nature watcher and photographer comes to talk to us about his visits to nature reserves and share with us his spectacular photographs. Stephen has won many awards for his photography of both birds and mammals.

Join our volunteer team at Hilton Gravel Pits Nature Reserve, where we will be clearing willow. Bring food, outdoor clothes and appropriate footwear.

º 7.30pm

º 9.30am * Willowpit Lane entrance, grid ref SK 253313 Contact Kelvin Lawrence on 07815 105792 (

£ £2.50 * Darley Dale Methodist Church Hall, Dale Road, Darley Dale, DE4 2FT Wye and Upper Derwent Group. Contact George Wolfe on ( 01433 631308. Email: geowolfe1@gmail.com

Sunday 1st March

Reserve Work Party, Hilton Gravel Pits

Thursday 26th February

Turmoil, Turnpikes and Taxes Modern man has an easy life in comparison with his ancestors. This talk by John Hawkins looks over the centuries from medieval times to the Industrial Revolution, and some real life-changing events that faced our predecessors. Illustrated with reminders of those times from Derbyshire.

Hilton, volunteers in the snow

Sunday 1st March

Reserve Work Party, Miller’s Dale Join our volunteer team at Miller’s Dale Quarry Nature Reserve for limestone grassland management. Bring food, outdoor clothes and appropriate footwear.

º 9.30am * Meet Miller’s Dale station car park, grid ref SK 137732 Contact Charles Palmer on 01298 814830 (

Monday 2nd March

Sunday 11th January

Reserve Work Party, Rose End Meadows

N ature Tots: Owl Babies

Join our volunteer team at Rose End Meadows Nature Reserve. Bring food, outdoor clothes and appropriate footwear.

Pre-school children aged 3 and over are invited to bring their adults along to this fun playgroup session. Follow a sensory trial around stones island to find all the owl babies.

º 10am * Meet at St Mark’s Close, Cromford, grid ref SK 293567 Contact Paul Robinson on 01332 722219 (

Tuesday 10th March

Derbyshire Cottages and Farmhouses South Derbyshire Conservation and Heritage officer Philip Heath reveals some of the county’s best kept secret buildings, their history and development over many years and how they fit into our countryside.

Tuesday 10th March

Badgers in the High Peak The High Peak Badger Group tell us about their work and update us on the progress of the Derbyshire badger vaccination programme.

Barn owl chicks

Wednesday 4th March

º 7.30pm £ £2 * Bradbury Community House, 10 Market Street, Glossop, SK13 8AR High Peak Group. Contact Alan Gamble 01298 815473 or ( Mick Hoult 01457 865806

Group AGM (7.15pm) followed by Now That’s Scilly! Nigel Slater will describe the history and wildlife of this group of islands.

º 7.30pm £ £2 per person * Spondon Village Hall, Sitwell Street, Spondon, DE21 7FG The hall is beside Spondon Library. Grid ref SK 401360 Trent and Lower Derwent Group. For more information ( contact Margaret Hobby on 01159 306457

Sunday 8th March

Reserve Work Party, Spring Wood Join our volunteer team at Spring Wood Nature Reserve. Bring food, outdoor clothes and appropriate footwear.

º 10am - 2pm * Meet at the Severn Trent car park near the southern end of Staunton Harold Reservoir For more information contact Jim on 01283 551442 or Wendy ( on 01283 480282

Tuesday 10th March

Pleasley Pit Join us to find out about this former pit site where ponds, drainage ditches, reed beds and native trees have created a superb habitat in which an amazing variety and number of species are now established.

º 7.30pm - 9.30pm £ £2.50 includes refreshments, free for under 16s * Annunciation Church Parish Centre, Spencer Street, Chesterfield, S40 4SD Chesterfield and North East Derbyshire Group. Contact ( Irene Wilkinson on 01246 234924 or Angela Goodwin on 01246 236930

Wednesday 11th March

Seychelles – A tropical paradise A visit in 2008 to the islands of Praslin, Cousin, La Digue and Mahe, in search of almost a dozen species of endemic birds as well as the world’s largest seed, the Coco de Mer. Christopher Hall also takes us to Bird Island, home to Esmerelda, the world’s largest Tortoise and a multitude of tropical seabirds including 1.5 million sooty terns!

