image: David Tipling/2020VISION
Christmas
Picture Orienteering
Membership
nwt.org.uk/events Activities, walks, talks and courses for all ages throughout Newcastle, North Tyneside and Northumberland.
NWT relies on the generosity of its members, with every penny remaining in the region and being used to protect wildlife and green spaces throughout Northumberland, Newcastle and North Tyneside. Membership costs from just £3 per month and includes: ■ A guide to NWT’s 60 nature reserves. ■ A copy of ‘Roebuck’, NWT’s own full colour wildlife magazine, three times a year, packed with local features and national news. ■ A copy of our Wildlife Gardening leaflet to help you make your garden more wildlife friendly. ■ Monthly e-newsletters. ■ Information on volunteering opportunities. ■ Member-only access to hides at Hauxley, Big Waters and Holywell Pond. ■ Plus extended opening hours at Hauxley Wildlife Discovery Centre.
Hauxley Easter Egg Hunt
Hauxley Wildlife Discovery Centre NE65 0JR
Signs of spring mystery tour
21 December - 5 January, 10am - 3pm (excluding Christmas day) Find all the Christmas pictures to spell out the festive phrase and win a prize. Collect your question sheet from the Lookout Café and hand you answers in at reception.
Image: Ross Hoddinott/2020VISION
15 - 23 February, 10am - 3pm Hauxley Wildlife Discovery Centre, NE65 0JR
£3.50 per child
Follow the clues and see if you can unearth all the signs of spring to win a prize. Collect your question sheet from the Lookout Café and hand you answers in at reception.
Best of all, as a member, you will have the satisfaction of knowing that you are helping to safeguard some of the finest countryside and wildlife in the United Kingdom for yourself and future generations to enjoy.
Small cards
4 - 19 April, 10am - 3pm Hauxley Wildlife Discovery Centre NE65 0JR Find all the eggs and answer all the questions to get a prize. Collect your question sheet from the Lookout Café and hand you answers in at reception.
£3.50 per child
£3.50 per child
December 2019 - April 2020
Wildlife Events & Activities
For further information on membership visit our website nwt.org.uk/membership or call us on (0191) 284 6884.
North
South
Annstead Dunes Arnold Memorial Evelyn Howick Memorial Flodden Quarry Ford Moss Holburn Moss
East Big Waters Cresswell Foreshore Cresswell Pond Druridge Pools East Chevington East Cramlington Pond Fencerhill Wood Hauxley Holywell Pond Linton Lane Newsham Pond Northumberlandia Prestwick Carr St Nicholas Park Weetslade Country Park
Central
Beltingham River Gravels Briarwood Banks Close House Riverside East Crindledykes Quarry Greenlee Lough Grindon Lough Juliet’s Wood Priestclose Wood South Close Field Tony’s Patch Whittle Dene Williamston
Bakethin Barrow Burn Wood Bell Crag Flow Benshaw Moor Butterburn Flow Falstone Moss Fontburn Grasslees Burn Wood Harbottle Crags Holystone Burn Holystone North Wood Mill Burn Whitelee Moor
Bamburgh A1
A697
Alnwick Amble Rothbury
A68
Kielder
A1
A1
A696
A19
A69
A69
Newcastle upon Tyne
More info at nwt.org.uk/reserves
Volunteers are an important part of NWT and we hope to give everyone a fun and rewarding experience. We have an action force of over 300 volunteers who contribute around 180 days of work for us each month. Whatever your background, we can find a position to match your interests and abilities.
If you are interested, then visit our website to see our current volunteer roles and please complete the online volunteer enquiry form at nwt.org.uk/volunteer.
Morpeth
Hexham
Anyone can volunteer with Northumberland Wildlife Trust. With over 60 nature reserves, an active events programme and a busy office, we appreciate help from people just like you.
How to sign up
Otterburn
A68
Image: peter earnst
Whether you are happy to get your hands dirty creating and maintaining habitats on our reserves, enjoy helping out at events, or want to help at our new Wildlife Discovery Centre at Hauxley, we have a volunteering opportunity for you!
