Learn about London wildlife with The London Natural History Society

WELCOME TO OUR PROGRAMME
There are plenty of events to choose from, including lots of events suitable for beginners. Members can attend any of the meetings and events in this programme. Please read the background information set out below. Visitors are welcome - please introduce yourself to the leader or an organiser on arrival.

INDOOR MEETINGS
These usually consist of talks, slide shows or discussions.
Indoor meetings are distinguished by a yellow shaded background in the programme below.
Unless stated otherwise, these meetings are held at:

KXMC-SC: The Small Chapel, Kings Cross Methodist Church, Crestfield Street, London WC1.

This is located directly opposite King’s Cross Main Line Station, down Crestfield Street about 30 metres on the left. See MAP, There are facilities for making tea and coffee.

OUTDOOR MEETINGS
These are Field Meetings or Guided Tours. Lunch and Tea should be brought on all whole-day meetings. You do not need to have a car - where the programme says 'cars needed' this is to remind drivers they will need to pick up people at the station or meeting point. At meetings involving cars, those receiving lifts are expected to contribute to the cost of petrol used.
For more information on our on-going surveys at Bookham Common and Hampstead, and our Bookham Field Study Days, visit the SURVEYS page.

Click on blue links in the programme below to visit websites relating to nature reserves where field trips are taking place.

TAKING PUBLIC TRANSPORT TO OUTDOOR MEETINGS
Train times where given should be checked, as timetables change and engineering works take place on Saturdays and Sundays. 'NR' in the programme refers to National Rail lines (as opposed to Underground/Docklands Light Railway lines).

For NR train times and information, phone 08457-484950, or visit www.nationalrail.co.uk, or www.thetrainline.com, or the websites of individual train companies. The later are a useful source of information about current and planned engineering works.

For London bus, Underground and Tram information, phone 020-7222 1234 or visit http://journeyplanner.tfl.gov.uk.

MAPS
OS Landranger grid references are supplied for all the events listed. These refer to the named rail station or other meeting place. You can obtain a local map by copying and pasting the grid reference into an on-line map provider such as streetmap.co.uk. In a few cases, where events do not meet at a station or other obvious local landmark, direct links to maps have been provided.

COACH TRIPS
For coach trips applications must be made in advance using the booking form that is mailed to members. It can also be downloaded from the LNHS Members' Forum (for details how to join the forum see Message Boards page). The application must be accompanied with the appropriate remittance payable to the person indicated, and not to the Society. An SAE and telephone number, if any, should accompany all enquiries and remittances. Members can bring guests (at the same rate per person) so long as they are included on the booking form. The coach trip organiser is
Members are asked not to travel to coach meetings independently, although in some cases the leader may be prepared to allow this if application is made in advance.
Coaches normally leave from the road alongside the south entrance to Embankment underground station (but check details of each trip as given in the Programme below). Occasionally they can pick up at a second point en route on the outskirts of London (check with organiser).

STOP PRESS :

Change of date for Spider Foray in Coldfall Wood - it will take place on the morning of Sunday 18th May (not 17th as previously advertised). The Foray will continue afterwards to Long Lane meadow.

25th May: Visit to Deptford Creek at low tide - do not bring wellingtons (as previously suggested in programme) as waders will be provided on site by the Creekside Centre.

APRIL 2008

5 Sat. Ornithology. Hyde Park/Kensington Gdns for migrants & wildfowl. Des McKenzie. Meet 09.00 Marble Arch Stn.(Central). AM only. (Toilets).

12 Sat. Ornithology. Fairlop for spring migrants. Alan Bell. Meet 08.30 Fairlop Stn. TQ449906 (Central). AM only. (No toilets).

12 Sat. Botany. Trent Park. John Swindells. Meet 10.30 Cockfosters U’grnd Stn (Picc.) (TQ281964). Cars not needed. Bring lunch.

