Summer Field Excursions 2017

Programme of Summer Field Excursions 2017

April

Thur 20th April

River Invertebrates of Lupton Beck with Jayne Wilkinson of SCRT. Meet 10.00am W.I. or 10:30am at Lupton Beck (SD 552809).

New - Meeting on the river to last until lunch time. There may be a walk in the afternoon in the area but nothing specifically organised, so it will be a ad hoc arrangement on the day.

Parking on A65 opposite Dorothy Wightmans, just up from Plough at Lupton or Puddlemore Lane. (SD 546808)

PM

Mon 24th April

Bird watching walk from Arnside W.I. A walk of between 3 and 6 miles to be determined on the day. Meet 10.00am. Leader John Webb.

Walk from the W.I. to look at a variety of habitats in the Arnside area, starting on the estuary, then following the line of the former railway line beside Arnside Marsh, until cutting through to the woodland Local Nature Reserve of Teddy Heights. The route then takes us across pasture towards Silverdale Moss, and a decision to be made on the day depending on the weather and the wishes of the party; either towards Gait Barrows, Hawes Water and Middlebarrow Quarry, or an abbreviated route North of Silverdale Moss to Black Dyke.

JW

May 

Wed 3rd May

 Spring flowers along the River Lune with Julie Clarke. Meet at W.I. 9.45am or Halton Station (SD 503645) at 10.15am.      

JW

Wed 10th May

 Small mammal trapping. Gail Armstrong’s paddock and nearby woodland (Burton Well Scroggs) with Bob Hamnett. Meet W.I. 10.00am or 1 Bottoms Lane, Silverdale (SD 479750) AT 10:15am.

 Bob H

Wed 17th May 

Birds of Barbondale. Meet WI 10.00am, or Barbondale SD656828 at 10.45am. Leader Keith Williams (Mob 07771182656)

JW

Wed 24th  May

Farming and conservation management for Wildlife with Kevin Scott of CWT. Morning at Gosling Syke farm (NY409591), afternoon at Eycott Hill (NY 394301). Meet 9:30am W.I. or 11am at Gosling Syke.  

PM

Wed 31st May

Scar Close Limestone Pavement. Leader Colin Newlands. Meet W.I. 10.00am or entrance to Scar Close NNR (SD745777) at 11.00am.    

If we are going to visit Scar Close at 11am then I think we should meet at the entrance to the NNR on the Ingleton-Ribblehead Road in order to make the most of the day.

Meeting place: Lay-by on B6255 Ingleton-Hawes Road at Grid Reference SD745777 (approximately 200 metres up-hill on the left hand side from the Hill Inn if travelling towards Ribblehead from Ingleton). Please note that parking here is very limited so car sharing is advisable if possible.

General information and what to bring:

On this walk we will be exploring the habitats and species to be found on and around Scar Close. These include limestone grasslands, limestone pavements and blanket mire. Therefore, walking boots (or other sturdy/waterproof footwear) with a good grip are advisable. With the ever present risk of ash dieback (Chalara fraxinea) spreading within the Yorkshire Dales, please make sure your boots are clean of mud and plant debris.

Scar Close is on the limestone bench above Chapel-le-Dale and the area is open and quite exposed. Warm, waterproof and windproof clothing is essential in case of inclement weather. If the weather is hot and sunny, then please pack a hat and sun cream

Please bring with you a packed lunch and hot/cold drink. If you have a wild flower field guide, a hand lens (x10 magnification is ideal) or a camera, then please feel free to bring these along as well.

The walking is mostly on the flat or gently sloping ground, but we will be spending most of the time, weather permitting, on Scar Close limestone pavement which can be difficult underfoot due to the frequent grikes.

The nearest toilets are at the Tourist Information Centre car park in Ingleton.

If the weather is poor and too wet to go onto the limestone pavement, then we have the option of coming back to our reserve base at Colt Park Barn for refreshments and having a walk around the meadows and pastures there instead. If you need any further details, please feel free to contact me.

PM

June

Mon 5th June

Ormsgill Slag Banks (Leader Chris Winnick) and Sandscale Haws (Leader Neil Forbes). Meet W.I. at 9:30am or OSB Car Park (SD192712) at 10:30am. Finish around 2.30pm.