º 7.30pm £ £2 * Riddings Community Centre, West Street, Riddings East Derbyshire Group. Contact Shirley Hawkins, ( 07770 801539. Email: shirley.hrs@hotmail.com

Join our volunteer team at Priestcliffe Lees Nature Reserve, for limestone grassland management. Bring food, outdoor clothes and appropriate footwear.

º Meet 9.30am * Meet at Miller’s Dale station car park, grid ref SK 137732 Contact Peter Faulkner on 01629 732688 (

Join our volunteer team at Willington Gravel Pits Nature Reserve where we will be clearing willow. Bring food, outdoor clothes and appropriate footwear.

Saturday 14th March

º 10am - 2pm * Meet at the concrete blocks on Meadow Lane off the Willington to Repton Road Contact Richard Spowage on 01773 881188 (

The queen bees will be out and about soon so come along to the Whistlestop classroom, follow the buzz stop trail to learn about our bees and make a bee habitat to take home.

Monday 16th March

Nature Tots: Plants get growing

£ £3 per child £1.50 per adult * Whistlestop Centre, Matlock Bath Railway Station DE4 3PT Booking essential as numbers are limited. Tel 01773 881188 (

Sunday 15th March

Reserve Work Party, Willington Gravel Pits

Wild Play Saturday: Spring bees

º 10am - 12pm or 1.00pm - 3.30pm

Sunday 15th March

Reserve Work Party, Priestcliffe Lees

Pre-school children aged 3 and over are invited to bring their adults along to this fun playgroup session. Discover how plants grow and plant your own grassy heads to look after.

Sunday 15th March

º 10am - 11.30am £ £3/£1.50 for a second child * Whistlestop Centre, Matlock Bath Railway Station DE4 3PT Booking essential as numbers are limited. Tel 01773 881188 (

Mothers Day Meadows Learn how important our meadows are in helping bees and butterflies, plant your own mini meadow and make some flower and butterfly gifts for mum.

East Mill

º 11.00am - 3.00pm

£ no charge to enter this drop in event, a small charge for activities * Wildlife Discovery Room, Carsington Water Visitor Centre, DE6 1ST Booking not required, just drop in! (

Sunday 15th March

Reserve Work Party, Lea Wood Join our volunteer team at Lea Wood Nature Reserve. Bring food, drink, outdoor clothes and appropriate footwear.

º 9.30am - 1.30pm

* Meet at John Smedley car park, Lea Mills, Derbyshire DE4 5AG. Grid ref SK 318563 For more information contact Dave Furniss on 01629 530888 ( or 07833 583095

Monday 16th March

DerwentWISE Scheme Manager Tania Pells comes to tell us about the new Heritage Lottery Funded Landscape Partnership scheme and the £1.6 million that will help preserve and celebrate the Derwent Valley.

º 7.30pm £ £2.50, including refreshments. * Medway Centre, New Street, Bakewell, DE45 1DY Wye and Upper Derwent Group. Contact George Wolfe on ( 01433 631308

Friday 20th March

Friday 27th March

Wildlife Gardening Workshop: Working with Living Willow

I f Old Trees Could Talk Veteran trees are full of character and wildlife. Large and iconic trees have played an important part in our culture and history as well as being a home to some fascinating wildlife. There are many trees in the UK which have stories associated with them, including some in Derbyshire. This talk by Debbie Alston will tell some of those stories, and uncover why they are so good for wildlife.

This month we will be learning the skills to work with living willow. We will design and plant up a living willow structure in the Wildlife Discovery Room wildlife garden.

º 10.30am - 2.00pm £ £10 per person or £20 for 3 sessions * Wildlife Discovery Room, Carsington Water Visitor Centre, DE6 1ST Booking essential as numbers ( are limited. Tel 01773 881188

7.30pm - 9.30pm º £ £2.50, free for under 16s, including refreshments * Woodlands Evangelical Church, Blenheim Drive, Allestree, DE22 2GP Appletree Hundred Group, contact Anne Morgan on ( 01332 556397

Saturday 28st March

Willow Crafts: garden supports This adult workshop teaches us how to use willow to make beautiful plant supports for the garden.