13 Sun. Ornithology. Regents Park. Target birds: wheatear, juvenile tawny owl & red kite. Tony Duckett. Meet 08.00 NW end of lake near blue bridge & public toilets (TQ277828). MAP. Nearest Underground is Baker Street. AM only. (Toilets).

17 Thurs. 17.30. Linnean Society, Burlington House, Piccadilly:
"Nature Conservation in London" - David Bevan.
A meeting organised jointly by The Linnean Society of London, and the London Natural History Society, in celebration of our 150th birthday.
Tea is served before the lecture and wine will be available afterwards.

19 Sat. Ornithology. Fingringhoe Wick, Essex for nightingale, turtle dove, warblers & adder. Neil Anderson. Coach trip from Embankment Undergound Stn. (Pick-up point in road alongside south entrance to station) 08.00. Bring lunch. £14.00 to leader in advance (details above). Reserve permit fee also payable. RESERVE INFORMATION..

19 Sat. Ecology and Entomology. Wippendell Woods, Hertfordshire for hymenoptera and other insects. Ray Uffen. Meet 10:30 Watford U'grnd Stn (Met.) Bring lunch. Large car park at TQ092967 400m from station.

20 Sun. Ornithology. Crossness for early migrants & waders. George Kalli. Meet 09.30 Belvedere Stn. TQ495792 (NR Charing X, Waterloo East, or London Bridge) Bring lunch. (No toilets).

23 Weds. 18.30. KXMC-SC. Recording Amphibians and Reptiles. NARRS - The National Amphibian and Reptile Recording Scheme. Dr. Chris Gleed-Owen, Herpetological Conservation Trust. Ecology and Entomology.

26 Sat and 27 Sun: See us at the Lee Valley Spring Wildlife Weekend
We will have a stand at the Lee Valley Spring Wildlife Weekend, which will be held on Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th April from 10am to 4.30pm, in the south of the Lee Valley Regional Park, at the Waterworks Nature Reserve, off Lammas Rd, Lea Bridge Rd, Leyton, London E10 7NU. MAP
The site hosts one of the largest bird hides in London and over 322 species of plants, 25 species of breeding birds and a quarter of all British butterflies. The site has its own visitor centre, including a café, toilets and classroom and interpretation areas.

26 Sat. Wandle Meadow Nature Park An extra event (not in our printed programme.) Dave Dawson will lead this general natural history, morning field meeting on this wasteland nature reserve. Botany, birds, amphibia and (very basic) entomology. An interesting site because London has few wasteland nature parks. Meet at the junction of Garfield Rd and Caxton Road SW19 at 10:00. MAP Take the 200 bus from Wimbledon or Collier's Wood Stations, or use National Rail. (Thameslink service from North and Central London). The rendezvous is just round the corner from Haydon's Road Station. This is a joint meeting with LWT.

26 Sat. Ornithology. Hounslow Heath for warblers, bullfinch, woodpeckers, perhaps wheatear & whinchat. Chris Slack. Meet 10.00 Rangers Hut opposite The Hussar PH, Staines Rd (TQ121749) MAP. Feltham Stn.(NR W’loo) then bus, OR Hounslow West Stn. (Picc) and 15 min. walk or 235 bus. Bring Lunch. (Toilets).

27 Sun. Botany. Hyde Park Spring fungus foray. Ted Tuddenham. Meet 10.30 Albert Memorial (TQ266798) MAP. U’grnd S. Kensington. or Knightsbridge (Picc.) Cars not needed. Bring lunch.

28 Mon. 18.30. Railway Fields LNR. Corner of Green Lanes & Umfreville Rd, N4. TQ318881. MAP. 5 mins walk from Manor House U’grnd Stn. (Picc.), close Harringay Green Lanes Stn (Overground). Identification of Fungi. Ted Tuddenham. Bring specimens etc. Botany Informal.

MAY 2008

3 Sat. Ornithology. Sewardstone for nightingale & warblers. Martin Shepherd. Meet 09.30 Enfield Lock Stn. TQ364987 (NR L’pool St.) Bring snack. (No toilets).