Berwick upon Tweed
Wooler
Volunteering
Once you are registered we’ll then invite you to a New Volunteer Session. This gives you the opportunity to meet with NWT staff and volunteers to discuss the role(s) in more detail and to book onto a trial activity. New volunteer sessions are held once a month, usually on a Thursday. Note: If you are already registered as a volunteer, you can log onto your online volunteer account to sign up for activities and tasks by visiting your profile on MyVolunteerPage.com.
Perfect Gift e h T
8 December 12 January 9 February 8 March 12 April
A unique way to show you love wildlife
Your leaf will be pinned to the tree at Hauxley Wildlife Discovery Centre and the more leaves the tree has, the more lovely it becomes. There is a minimum donation of £100 for a ‘bronze’ leaf, £250 for a ‘silver’ leaf and £500 for a ‘gold’ leaf.
10:00 - 16:00 each of the following Sundays: • • • • •
The Giving Tree Remember a special moment, place or person with a beautiful leaf with a personal inscription.
Join us each month at Hauxley Wildlife Discovery Centre where In Focus experts will be on-hand with a range of optical equipment such as telescopes and binoculars allowing you to try for free before you buy.
FREE EVEN T
Be part of the force for nature and leave your message on the Giving Tree.
1 YEAR MEMBERSHIP from
£30
Give the gift of membership to a friend or family member this Christmas. Visit, nwt.org.uk/membership or call, (0191) 284 6884
Cards featuring a red squirrel, black bird, mountain hare, robin and red fox. Packs of 10 (2 each of 5 designs) with envelopes. Message inside reads “Happy Christmas”. Cards measure 120 x 120 mm. £4 per pack of 10
Large cards Cards featuring a short eared-owl, brown hare, robin, red deer and blue tit. Packs of 10 (2 each of 5 designs) with envelopes. Message inside reads “Happy Christmas”. Cards measure 153 x 153 mm. £5 per pack of 10
Available at: Hauxley Wildlife Discovery Centre and Northumberlandia or nwt.org.uk/shop
Image: Mark Hamblin/2020VISION
Your local reserves
Wildlife Trusts Christmas cards
For full details about the Giving Tree call (01665) 568 324 or visit: nwt.org. uk/givingtree.
december 1 Western Australia’s Natural History Monday 2 | 19:30 - 20:30 | Non-members £3 Jubilee Hall, Bridge Street, Rothbury NE65 7SD Philip Hanmer will give us an illustrated talk on Australia’s flora, fauna and birds.
Flowers of the Dolomites Tuesday 3 | 19:30 - 21:30 | £2 St. Mary’s Church Hall, Thornhill Road, Ponteland NE20 9PZ An illustrated talk by John Richards. All welcome, includes refreshments.
4
5 Howick to the Coast Thursday 5 | 10:30 - 13:30 | Non-members £2 Howick Village Hall car park, Howick NE66 3LE Join us to observe the wildlife from woodland to shore. Please wear suitable clothing and footwear. Assistance dogs only. 5 A Beginner’s Guide to British Deer Thursday 5 | 19:30 - 21:00 | Non-members £2.50 Costello Centre, Bailiffgate, Alnwick NE66 1NP NWT’s Jenna Berry will talk about the identification and ecology of deer in Britain. She will then explore whether deer management, both lethal and non-lethal, is necessary.
Introduction to Owls and Owl Pellets Saturday 7 | 10:00 - 14:00 | £15 Hauxley Wildlife Discovery Centre NE65 0JR This workshop covers the owls of the UK, their identification, biology and ecology followed by an owl pellet dissection where we will learn how to identify and record the contents of a pellet. Age 16+ only. Northumberlandia Christmas Weekend Saturday 7 - Sunday 8 | 10:00 - 16:00 | Free entry, £3 parking Northumberlandia NE23 8AU Stalls, crafts, food, music performances, plus fun activities for all the family to enjoy! Some charges for activities. Winter Wreath Workshop Sunday 8 | 10:00 - 13:00 | £30 The Hub, Stone Close, Seahouses NE68 7YL Make a decorative wreath using natural materials gathered from the woods, gardens and hedgerows. Tools and materials provided but bring your own secateurs and scissors if you can. This event is part of the Coast Care Partnership project, funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. top pick
Christmas Wreath Making Sunday 15 December 10:00 - 12:30 & 13:30 - 16:00 Hauxley Wildlife Discovery Centre NE65 0JR Learn how to construct and decorate your own luxury Christmas wreath from scratch using lovely fresh winter foliage sourced locally in Northumberland. Please book early to avoid disappointment. £40.
