Fern World BPS Newsletter - Summer 2012
Issue 5. Produced by the BPS Publicity & Marketing Team
Fern World Editor’s Letter Hello & welcome
to the 5th edition
of the Fern World Newsletter! For those who don’t already know, this is one of the online news sources for the BPS - British Pteridological Society - the society for fern enthusiasts. Since the last issue went live, we have spread our fronds a little further into the virtual world, and we now have a Pinterest page to collect all kinds of interesting fern bits and pieces. Please feel free to have a look here: http://pinterest.com/fernworld/ This was in part inspired by seeing the wonderful metal fern art made by artist Jackie Roberts, who is featured on page 6 of this Newsletter. This issue of Fern World also brings BPS members an exclusive offer to join the Royal Horticultural Society at reduced rates! See page 7 for details. All the usual news round-ups from events so far this year, and reminders of what is coming up in the next few months can be found throughout the issue.
Above: A hand-printed “new members” folder, which will be used to attract new fern enthusiasts to the Society at shows and events.
As always, if you have any suggestions about the content for the newsletter, please feel free to contact me, Liz Evans, at the Publicity email address: Publicity@eBPS.org.uk
Signing Up: If you wish to receive an email notifying you when a new issue of the Fern World Newsletter is published, please sign up to the online mailing list which can be found at the link below: http://eepurl.com/bGLcz
Please, keep your fern news coming! Thank-you! Further information about the society can be found on the BPS website at: http://www.eBPS.org.uk/
Front Cover Image : Asplenium nidus Photography : Liz or Alison Evans unless stated
Farewell to a BPS Friend As many of you may be aware, our good friend and BPS Committee Secretary Graham Ackers passed away earlier this year. There will of course be a full obituary in the next edition of the Bulletin, but for now I just wanted to share some pictures of Graham, and the fond memories I have of being out “in the field” with such a knowledgeable, entertaining, and friendly gentleman. Graham also played a vital role in the running of the Society. If anyone would like to find out more about what the post of BPS Committee Secretary entails, they can contact Yvonne Golding for an informal chat: Secretary@eBPS.org.uk
Above: Graham accidentally tags on to the end of a school group admiring the view of the volcano crater at Poás in Costa Rica.
Below: Graham and Pat Acock enjoying a lunchtime picnic stop.
Above: Getting a better view. Poás, Costa Rica. Below: The tourist shuttle bus at La Paz Waterfall Gardens, Costa Rica. (2008)
Contact the Publicity Team : Publicity@eBPS.org.uk
Fern Events Round-up
Above left and right: Pat Acock, Roger Golding, Fred Rumsey and Tim Pyner at The Big Nature Day at the Natural History Museum in London. The BPS Education Group organised getting a stand at this OPAL event. As you can see from the attire, the weather was particularly warm! Left, and Below left and right: The BPS stand at York Bioblitz, also an OPAL event at which the Education Group worked hard in the wind and rain to maintain a Society presence! Guided walks of the fern garden in York Museum’s grounds were popular, and despite the weather people stopped to admire the ferns on display. [York photos courtesy of Bruce Brown, with thanks.]
Don’t forget the BPS Website : www.eBPS.org.uk
Ferns and Fossils 2012 FERNS AND FOSSILS at the Yorkshire Museum Museum Gardens, York 11am to 4pm Saturday 29th & Sunday 30th September 2012
Find out all about ferns: The secret life of ferns How to grow ferns from spores Advice about growing ferns Displays of living ferns Guided fern walks
Fossil fern displays Children’s activities Quiz with prizes Fern memorabilia Ferny Film Show
FREE with entry to the Museum Contact: Alison Evans Education@eBPS.org.uk for more information!
Contact the Publicity Team : Publicity@eBPS.org.uk
Fern Inspired Metalwork Malta-based artist Jackie Roberts has recently had an exhibition of her fern inspired work on display at both Dawyck and Logan Botanic Gardens in Scotland. The exhibition, titled ‘The Nature of Metal’, finished on the 1st of July, but Jackie is always willing to take on commissions for further fern based works, and she can be contacted at: robertsj@maltanet.net
Metal artist Jackie Roberts with one of her fern inspired works ‘Oak Fern’ plaque 28x10cm copper and brass
‘Southern Cross’ 46x28cm mild steel, copper and brass
‘Tree Fern’ plaque 28x10cm copper and brass
‘Koru-gated’ (2012) copper, found scrap metal and mild steel
Photos courtesy of Jackie Roberts.