4 Sun. Ornithology. Totteridge/Darlands Lake for lapwing, warblers & spring flowers. Robin Blades. Meet 10.30 Totteridge & Whetstone Stn. (Northern). TQ261939. Bring lunch. (No toilets).

4 Sun. Ecology and Entomology. Hainault Forest for general natural history. Brian Ecott. Meet 10:30 at Visitor Centre (TQ476927), Foxburrows Rd. MAP. Stations: Hainault (Central) then 247 bus, OR Romford (NR L'pool St) then 247 bus. Bring lunch.

10 Sat. Ornithology. Stodmarsh NNR (Kent) for hobby, migrants. Neil Anderson. Coach trip from Embankment U’grnd Stn. (Pick-up point in road alongside south entrance to station) 08.00. Bring lunch. £14.00 to leader in advance (details above). RESERVE INFORMATION..

11 Sun. Ornithology. Beddington for tree sparrow & migrants, perhaps wheatear, little ringed plover & greenshank. Derek Coleman. Meet 09.30 Hackbridge Stn. (NR Vic.) TQ285659. Wellies recommended if wet. (No toilets).

11 Sun. Ecology and Entomology. Crane Park Island LNR. River Crane walk and guided tour of nature reserve. Ian McKinnon. Meet 10.30 Whitton Stn. TQ142735 (NR W’loo, connects with District Line and Overground at Richmond). Bring lunch.

18 Sun. Ecology and Entomology. Coldfall Wood for spiders. Edward Milner. Meet 10:30 East Finchley Stn. (Northern) TQ272892. Bring lunch, hand lens, kneeling pad. Will continue afterwards to Long Lane meadow. THIS IS A CHANGE OF DATE and replaces the information given in our printed programme.

18 Sun. Ornithology. Wimbledon Common for bird song. David Wills. Meet 08.00 Windmill Car Park TQ230725. MAP Bus 93 to Windmill Rd. from Putney or Wimbledon Stn. (NR W’loo or District). AM only. (Toilets).

18 Sun. Botany. Ranmore. Paul Bartlett. Meet 10.30 Box Hill & West Humble Stn. (NR Vic.) TQ167519. Cars needed. Bring lunch.

21 Wed. Botany. The trees and tree-killers of Abney Park Cemetery. Russell Miller & Keir Mottram. Meet 18.30 Abney Park Visitor Centre (TQ336867) just inside main gate, Stoke Newington High St. Nearest Stn. Stoke Newington (NR L’pool St.) Cars not needed. (Toilets).

24 Sat. Ornithology. Wandsworth Common for sparrowhawk & possible spotted flycatcher. Peter White. Meet 09.30 ticket office at Wandsworth Common Stn. (NR Vic.) TQ277735 AM only. (Toilets).

24 Sat. Ecology and Entomology. Brentmoor Heath, Surrey. SU936612 (SSSI, SAC). Scotty Dodd, Surrey Wildlife Trust Ranger. Meet 10.51 Brookwood Stn. (NR W’loo 10.07, please check times). Cars not needed. Bring lunch.

25 Sun. Ornithology. Wormwood Scrubs for bird song & identification with The Urban Birder. David Lindo. Meet 09.30 East Acton Stn. (Central). TQ216812 Bring lunch. (No toilets).

25 Sun. Botany. Low tide creek walk. Nick Bertrand. Meet 10.30 entrance Greenwich Stn. TQ381774 (NR Charing X, Waterloo East or London Bridge). Cars not needed. Bring lunch. No need to bring wellingtons as waders will be provided. Hosted by the Creekside Education Trust. View leaflet here.