Members Social Night & Quizzes Tuesday 10 | 19:15 - 21:15 | Non-members £2 St Helens Church Hall, Belle Vue Bank, Low Fell NE9 6BG A fun evening to help members to get to know each other.
6 The Rare Plants of North Northumberland Wednesday 11 | 19:30 - 21:30 | Non-members £2 St James’s Church Centre, Pottergate, Alnwick NE66 1JW Chris Metherell, the Botanical Recorder for North Northumberland and for the last two years President of the BSBI, will let us into the secrets of the rarest plant species in our area and, in most cases, where to look for them. And there’ll be ‘nibbles’ and our traditional Christmas Quiz!
Members Only Evening Friday 13 | 19:30 - 21:30 | Free Bamburgh Cricket Pavilion, The Wynding, Bamburgh NE69 7DB Members only evening.
Christmas Wreath Making Sunday 15 | 13:30 - 16:00 | £40 Hauxley Wildlife Discovery Centre NE65 0JR Learn how to construct and decorate your own luxury Christmas wreath from scratch using lovely fresh winter foliage sourced locally in Northumberland. Age 16+ only.
January Introduction to Winter Bird ID Saturday 4 | 10:00 - 12:00 | £5 Hauxley Wildlife Discovery Centre NE65 0JR Improve your identification of winter birds, particularly winter wildfowl, using sight and sound as we walk around the reserve.
Online booking
Training course
Keeping Morpeth’s Swifts Alive Friday 13 | 19:30 - 21:30 | Non-members £2 Bamburgh Cricket Pavilion, The Wynding, Bamburgh NE69 7DB An illustrated talk by Graham Sorrie.
Catch My Drift: What’s Next? Thursday 27 | 17:00 - 18:30 | Free Hauxley Wildlife Discovery Centre NE65 0JR The Catch My Drift team will be hosting a talk to thank everyone for their support of the project and discuss what happens next.
march
1 Olive’s Year: A year in the life of a cow Monday 3 | 19:30 - 20:30 | Non-members £3 Jubilee Hall, Bridge Street, Rothbury NE65 7SD Michael Boxall, following on from his first very well received film, will be showing us this film about Olive.
1 Small, spiky and seriously endangered - whats happening to our hedgehogs? Monday 2 | 19:30 - 20:30 | Non-members £3 Jubilee Hall, Bridge Street, Rothbury NE65 7SD Liz Clark will talk about hedgehogs and the hedgehog sanctuary in Longframlington.
4 Keeping Morpeth’s Skies Alive (Morpeth Swift Conservation) Tuesday 4 | 19:30 - 21:30 | £2 St. Mary’s Church Hall, Thornhill Road, Ponteland NE20 9PZ A talk by Graham Sorrie about the natural history of swifts and how we can help. All welcome, includes refreshments.
4 Isle of May Uncovered Tuesday 3 | 19:30 - 21:30 | £2 St. Mary’s Church Hall, Thornhill Road, Ponteland NE20 9PZ An illustrated talk by David Steel, manager of Isle of May, looking at the history of wildlife there and behind the scenes of the island. All welcome, includes refreshments.
5 Wildlife Watching Around The Reserve Thursday 6 | 10:30 - 13:30 | Free, donations welcome Car Park, Hauxley Wildlife Discovery Centre NE65 0JR Join us for a walk around the reserve observing the winter wildlife. 5
4 British Divers Marine Mammal Rescue on the N.E. Coast Tuesday 7 | 19:30 - 21:30 | £2 St. Mary’s Church Hall, Thornhill Road, Ponteland NE20 9PZ An illustrated talk by Jamie Dines and Mark Husmann from BDMLR. All welcome, includes refreshments.
