Events

FOR COACH TRIPS

Outings usually depart at 8.15 am from Colchester North Station Forecourt, then at 8.30 am as normal from Colchester War Memorial outside the Castle Park (unless otherwise stated in the event description). This is due to the increased parking costs at Priory Street Car Park. The Colchester North Station Car Park cost at the time of going to print is £1.00. We hope that this will give our members a choice of where to park for our coach outings.

Please inform Carole Rogers if you intend to alight at Colchester North Station Forecourt or Colchester War Memorial when booking, especially for North Station as we don’t want to leave anyone behind! We return to Colchester North Station Forecourt and the Colchester War Memorial from all our outings between 5.00 pm and 6.00 pm unless bad weather dictates otherwise.

Come along and join us for an enjoyable day out, you do not have to be an expert. We are a friendly group with varying knowledge and interests. Everyone is welcome including non-members too. Please bring along a packed lunch, a drink, suitable clothing and footwear. Payment for the trip will be taken on the coach, £10.00/£12.00 for adults & £5.00/£6.00 for school children. (Cheques will be accepted).

Please note that for coach trips CNHS does not have ‘public liability’ insurance, so everyone who comes is responsible for their own safety when they are not in the coach. However, our leaders give guidance on the best routes for walks and point out any hazards likely to be encountered. In any case we normally keep together as a party.

FOR CAR TRIPS

We try to car-share in order to save costs and to help those who may not otherwise be able to go. Please let Dave Barnard (01206 825645) or Joe Firmin (01206 241389) know if you require a lift or would be willing to give a lift. We meet at the site at the time given, usually 10.00 a.m. Most people bring a packed lunch and stay till mid afternoon.

Tuesday Evening Schedule

Tuesday evening visits this year focus on The Roman River as well as some of the more important wildlife sites in and around Colchester. The Roman River is one of Essex Wildlife Trust's Living Landscape areas and part of this work involves our help with recording and monitoring target species. Of the other sites we will visit, someare experiencing increasing numbers of visitors. The management plans for several of the sites have been made available to us for reference.

Indoor Meetings

Our talks are free to members but donations accepted for refreshments. Unless otherwise stated all indoor meetings are held at the Cardinal Bourne Hall in Priory Street, Colchester and usually start at 8.00 pm. The Hall is situated at the East Hill end of Priory Street with car parking almost opposite by the Roman Wall. Remember there are special events such as the AGM which start early. Don’t get caught out!

CLICK HERE for an online map

Photo © Peter Douch:

Pont duGard during one of CNHS's European excursions

July 2010

Sunday 4th July - 10.30am - CNHS Colchester Annual ‘Wild Walk’ Day

Meet at 10.30am at the High Woods Country Park Visitors Centre, off Turner Road, for our successful annual wild walk led by our Chairman Ted Benton, author of nationally-acclaimed books on bees, butterflies, dragonflies and other insects. This year’s walk will be through various habitats from the north through to the southern slopes of the High Woods Country Park. There will be experts on hand as usual to help with identification, if needed, on plants, birds and insects including butterflies and dragonflies. Bring a packed lunch and drink if staying for the whole day.

Tuesday 6th July - 7.00pm - Friday Wood, Roman River, and Heathland.

Meet at Friday wood car park (TL986209). As well as botanical specialities, good chance of seeing purple hairstreak butterfly and scarce Mottled Grasshopper. This is a good time of year to see the white admiral butterfly. Members wishing to do so could visit the wood earlier in the day and meet up at 7.00pm for the CNHS visit.

Sunday 11th July - Coach Trip to Woodwalton Fen NNR, SSSI, Near Huntingdon, Cambs
8.15am North Station Forecourt / 8.30am War Memorial

This is one of the UK’s finest fenland sites with an impressive array of uncommon wetland plants and invertebrates. It is especially known for its many species of dragonflies and damselflies and once hosted a colony of the large copper butterfly. These were of the Dutch race batavus which were introduced as the endemic British fenland race of the large copper became extinct in the 19th Century, Sadly the introduced Dutch race has died out at Woodwalton but is still to be found in North Holland. Over 400 plant species occur at Woodwalton as well as 800 species of beetles (200 nationally rare) also 1000 species of moths and 170 species of birds have been recorded.

Tuesday 20th July – 7.00pm - Donyland Wood and heath.

Meet at the layby on Manwood Hill, Mersea Road TM012205 entrance to Donyland Wood. Leader: Peter Wilson. A check with the M.O.D. relating to Firing dates will be made, please check beforehand with Peter on 01206 766217.