25 Sun. Ecology and Entomology. Thursley Common NNR, Surrey. Stuart Cole. Meet 10.30 The Moat car park SU900417. Bring lunch. Car sharing organised in advance via our message board:
London-nhs-invertebrates@yahoogroups.com - (For details how to join see Message Boards page. )

31 Sat. Ecology and Entomology. Hutchinson’s & Chapel Banks, South Croydon for small blue, dark green fritillary, green hairstreak, grizzled & dingy skipper. Gavin Hawgood. Meet 10.30 New Addington Tram stop OR 10.45 Jct. Featherbed Lane/Farleigh Down Cres.(TQ378620). Bring lunch, hand lens.
No toilets. Trams to New Addington can be caught from outside East Croydon station (NR from Victoria or London Bridge). There are also connecting trams from Elmers End or Beckenham Junction stations (change at Sandilands tram stop for the New Addington tram). Tram map and timetables available from TfL website.

JUNE 2008

4 Wed. 18:30 Camley Street Natural Park, 12 Camley Street, NW1. (8 mins walk from Kings X Stn, see MAP). Bumblebees for Beginners. Marc Carlton (020 8659 5674). Introduction to bumblebees and how to identify them. No previous knowledge required. To be followed up by field trip on 15 June. Ecology and Entomology.

7 Sat. Botany. Benfleet Marshes, Essex. Tim Pyner. Meet 10.30 Benfleet Stn. (NR Fenchurch St.) TQ777859. Cars needed. Bring lunch.

7 Sat. Ornithology. Cheshunt, Herts. for bird song (nightingale & warblers) & hobby. Pete Lambert. Meet 09.30 Cheshunt Stn. TL366023 (NR L’pool St). Bring lunch. (Toilets).

8 Sun. Ornithology. Stoke Newington Reservoir for sedge & reed warblers. Garry James. Meet 09.30 Castle Climbing Centre, Green Lanes. TQ323870. Manor House Stn. (Picc.) then walk south down Green Lanes. AM only. (No toilets).

8 Sun. Ecology and Entomology. Bushy Park for general entomology. Stuart Cole. Meet 10.30 Hampton Wick Stn. TQ174697 (NR W’loo). Bring lunch, hand lens.

14 Sat. Ornithology. Brent Reservoir for breeding summer migrants, common tern & grebes. Roy Beddard. Meet 09.00 Cool Oak Lane Bridge TQ219877. (NR Hendon). AM only. (No toilets).

15 Sun. Ornithology. Forty Hall and Hillyfields for nuthatch, treecreper, woodpeckers & stock dove. Andrew Peel. Meet 10.30 Gordon Hill Stn. TQ318977 (NR Moorgate/ Kings X). Bring lunch. (No toilets).

15 Sun. Ecology and Entomology. Farthing Down for bumblebees. Marc Carlton. Follow–up to indoor meeting on 4 June, please ring (020 8659 5674) to book a place if not at June 4th meeting.
Meet 11.15, ‘down’ platform at Coulsdon South Stn. TQ298590 (NR Vic.) Bring lunch. (Toilets at TQ301571). Cars not needed.

17 Tues. “Haggerston to the City: a 150th Anniversary Evening Walk” - John Swindells.
On this day 150 years ago the Haggerstone Entomological Society (which later developed into the LNHS) was founded. Join us for this evening walk to celebrate our anniversary. Further details to be announced in the Society’s Newsletter.

21 Sat. Botany. Ham River Lands. Pippa Hyde (020 8977 4816). Meet 10.30 Teddington Lock (TQ168717). Nearest Stn. Teddington (NR W’loo) TQ160708. Cars not needed. Bring lunch.

21 Sat. 12.00. Camley Street Natural Park, 12 Camley Street, NW1. (8 mins walk from Kings X Stn: see MAP.) Identification of flowering plants for beginners, with emphasis on grasses. Mark Spencer. Bring specimens etc. Bring Lunch (tea & coffee available). Botany.

22 Sun. Ecology and Entomology. Ruislip Woods NNR for butterflies & other insects. Ray Uffen. Meet 10:30 Ruislip Lido TQ086893. MAP H13 bus from Ruislip Stn. (Met/Picc.) Bring lunch. Joint with Butterfly Conservation. RESERVE DETAILS.