Northumbria Veteran Tree Project Tuesday 11 | 19:15 - 21:15 | Non-members £2 St Helen’s Church Hall, Belle Vue Bank, Low Fell NE9 6BG An update on the Veteran Tree Project by Nick Johnson from Northumbria Veteran Tree Project.
2
5 Wild Bees of Great Britain Thursday 5 | 19:30 - 21:00 | Non-members £2.50 Costello Centre, Bailiffgate, Alnwick NE66 1NP Louise Hislop will give an illustrated talk on the lives and identification of wild bees in Great Britain. There will an AGM before the talk.
Arctic Terns on the Farnes Friday 10 | 19:30 - 21:30 | Non-members £2 Bamburgh Cricket Pavilion, The Wynding, Bamburgh NE69 7DB An illustrated talk by Dr Chris Redfern.
12
Rainton Meadows and DWT Northern Reserves Tuesday 14 | 19:15 - 21:15 | Non-members £2 St Helens Church Hall, Belle Vue Bank, Low Fell NE9 6BG An overview of the reserves managed by Chris Jones, Reserves manager at Durham Wildlife Trust.
2
Look for the
Wildlife talk
Bird Watching Basics Saturday 1 | 10:00 - 16:00 | £15 Hauxley Wildlife Discovery Centre NE65 0JR Starting in the classroom we discuss the different bird families, terminology, tips for birding in different habitats, ID tips and the use of optics and guide books. The afternoon will be spent putting our ID tips into practice on the reserve.
6 A Year on Lindisfarne Wednesday 26 | 19:30 - 21:30 | Non-members £2 St James’s Church Centre, Pottergate, Alnwick NE66 1JW Ceris Aston is a National Trust Ranger on Lindisfarne and she will talk to us about her experiences in that role during the course of a year.
Birds of Western Australia Thursday 6 | 19:30 - 21:00 | Non-members £2.50 Costello Centre, Bailiffgate, Alnwick NE66 1NP Philip and Alison Hanmer will give an illustrated talk on birds of Western Australia.
Most of our events are now available to book online. It’s quick and easy to do and guarantees you a place on the event. We don’t issue paper tickets but you’ll get a confirmation when you book and we’ll send you a reminder before the event takes place. You can also book by calling (0191) 284 6884.
Children’s event
february
3 Bird Ringing at Hauxley Wednesday 11 | 19:00 - 20:00 | Free for NWT members Hauxley Wildlife Discovery Centre NE65 0JR Bryan Galloway, bird ringer for the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO), explains how and why we ring birds. Parking charges do not apply to members when attending our evening group talks/activities.
1 Stars of the Southern Hemisphere Monday 6 | 19:30 - 20:30 | Non-member £3 Jubilee Hall, Bridge Street, Rothbury NE65 7SD Ian Glendinning will talk about his trip to Africa, the skies visible there, and his work helping to set up observatories.
Welcome to Northumberland Wildlife Trust’s latest What’s On guide, providing you with a handy monthly view of all our events and activities and those of our partner groups across the region. There’s something for everyone and we hope this guide will inspire you to get outside and get closer to nature!
Guided walk
6 Wildlife in Motion Wednesday 29 | 19:30 - 21:30 | Non-members £2 St James’s Church Centre, Pottergate, Alnwick NE66 1JW A talk from Cain Scrimgeour, a photographer who produces wildlife videos of a range of organisms and habitats in the North East.
A Day of Mindfulness Sunday 23 | 10:00 - 15:30 | £40 (£30 concessions) Hauxley Wildlife Discovery Centre NE65 0JR Our mindfulness meditation days are open to everyone and provide a valuable antidote to day to day stresses and busy weekends. Led by Michael Atkinson, Director of School of Mindfulness.