‘Koru and Silver Fern’ (2012) copper and mild steel
All works and images are subject to copyright.
Don’t forget the BPS Website : www.eBPS.org.uk
RHS Membership SPECIAL OFFER FOR BPS MEMBERS! Would you like to become a member of the RHS? The British Pteridological Society is an RHS Affiliated Society and this year they have come up with a very special offer for Affiliated Society’s Members:Join the RHS for a first year special Individual member price of £35.70 (usually £51) or Joint – 2 adults at the same address - price of £51.10 (usually £73). You save 30% off a year’s membership. Also RHS will donate £5 to BPS! Once your membership has been processed, you will also receive a £5 RHS shop/plant centre voucher saving you even more money. This is an easy way for you to enjoy the benefits of RHS cheaply AND help our Society funds! If you would like to take up this special offer, please e-mail Treasurer@ebps.org.uk or write to Gill Smith, BPS Treasurer, Rookwood, 1 Prospect Road, Oulton Broad, NR32 3PT. You will need to give me the following information:Name = title, first name, surname, Date of birth (Mandatory sorry!), Address with postcode and e-mail address if you have one, If this will be a Joint membership then I need the same details for the second person, Payment can be made by several methods:1 Direct debit – bank address, sort code, account number and name, needed. 2 Cheque – made payable to ‘The Royal Horticultural Society’. 3 Debit/credit card – usual details needed but I will have to send the form to you to sign. Option 3 will obviously hold up the procedure whilst posting back and forth. The forms have to be sent in by the Treasurer (me!) but you will have a copy which you can use in lieu of the membership card which should be with you within 28 days (Their promise!) Your £5 voucher will be sent separately from the Membership card. Unfortunately this offer is only open to NEW members NOT existing members (like me! Bother!) I hope many of you will take advantage of this generous offer. Gillian Smith - Treasurer
Contact the Publicity Team : Publicity@eBPS.org.uk
Fern Events 2012 Museum Meets: Urban Naturalist 2-4pm 28th July, The Manchester Museum An exploration of how ferns find their way into our urban environment. The session, hosted by the Museum and led by Yvonne Golding, will include an illustrated talk, a video on the Secret Life of Ferns, looking at ferns under the microscope, and weather permitting a look at the ferns growing on the walls around the Museum. If you would like more information please look at the website: events.manchester.ac.uk/event/event:cn-h1qim0xi-ikdocn/
Above: Asplenium trichomanes
Ferns and Fossils 29-30th September, Yorkshire Museum, York
Above: Fossilised fern
The Education sub-committee of the BPS are holding their third Ferns and Fossils event. The two previous events held in Manchester and Edinburgh have been very successful and appealed to young and old, and also with people who had no previous knowledge of ferns as well as confirmed fern enthusiasts. If you would like to help, or would just like some more information, please contact: Education@eBPS.org.uk
RHS Gardens, Plant Societies Open Days 5th October, Harlow Carr, Hyde Hall, Wisley, and Rosemoor The RHS are holding a Specialist Plant Society Open Day on the 5th of October at its four main gardens. The BPS Education Group hope to be able to organise stands at as many of these as possible, as it would be a good opportunity to reach a wider public and promote the aims of the Society. If you would like more information, or would like to volunteer to help out at your local RHS venue, please contact Alison at: Education@eBPS.org.uk Thanks!