º 10.30am - 2.30pm £ £20 per person * Whistlestop Centre, Matlock Bath Railway Station DE4 3PT Booking essential as numbers are limited. Tel 01773 881188 (

Sunday 29th March

Reserve Work Party, The Avenue Washlands Join our volunteer team at The Avenue. Bring food, drink, outdoor clothes and appropriate footwear.

º 9.30am - 1pm * The Avenue Learning Centre, Mill Lane, Wingerworth, Chesterfield, S42 6NG Contact Stewart Abbott on 07799 276357 (

Thursday 26th March

The Mountain Flowers of the Dolomites The Dolomites are one of the world’s most beautiful mountain ranges and are home to many magnificent flowers. This talk by David Charlton will look first at the various habitats in which they grow and then show how to replicate them in our own lowland gardens.

Sunday 29th March

Reserve Work Party, Chee Dale Join our volunteer team at Chee Dale Nature Reserve for limestone grassland restoration. Bring food, outdoor clothes and appropriate footwear.

º 9.30am * Meet Miller’s Dale station car park, grid ref SK 137732 Contact Steve Price on 01298 814830 (

Wednesday 8th April

Visitors to our Nature Reserves! Stephen Williams is becoming a regular speaker for us as he shares his visits to nature reserves across the UK and superb award winning photographs. This year he has plans to watch and photograph ospreys, red kites, peregrines, as well as countless other birds, as well as mammals including a vixen and her cubs, pine martens, - the list is endless and we are again ‘in for a treat’.

º 7.30pm £ £2 * Riddings Community Centre, West Street, Riddings East Derbyshire Group. Contact Shirley Hawkins, 07770 ( 801539. Email: shirley.hrs@hotmail.com

April

Osprey

Wednesday 1st April

Golden Eagles and Falconry An illustrated talk by Dr David Fox, including an insight into the natural world of the golden eagle and falconry, with high quality images and video footage. Special guest will be Star the golden eagle.

This month we will be learning the skills to work with living willow. We will design and plant up a living willow structure in the Wildlife Discovery Room wildlife garden.

Wednesday 1st, Friday 3rd and Wednesday 8th April

Wild Wednesdays and Good Fridays Get Eggy! Come and join us for Easter themed trails, crafts and wild play activities on holiday Wednesdays and Good Friday. If the weather is fine we will be in the outdoor classroom on Stones Island with the camp fire blazing and plenty to do and discover. If the weather is wet you will find us in the Wildlife discovery room with enough activities to keep the kids dry and busy for a few hours.

º 11.00am - 3.00pm £ 3 per child to do all the activities or pay as you go on individual activities * Wildlife Discovery Room, Carsington Water Visitor Centre, DE6 1ST No need to book just drop in! (

Friday 10th April

The Green Man of High Tor

º 10.00am - 12.00pm and 1.00pm - 3.00pm £ £3 per child and £1.50 per adult * Whistlestop Centre, Matlock Bath Railway Station DE4 3PT Booking essential as numbers are limited. Tel 01773 881188 (

Saturday 11th April

Flying Over Borders Nigel Slater has led many a winter wild fowl course for us at Carsington, now he is back to tell us all about the wonders of bird migration. An informal and humorous lecture with personal anecdotes, scientific discoveries and history you’re bound to leave wondering if starlings do indeed have Russian accents!

º 3.00 - 4.30pm £ £2.50 per person * Wildlife Discovery Room, Carsington Water Visitor Centre, DE6 1ST Booking essential as numbers are limited. Tel 01773 881188 (

Tuesday 14th April

Birds in Spring and Summer David Tideswell is a regular radio and TV expert on all matters ornithological. His presentations are full of facts and useful tips, at the same time humorous and light hearted. This evening David will give us a timely presentation on what the birds in our gardens are up to in spring and how we can help them.

Tuesday 14th April

Living with Barn Owls Alan Williams presents and narrates a film documenting the life of barn owls on his private wildlife reserve. The talk will be followed by the High Peak Group AGM.