5 Early Spring Wildlife Thursday 5 | 10:30 - 13:30 | Nonmembers £2 Boulmer Beach car park NE66 3BL Join us for a walk along the coast looking out for early spring wildlife. Please wear suitable outdoor clothing and footwear. Assistance dogs only.
Online booking
Family event
Introduction to Winter Bird ID Saturday 18 | 10:00 - 12:00 | £5 Hauxley Wildlife Discovery Centre NE65 0JR Improve your identification of winter birds, particularly winter wildfowl, using sight and sound as we walk around the reserve.
12
Christmas Wreath Making Sunday 15 | 10:00 - 12:30 | £40 Hauxley Wildlife Discovery Centre NE65 0JR Learn how to construct and decorate your own luxury Christmas wreath from scratch using lovely fresh winter foliage sourced locally in Northumberland. Age 16+ only.
Welcome
key
2
icon on the events listing and visit
nwt.org.uk/events to book!
Self-led Photo Trail Thursday 20 - Sunday 23 | 11:00 - 15:00 | £3.50 per child Northumberlandia NE23 8AU Match the photo to the places as you walk through the woodland and get a prize for completing the trail! 12 An Evening with David Lindo Friday 21 | 19:30 - 21:30 | Non-members £2 Bamburgh Cricket Pavilion, The Wynding, Bamburgh NE69 7DB Join David Lindo aka The Urban Birder for an evening of laughs and tales of urban birding around the world.
Bird Watching Basics Saturday 7 | 10:00 - 16:00 | £15 Hauxley Wildlife Discovery Centre NE65 0JR This workshop is designed for complete beginners who want an introduction to birds and bird watching. Starting in the classroom we discuss the different bird families, terminology, tips for birding in different habitats, ID tips and the use of optics and guide books. The afternoon will be spent putting our ID tips into practice on the reserve. 2 AGM & Water Voles in the North East of England Tuesday 10 | 19:00 - 21:00 | Non-members £2 St Helen’s Church Hall, Belle Vue Bank, Low Fell NE9 6BG Kirsty Pollard from Durham Wildlife Trust will tell us about her project to introduce water voles into Durham County.
Local groups 1
NWT Coquetdale Group (01669) 640 237
2
NWT Gateshead Group (07811) 927 330
3
4
NWT Hauxley Group (01665) 568 324 NWT Ponteland Group (01670) 503 248
5
Alnwick & District Natural History Society (01665) 576 512
6
7
NorthWildlife
8
Border Natural History Society bordernats.wordpress. com
Alnwick Wildlife Group (01665) 578 346
9
Friends of Brierdene (0191) 251 2149
Berwick Wildlife Group (01289) 332 655
10
Friends of Red House Ramble (0191) 297 2973
Visit nwt.org.uk/local-groups for more information.
Natural History Society of Northumbria (0191) 208 2792
12
North Northumberland Bird Club (01289) 388 869
13
Northumberland & Tyneside Bird Club (07962) 720 616
12
6 Making Otters Count Wednesday 25 | 19:30 - 21:30 | Non-members £2 St James’s Church Centre, Pottergate, Alnwick NE66 1JW Dr Vivien Kent will talk about otters in the North East and let us know how we could contribute data to the monitoring of otter populations in our area.
A Day of Mindfulness Sunday 29 | 10:00 - 15:30 | £40 (£30 concessions) Hauxley Wildlife Discovery Centre NE65 0JR Our mindfulness meditation days are open to everyone and provide a valuable antidote to day to day stresses and busy weekends. Led by Michael Atkinson, Director of School of Mindfulness.
april Budle Circular Thursday 2 | 10:30 - 13:30 | Non-members £2 Information Point at Budle Bay, along the B1342 Join us for a circular walk inland from Budle Bay looking for spring birds and flowers.
5
Birds of Peru Thursday 2 | 19:30 - 21:00 | Non-members £2.50 Costello Centre, Bailiffgate, Alnwick NE66 1NP Tim Dean will give an illustrated talk on the birds of Peru.