Don’t forget the BPS Website : www.eBPS.org.uk
Fern Meetings 2012 7th July
21st July
East Anglia Group Garden, Cowlinge Suffolk & Horringer Manor garden Leader : Barrie Stevenson
Scottish Group Ardkinlas Woodland Garden, Loch Fyne Fern survey Leader: Frank McGavigan
14th July
28th July
Wessex Group Portland - meeting place TBC Leader : Mike Hill
East Anglia Group Corton Woods, Lowestoft Leader : Tim Pyner
14th July
10th-13th August
Yorkshire Group Lincolnshire Woodlands and Binbrook Nursery Osgodby Wood Leader : Neil Timm
Fern Identification Field Studies Council, Rhyd-y-creuau Leader : Chris Metherell
21st July Manchester and North Midlands Group Tom Wood, Great Wood and Broadbottom Leader : John Grue
21st July East Anglia Group Kersey’s Farm, Suffolk Join Anthony Pigott's hosted meeting with Plant Heritage, time 1.30 p.m. Leader : Anthony Pigott
11-12th August Scottish Group Isle of Arran, Brodick Castle Garden Leader : Chris Nicholson
11th August Yorkshire Group Howe Edge Scar, Upper Swaledale Leader : Mike Canaway
15th August South Wales and Borders Group Ammanford Leader : Brian Dockerill
For Meetings Information : Meetings@eBPS.org.uk
Fern Meetings 2012 16-19th August
18th September
Southport Flower Show Help at the show or display your ferns. Contact : Michael Hayward
South Wales and Borders Group Monmouthshire Woodlands, St Pierre’s Great Wood Leader : Brian Dockerill
18th August Field Guide to Fern Identification Field Studies Council, Preston Montford Leader : Mark Duffell
20-23rd September National Meeting - Northumberland Based at Hexham, sites and garden visits Leader : Rob Cooke
18th August Manchester and North Midlands Group NT woods at Padley and Longshaw Estate Leader : Yvonne Golding and NT wardens
22nd September Manchester and North Midlands Group Luds Church, Gradbach, Staffs. Leader : Yvonne Golding
25th August North West Group Hampsfell and Humphrey Head, Grange-over-Sands Leader : Alec Greening
29-30th September
1st September
29th September
South East Group Meeting Fern varieties Leader : Julian Reed
Scottish Group Annual Get-together Alastair Wardlaw’s Garden, Bearsden Organiser : Bridget Laue
8th September
5th October
East Anglia Group Felthorpe Common and Drayton Drewery + the Exotic garden Norwich Leader : Tim Pyner
RHS Gardens National Open Days The BPS hopes to have stands at these events happening concurrently at the four RHS Gardens. Details to follow.
Ferns and Fossils Yorkshire Museum, York Contact : Alison Evans
Don’t forget the BPS Website : www.eBPS.org.uk
Fern Group Contacts 13th October Yorkshire Group Annual General Meeting, Harlow Carr Contact : Alison Evans
20th October North West Group Annual General Meeting Holehird Gardens, Windermere Further details to follow
27th October Manchester and North Midlands Group Indoor Meeting, venue TBC Contact : Yvonne Golding ***PLEASE NOTE -THE FOLLOWING EVENT HAS BEEN RESCHEDULED FROM THE 20TH OCTOBER***
27th October East Anglia Group Autumn Indoor Meeting, Oulton Broad Contact : Brian and Gill Smith
3rd November South East Group Autumn Meeting, Brede High Wood Contact : Paul Ripley and Steve Munyard
17th November Autumn Indoor Meeting Natural History Museum, London Leader : Fred Rumsey
Regional Group Contact details: Yorkshire Fern Group Leader: Bruce Brown Email: Yorkshire@eBPS.org.uk South East Leader: Paul Ripley Email: SouthEast@eBPS.org.uk East Anglia Leader: Tim Pyner Email: EastAnglia@eBPS.org.uk North West England Leader: Peter Campion Email: NorthWest@eBPS.org.uk Cornwall Leader: Matt Stribley Email: Cornwall@eBPS.org.uk Scotland Leader: Frank McGavigan Email: Scotland@eBPS.org.uk South Wales & Borders Leader: Brian Dockerill Email: SouthWalesBorders@eBPS.org.uk Manchester & North Midlands Leader: Yvonne Golding Email: ManchesterNorthMidlands@eBPS.org.uk
Details of all the Meetings are also available on the Meetings Calendar:
www.my.calendars.net/ebps
For Meetings Information : Meetings@eBPS.org.uk