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READING RSPB LOCAL GROUP NEWS

NEWS FOR SEPTEMBER MEETING - 9th September

Welcome to our first meeting of the new season of talks and activities by the Reading RSPB local group. By now, you should have received our newsletter and new format programme for the 08-09 season. If not, please see Carl Feltham.

Because the Blood Transfusion Service is next door, we are using the smaller of the two halls tonight. Next month we will be back in the normal ‘larger’ hall. So please bear with us if it’s a bit of a squeeze.

Our first outdoor trip will be a car trip to Wildmoor Heath on Sunday 14th More details are available from Clive Hill.

As you will have seen in the programme, we have more events this year, so why not volunteer to help out at a couple. The first in Newbury Show on the 20-21 September – please see Jen Smith for more information.

Carl is still attending the Purley Farmers Market for us each month, at The Barn off of Beech Road. If you can spend the morning helping him out he would be very grateful.

Our indoor meeting next month, we welcome back Mick Mockler to the group to look at the Frozen Wastes. We hope to see you then.

NEWS FOR AUGUST 08

The programme and newsletter of the Reading RSPB Local group will be distributed in the next few days, and the website with the new programme will be updated very shortly. If you do not receive yours, please let Carl Feltham know.

NEWS FOR MARCH MEETING - 11th March

Welcome to our March meeting tonight we welcome Keith Offord for a talk titled ‘Raptorphilia’. Our March outdoor trip happened last weekend when we enjoyed the sights and sounds of Poole Harbour followed by the afternoon at the RSPB reserve at Arne. Our next outdoor trip in April is our annual weekend away, this time visiting Gibraltar Point. Unfortunately all the places are full this year – those lucky enough to be going please pass on the remainder of the cost to Dave Glover as soon as possible.

If anyone would like to help Carl Feltham out at the Farmer’s Market in Purley on Saturday April 12th please see Carl tonight.

Also on the 12th April the Brighton Office of the RSPB has arranged an event in Prospect Park, Tilehurst. Please see Jen Smith for more details and any offers of help would be greatly appreciated.

We’ve been invited to attend an event at Wyevale Garden Centre, Henley on Sunday April 27th focused around recruiting membership, leaflet distribution etc. If you can offer please contact Carl Feltham or George Nobel for more information.

Our May indoor meeting is our AGM followed by an RSPB speaker from the Brighton Regional Office. The AGM is your chance to tell us what we can do better, and we can stop doing etc. So please start thinking about things you would like to see or hear about. For example, is there a particular speaker or subject we could cover at an indoor meeting or a particular place to visit on an outdoor trip? The committee are discussing a possible trip further afield perhaps for 5 days - would you be interested in going? If so where?

24 January 08

I am advised that there is a public meeting to discuss the proposed Prudential Pingewood development at the Cunning Man, Burghfield Bridge, on Saturday 26th January at 2.00p.m.
Dave Glover

Access to RSPB OTMOOR RESERVE.
DEC 07

I am writing to let you know about the proposed closure of Otmoor Lane. This is the lane that leads to the Otmoor nature reserve car park, from Beckley.
The lane will be closed from:
7 January 2008 - 14 April 2008
Monday to Friday between 0830-1630
Saturday 0830-1300
Thames Water is installing a sewage pipeline down Otmoor lane for the residents of Beckley. Pedestrian access is still permitted, however it is a mile walk to the reserve entrance from Beckley and parking in the village is limited.
If visitors are really keen to access the reserve during the closed period, public footpaths and bridleways to the reserve will remain open, however they do get very muddy, and parking may be difficult in some places.
We are sorry for the inconvenience this work is going to cause. Unfortunately, the RSPB is unable to influence when this work is going to be undertaken or the lane closure times.
If anyone has specific questions please feel free to contact the reserve office on 01865 351163 or email otmoor.admin@rspb.org.uk
The starling roost is building, but they are tending to go straight down into the reedbed, good numbers of lapwing and golden plover moving around the moor today, other highlights include peregrine, pintail, stonechats and merlin.