5
Minibeast Hunt Thursday 9 | 13:00 - 14:00 | £4 per child Hauxley Wildlife Discovery Centre NE65 0JR Join us in search of the minibeasts that call Hauxley home. Armed with magnifying pots and nets we will scour the reserve in search of interesting insects. Easter Egg Trail Friday 10 - Monday 13 | 10:00 - 15:00 | £3.50 per child Northumberlandia NE23 8AU Follow the Easter egg trail on site and answer questions as you go. There’s a prize at the end for completing the trail. Collect a question sheet from the visitor centre. Two Seasons with the South of Scotland Golden Eagle Project Friday 10 | 19:30 - 21:30 | Non-members £2 Bamburgh Cricket Pavilion, The Wynding, Bamburgh NE69 7DB An illustrated talk by Rick Taylor.
12
Introduction to Birdsong - Dawn Chorus Walk Saturday 4 | 05:30 - 07:00 | £5 Hauxley Wildlife Discovery Centre NE65 0JR Improve your identification of birds through birdsong as we walk around the reserve and learn useful tips on how to remember which of our feathered friends is which.
‘A bit of this and a bit of that’ and beautiful photographs Tuesday 14 Apr | 19:00 - 21:00 | Non-members £2 St Helen’s Church Hall, Belle Vue Bank, Low Fell NE9 6BG Graham Hopkinson from Gateshead Wildlife Group will show his photographs of insects, flowers, birds and mammals.
2
1 AGM and Members Evening (and members photos) Monday 6 Apr | 19:30 - 21:00 | Free for members Jubilee Hall, Bridge Street, Rothbury NE65 7SD Members will be able to present and talk about some of their favourite wildlife photos.
Early Season Pond Dip Thursday 16 | 13:00 - 14:00 | £4 per child Hauxley Wildlife Discovery Centre NE65 0JR Explore the murky depths of our pond and discover what creatures lurk there at this time of year.
Flora of Northumberland Recent Developments Tuesday 7 | 19:30 - 21:30 | £2 St. Mary’s Church Hall, Thornhill Road, Ponteland NE20 9PZ An illustrated talk by Chris Metherell. All welcome, includes refreshments.
4
3 Dragonflies: Living Fossils on Our Doorstep Wednesday 8 | 19:00 - 20:00 | Free for NWT members Hauxley Wildlife Discovery Centre NE65 0JR NWT’s Jenna Berry reveals the ancient origins of dragonflies. Learn how to identify them and discuss some of the adaptations allowing them to be our most lethal insect predator. Parking charges do not apply to members when attending our evening group talks/activities.
Under 18s 11
yellow wagtail: tim mason
what’s on
Don’t miss out! Follow us on social media NorthumberlandWT NorthWildlife
December 2019 - April 2020 For up to date event listings, visit our website nwt.org.uk/events
Please note that all children under 18 attending Northumberland Wildlife Trust events must be accompanied by an adult. Adult places for children’s events are generally free but must be booked.
Refunds and cancellations Refunds will only be offered for events costing over £5 for cancellations made at least 14 days before the event start date. All refunds will be subject to a £5 administration fee. If you are able to provide a replacement to attend the event, then no administration charge will be made.
Introduction to Birdsong - Dawn Chorus Walk Saturday 18 | 05:30 - 07:00 | £5 Hauxley Wildlife Discovery Centre NE65 0JR Improve your identification of birds through birdsong as we walk around the reserve and learn useful tips on how to remember which of our feathered friends is which. 6 “Paddington gets the Bird” - Birding in Darkest Peru Wednesday 29 | 19:30 - 21:30 | Non-members £2 St James’s Church Centre, Pottergate, Alnwick NE66 1JW Tom Cadwallander will show us amazing birds and accompany them with often hair-raising anecdotes about his South American birding experiences.
Stay in touch Northumberland Wildlife Trust Ltd Garden House St Nicholas Park Gosforth Newcastle upon Tyne NE3 3XT Tel: (0191) 284 6884 Email: events@northwt.org.uk Web: nwt.org.uk Registered in England & Wales Registered Company No. 717813 Registered Charity No. 221819