º 7.30pm £ £2 * Bradbury Community House, 10 Market Street, Glossop, SK13 8AR High Peak Group. Contact Alan Gamble 01298 815473 or ( Mick Hoult 01457 865806

Tuesday 14th April Dolphins (plus AGM at 7.15pm) Writer Robert Alan-Haven has been studying and swimming with dolphins every since his first encounter with a wild dolphin off the Irish coast in 1988. He has many interesting tales to tell and will share fascinating insights gained from close contact with these highly intelligent mammals.

Friday 17th April

Annual General Meeting followed by Sri Lanka Not Just for Tea Brian Hobby tells us about a fascinating land and its wildlife, some found nowhere else.

º 7.30pm £ £2.50, free for under 16s * St Margaret Clitherow Catholic Church, Hall Farm Road, Duffield, DE56 4FS Appletree Hundred Group. Contact Anne Morgan on ( 01332 556397

Monday 20th April

N ature Tots: It’s a bugs Life Join us for a mini beast hunt in the woods and making clay mini beasts to take home.

º 10.00am - 11.30pm £ £3 for the first child £1.50 other children. * Whistlestop Centre, Matlock Bath Railway Station DE4 3PT Booking essential as numbers are limited. Tel 01773 881188 ( Cardinal Beetle

Thursday 23rd April

Brilliant Botswana

Sunday 26th April

Reserve Work Party, The Avenue Washlands

Max & Christine Maughan will present an illustrated talk on their visit to this wonderful part of Africa, exploring the Chobe National Park, Okavango Delta and the northern Kalahari Desert. The amazing wildlife will include birds, mammals, reptiles and even some butterflies.

Join our volunteer team at The Avenue. Bring food, drink, outdoor clothes and appropriate footwear.

º 9.30am - 1pm * The Avenue Learning Centre, Mill Lane, Wingerworth, Chesterfield, S42 6NG Contact Stewart Abbott on 07799 276357 (

º 7.30pm - 9.30pm £ £2.00, free for under 16s, refreshments 50p * St Peter’s Church Hall, Shepherd Street, Littleover, Derby, DE23 6GF West Derby Group. Contact Pat Gatenby, tel 01332 511381 ( or email: david.s.gibbons@gmail.com

Friday 24th April

W ildlife Gardening Workshop: Get batty This month we will be learning about bats, how they help our gardens and what we can do to help them. We will be making bat boxes to put up at home. 10.30am - 2.00pm º £ £10 per session or £20 for three * Whistlestop Centre, Matlock Bath Railway Station DE4 3PT ( Booking essential as numbers are limited. Tel 01773 881188

Marbled White Butterfly

Monday 27th April

Living with Nature Alan Williams shares his DVD and tells us about the creation of a private nature reserve.

º 7.30pm £ £2.50 * Darley Dale Methodist Church Hall, Dale Road, Darley Dale, DE4 2FT Wye and Upper Derwent Group. Contact George Wolfe on ( 01433 631308. Email: geowolfe1@gmail.com

Brown Long-Eared Bat

Derbyshire Wildlife Trust We hope you enjoy this edition of Wild Times and attend one or two of the events featured. Derbyshire Wildlife Trust has a mission to protect wildlife, restore biodiversity and to inspire people. We look after 42 nature reserves scattered throughout the county and work with schools, community groups and landowners alike to bring people closer to nature.

Why not help us to do this by joining us? We currently have 14,000 members and their support enables us to look after our natural environment. As a member you will be kept up to date about our work through regular magazines and e-newsletters and have the opportunity to join in with all sorts of events and activities. We offer individual, joint, family and Watch memberships (for our younger members), so thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s something for everyone. Give the membership team a call and they can tell you all about it. Alternatively you can join online at www.derbyshirewildlifetrust.org.uk

To find out more and to join visit www.derbyshirewildlifetrust.org.uk or contact us on 01773 881188 in normal office hours. Derbyshire Wildlife Trust East Mill, Bridge Foot, Belper DE56 1XH Tel: 01773 881188 www.derbyshirewildlifetrust.org.uk Registered Charity No: 222212 Company limited by guarantee no 715675 Front Cover Image, Robin â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Margaret Holland