|

Public Education
NATURAL HISTORY
Kingfisher and Badger
Watching Evenings
WAKEHURST PLACE
Monday 19 May 5.30pm – 9.30pm - Fully
booked
Thursday 22 May 5.30pm – 9.30pm - Fully
booked
Thursday 7 August 5.30pm – 9.30pm -
Fully booked
Tutor: Steven Robinson
Venue: Wakehurst Place
The Loder Valley Nature Reserve forms part of the Wakehurst
Place estate and offers the valuable combination of woodland, wetland and
meadowland habitats, that are ideal for wildlife. Managed by the Royal Botanic
Gardens, it is dedicated to the conservation of the plants and animals of the
Sussex Weald. Normally only accessible to visitors by permit, these evening
events in the reserve will be led by the warden.
Kingfishers breed regularly
in this beautiful conservation area and a specially built hide affords magical
close up views of their activities. With luck we should be able to observe
these beautiful birds in their natural habitat and study their feeding habits
and lifestyle. The evening continues with a chance to see the residents of
the badger sett before retracing our steps to see what other nocturnal wildlife
is out and about in the Reserve. Come with an open mind, though, as natural
history inevitably presents an element of surprise!
N.B. These evenings will
involve a fair amount of walking of a moderately strenuous level which will
include some steep inclines on muddy and slippery surfaces.
Course Fee: £25
Bat Evening
Thursday 14 August 6.30pm – 9.30pm -
Fully booked
Tutors: Iain Parkinson and Jenny Clark
Venue: Wakehurst Place
This course offers a wonderful opportunity to experience
Wakehurst Place at dusk and explore the fascinating lifestyles of many
of our native bats. The evening will begin with a very special introduction
to some live rescue bats before venturing out into the gardens and woodland
on ‘bat patrol’ to
learn how to identify the different species we encounter using ultra-sound
bat detectors. We will also hunt for the varied and sometimes unusual
places these endearing creatures choose for their roost sites.
Course
Fee: £20
(maximum capacity 15 places)
Basic Bushcraft Skills
Tuesday 23 September 9am – 4pm
Tutor: Leon Durbin
Venue: Wakehurst Place
 |
| Photo by Kate Stanyon |
Come and escape the rat race, leave all your stresses
behind and spend the day in beautiful and tranquil Pearcelands and Sheepwash
Woods getting back to nature and having fun learning some useful bushcraft
skills. At the end of the course you should be able to tie some knots
to string up a hammock, know how to build a leaf shelter, understand how to
find water and make it safe, understand the basic principles of responsible
firelighting and fuel collection and have succeeded in lighting a fire
with sparks and/or bow drill. The emphasis is on guidance and you are
always encouraged to have a go and think things through for yourselves.
Course
Fee: £60
(maximum capacity 10 places)
|