25 Weds. Botany. Pot luck in the East End. John Swindells (020 8981 3553). Contact no sooner than 7 June for details of venue. Meet 18.30. Cars not needed.

28 Sat. Ornithology. Selsdon Woods for marsh tit, bullfinch, sparrowhawk, perhaps hobby. Ernest Thomason. Meet 10.00 Selsdon Woods Car Park, off Old Farleigh Rd. (TQ357616). East Croydon Stn. (NR London Bridge, then 409 bus to Bird Sanctuary, Old Farleigh Rd. OR T33 to Sandpiper Rd.) AM only. (Toilets).

28 Sat. Ecology and Entomology. Horsenden Hill for Butterflies inc. White-letter hairstreak. Andy Culshaw & David Howdon. Meet 09.45 Perivale Stn. (Central) OR 10.00 Horsenden Farm (TQ163840). Bring lunch for optional full day. Joint with Butterfly Conservation.

29 Sun. Botany. Wisley Common, Surrey and nearby sites. George Hounsome. Meet 10.30 south side West Byfleet Stn. (NR W’loo) (TQ042611). Cars needed. Bring lunch.

29 Sun. Ecology and Entomology. Isle of Sheppey, Kent. John Badmin (Royal Entomological Socirty) for dykes & marshes. Meet 09.15 Sittingbourne Stn. (NR Vic.) OR 10.30 in parking area southern end Brabazon/Church Rd., Eastchurch (TQ981689) next to HM Elmley Prison. MAP. Joint meeting with Kent Field Club & Royal Entomological Soc. during National Insect Week. Bring lunch. Car sharing organised in advance via our message board london-nhs-invertebrates@yahoogroups.com (For details how to join see message boards page.)

JULY 2008

5 Sat. Ornithology. Walthamstow Reservoir for breeding shelduck, little egret, grebes, ducks & common tern. Pete Lambert. Meet 09.00 Tottenham Hale Stn. (Vic. U’grnd. OR NR L’pool St.) or 09.15 at Reservoir. (TQ350893.) Bring lunch. (Toilets).

5 Sat. Botany. Farthing Down & Happy Valley: Introduction to Chalk Grassland Flowers. Suitable for beginners, no previous knowledge needed. Marc Carlton. Meet 11.15 on ‘down’ (i.e. east side) platform, Coulsdon South Stn (NR Vic.) TQ298590. Bring lunch. Cars not needed. (Toilets at TQ301571 ).

12 Sat. Ornithology. Rye Meads for breeding kingfisher, butterflies & dragonflies. Roy Woodward. Meet 10.00 Rye House Stn. (NR L’pool St.) OR 10.15 at Rye Meads RSPB Reserve TL389103. Bring lunch. (Toilets).

12 Sat. BOOKHAM COMMON FIELD STUDY DAY. Dragonflies & other insects.
Neil Anderson (020 8578 2464). Meet 10.30 Bookham Stn. (NR W’loo). Bring lunch. Boots recommended.
There is more information about Field Study Days at Bookham on our Surveys page.
19 Sat. Ecology and Entomology. Langham Lakes, Surrey for dragonflies & invertebrates. Neil Anderson. Meet 10:30 Egham Stn. (NR W’loo). Bring lunch.

20 Sun. Ornithology. Beddington for tree sparrow & migrants (ruff, green sandpiper). Derek Coleman. Meet 09.30 Hackbridge Stn. (NR W’loo). Wellies if wet. (No toilets).

20 Sun. Botany. Blackwater Valley, Surrey for riparian flora & aquatics. Fred Rumsey. Meet 10.30 Blackwater Stn. (NR W’loo) (SU853599) MAP. Cars not needed. Bring lunch.

23 Weds. Botany. Coldfall Wood. David Bevan. Meet 18.30 entrance in Creighton Ave. opp. Ringwood Ave. (TQ279901). Nearest U’grnd. E. Finchley (Northern). Cars not needed.