Sunday 25th July – 10.00am - High Woods Country Park - Wild Walk (Ranger)

Join Ted Benton from Colchester Natural History Society on a pleasant stroll through the Park taking a closer look at all the wildlife. Bring a pack lunch and drink if staying for the whole walk (approximately 5 miles). Lunch break will be at the Visitor Centre giving those that would prefer a shorter walk the opportunity to depart after the morning session.
Booking: All ages welcome. Children must be accompanied. Cost: Free Event.
Event time: 10am - 3pm (approximate finish time). Meet: TL 998270 High Woods Country Park Visitor Centre

Wednesday 28th July - 10.00am - Cattawade Marshes.

The second of the two day visits to this site with leader Russell Leavett. All disciplines recording. Car parking at Cattawade - TM 102330. From Manningtree Station follow A137 to Brantham for half a mile, one hundred yards before the roundabout with B1070, turn right and park along isolated stretch of road. Bring along a packed lunch and stout footwear. (see 19th May for first visit)

Saturday 31st July - 10.00am – Butterflies and Summer Insects Walk

Come and join in the successful annual butterflies and summer insect walk at the Hilly Fields and Buntings Meadow local nature reserves led by Joe Firman. Meet at Sussex Road entrance to the Hilly Fields at 10.00am, parking in Sussex Road. As well as butterfly and day-flying moth species many other grassland, heathland and tree insects and also dragonflies and damselflies in the pond area at lower Hilly Fields.

August 2010

Sunday 1st August – Coach Trip to Devil Dyke & Fleam Dyke, Cambs.
8.15am North Station Forecourt / 8.30am War Memorial

This is a Cambridge Wildlife Trust Reserve a linear ancient chalk earthwork over 11km long and famous for its chalk insects and flora which will be at their best early August. There is a large colony of the chalkhill blue butterfly as well as many other butterflies and moths associated with chalk grassland. Our leader for the day will be John Dawson, warden of the reserve and an expert on the uncommon wild flowers and insects associated with this beautiful ancient site.

Tuesday 3rd August - 7.00pm - Rowhedge waterfront via marshes/ flood defences to Fingringhoe Mill

Meet by Anchor pub at TM032216 Contact: Ted Benton 01206 867321

Tuesday 17th August - 7.00pm - Rowhedge: marsh recently acquired by CBC.

The area to be visited is the (Upriver) Rowhedge Marshes public open space, a new site taken on by Colchester Borough Council. Grid ref: TM 031219. The entrance is off Oxton Close, off Marsh Crescent. Parking is poor to non existent as in most of Rowhedge, suggestion is to park in the High Street and walk back.

September 2010

Friday 10th September - 7.00pm - Wivenhoe Woods - Bat Evening (Ranger)

Take a walk with bat experts from Essex Bat Group through the woods, using bat detectors to find out what species are living there.
Booking: Essential. Suitable for all ages. Children must be accompanied. Cost: £3 donation. Event time: 7pm – 9pm. Meet: TM 035223 Rosabelle Avenue car park.

Friday 17th September - 6.45pm - Lexden Park - Bat Evening (Ranger)

Take a walk with our bat expert through the Park, using bat detectors and find out what species are living there. Normally exceptional views of bats are gained over the lake.
Booking: Essential. Suitable for all ages. Children must be accompanied. Cost: £3 donation per adult. Event time: 6.45pm – 9pm. Meet: TL 971250 Car park off Church Lane.

Sunday 19th September – CoachTrip to Rainham Marshes RSPB Reserve, Purfleet, Essex
8.15am North Station Forecourt / 8.30am War Memorial

There are only a few ancient landscapes left in London and this RSPB reserve is one of them. Much of the original medieval land-form and marshland wildlife has been preserved and it is now the largest remaining expanse of wetland bordering the upper reaches of the Thames Estuary. Please bring along your RSPB membership card for free entry. There is a non member charge of £2.50 per adult and £1.00 per child. There are shop/cafe/toilets on site.

October 2010

Sunday 10th October – Coach Trip to Rendlesham Forest, Suffolk - the Annual Fungus Foray
8.15am North Station Forecourt / 8.30am War Memorial

This is a new site for the Society’s annual fungus foray. Rendlesham Forest covers approx. 1500 hectares and is located in Suffolk’s coastal heathland belt known as the Sandlings. The forest consists of large areas of coniferous plantations as well as broadleaved belts, heathland and wetland areas. It will be both challenging and interesting to see just how many different species of fungi we can find here. There are toilets on site.

Sunday 31st October - 10.00am - Wivenhoe Woods - Fungi Forage (Ranger)

Join fungi expert Ian Rose on this forage around the woods and discover the fascinating mushrooms and toadstools that grow there.
Booking: Essential. Suitable for all ages. Children must be accompanied. Cost: £3 per adult. Children free. Event time: 10am -12pm. Meet: TM 035223 Rosabelle Avenue Car Park.

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