26 Sat. Ecology and Entomology. Trent Park for butterflies & other flying insects. Robert Callf. Meet 11:30 Cockfosters U’grnd. Stn.(Picc.) OR 12:00 at car Park near cafeteria (TQ281968). Bring lunch & binocs.

27 Sun. Botany. Grasses in Richmond Park. Tom Cope. Meet 10.30 Pembroke Lodge car park (TQ197728). Nearest Stns. Richmond or North Sheen (NR W’loo). Cars not needed. Bring lunch.

AUGUST 2008

3 Sun. Botany. Recording the plants in a selected 1km square in London. Mark Spencer. Meet 10.30 Warwick Ave. U’grnd. Stn. (TQ261821). Cars not needed. Bring lunch.

9 Sat. Ornithology. Crossness for migrants & possible barn owl. Des McKenzie. Meet 09.00 Belvedere Stn. (NR charing X, W’loo East or London Bridge). Bring lunch. (No toilets).

9 Sat. BOOKHAM COMMON FIELD STUDY DAY. Grasshoppers & other insects.
Ian Menzies (020 8399 6000) & Gavin Hawgood (020 8653 7922). Meet 10.30 Bookham Stn. (NR W’loo). Bring lunch. Boots recommended.

10 Sun. Ecology and Entomology. Jubilee Woods, Surrey (TQ166621) 'Probably London's best site for woodland butterflies'. Roger Hawkins. Meet 10:30 Chessington South Stn. (NR W’loo). Bring lunch.

16 Sat. Botany. Surrey Docks. “At the end of the line”. Where truly wild habitats have been replaced by smaller, sweeter chocolate box confections. A tribute to the habitat creators’ art. But London's real wildlife doesn't give up. Nick Bertrand. Meet 10.30 Canada Water U’grnd. Stn. (Access from Jubilee line only: Note that the E. London Line is currently closed). TQ354795 Cars not needed. Bring lunch. Joint with Creekside Education Trust.

16 Sat. Ornithology. Pagham Harbour, Sussex for waders, migrants. Neil Anderson. Coach trip from Embankment Undergound Stn. (Pick-up point in road alongside south entrance to station) 08.00. Bring lunch. £14.00 to leader in advance (details above). £1.00 donation also required. RESERVE DETAILS

17 Sun. Ecology and Entomology. Hampton Court & Home Parks for general entomology. Stuart Cole. Meet 10.30 Hampton Court Stn. (NR W'loo). Bring lunch, hand lens.

23 Sat. Ornithology. Rainham Marsh for migrant waders, hobby, yellow legged gull & yellow wagtail. David Darrell-Lambert. Meet 09.00 Purfleet Stn. (NR F’church St.) AM only. (Toilets).

23 Sat. BOOKHAM COMMON FIELD STUDY DAY. Spiders.
Oliver Crundall (020 8542 9835). Meet 10.30 Bookham Stn. Bring lunch. Boots recommended.
24 Sun. Ecology and Entomology. Beddington Sewage Farm for late summer invertebrates. Sarah Barnes. Meet 10:30 Hackbridge Stn. (NR Vic.) Bring lunch, hand lens.

30 Sat. Ornithology. East India Dock for terns, kingfisher, passage waders & maybe black redstart. George Kalli. Meet 09.30 East India Stn. (DLR) Bring snack, long half day. (Toilets).

30 Sat. Ecology and Entomology. Richmond Park NNR for entomology & general natural history. Neil Anderson. Meet 10.30 Richmond Gate (top of Richmond Hill TQ185737). NR or Distr. U’grnd. Richmond. Bring lunch. (Toilets). RESERVE INFORMATION

This one-day conference, organised in association with the Linnean Society and the Society for the History of Natural History will take place on Saturday 11 October 2008.

Download programme and booking form HERE (PDF)

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PROGRAMME OF EVENTS : APRIL - AUGUST 2008

APRIL 2008

MAY 2008

JUNE 2008

JULY 2008

AUGUST 2008