We will meet at ORMSGILL SLAG BANK Car Park at 10.30am.

Dirctions: from Lindal in Furnace follow the A590 through three R-a-B’s towards Barrow. Pass industrial buildings on both sides in the 40mph zone. Just after passing the left sign to Ormsgill look for a small ‘dead end’ car park entrance on the right....just before a red sandstone wall..... for our meeting place at GR SD 192 712.

The target species will be the rare and recently re-introduced Small Blue butterfly and also the Common Blue and Dingy skipper. The site is also rich in wild flowers and grasses that like growing on thin calcareous substrate.....ie slag! The circular walk is on flat or gently sloping land and will take approx. 1hr 45mins.

We will then drive for 10mins.to have lunch at SANDSCALE HAWES where we will have a guided walk by the warden to hopefully see Natterjack toadlets, orchids and other interesting sand dunes species on this nature reserve.

Please bring stout footwear/ waterproofs should it rain, drink and packed lunch. Walking at Sandscale Hawes will be on flat or gentle slopes.

CONTACT Chris Winnick on 01539 728254 for further details or if poor weather ring before 9.00am on the day.

CW

11th to 16th June

Norfolk/Suffolk Residential Field Trip.

CW

Thur 22nd June

Meathop & Foulshaw Mosses with CWT Warden. Meet W.I. at 9:30am or Foulshaw Moss car park (SD458838) at 10.00am, finish around 3pm.

Targets, White faced darter and Large Heath. Lunch at Latterbarrow then on to Meathop Moss.

Meet at the usual CWT FOULSHAW MOSS car park off the A590 at 10.00am....best to approach from the east but beware the short notice [CWT sign] to make the left turn off this fast road.

The new warden will show us around looking out for rare Large Heath butterflies and the even rarer White-faced Darter dragonflies.

We plan to have our packed lunch at the nearby CWT Latterbarrow reserve [5 min.drive] with its wonderful wild-flowers and freshly emerged Northern Brown Argus butterflies before visiting Meathop Moss CWT nature reserve another 5 min away by car.

Note walking at Foulshaw and Meathop is on the level but you may need ‘wellies’ as it could be very wet! [Best to car share as very limited car parking at Meathop.]

Contact Chris Winnick as for 5th June.

CW

Tue 27th June

Insects of Leighton Moss with Steve Garland. Meet W.I. 10.00am or Leighton Moss car park (SD477750) 10.15am. Easy walking around the reserve. Aim to finish at 2.00pm but can continue later if people wish to stay on. 

DT

July

Mon 3rd July

(please note change of date from original card)

Holme Park Quarry for High Brown Fritillary. Meet W.I. 10.00am or the quarry Car Park (SD534788) at 10:30am. Finish  2pm.

Note this visit to HOLME PARK QUARRY is to a working quarry.....bring a hard hat and hi-vis jacket if you have them.....otherwise they can provide for those who do not have these items.

Directions: from the M6 junction 36 take the A65 [towards Kirkby Lonsdale] but turn almost immediately right towards Burton-in-Kendal onto the A6070. After 1-2 miles look for the private quarry entrance on the left.....taking this access road to park in the car park on the left. Beware of large trucks.

Report to the office by signing-in giving your car registration. Car share if possible.

NOTE keep to the designated pedestrian walk ways and keep close together if we have to wait for our guide.

We will walk around the perimeter of the quarry looking for the very rare High Brown Fritillary and many other species of butterfly including Grayling.[If they are not blasting it may be possible to visit the quarry island.]

You will need boots, a packed lunch and drink and suitable weather related apparel. Walking is on flat and gentle slopes.

If time and good weather there is an optional visit afterwards to the adjacent Holme stinted Pastures. [This may include some moderate slopes.]

Contact Chris Winnick as for 5th June.

CW

Thu 13th July

Bolton Fell “Cumbria Bog Project” field visit follow-up to Nov’16 lecture with Keeley Spate. Wellies required. Meet WI at 09.00am or NY486699 at 10.30am.

Latest update 11/7/17, from Keeley

This is just to confirm that I will be meeting you at 9.30am outside the WI hall in Arnside on Thursday.

It is approx. 1h.30 drive from Arnside to Bolton Fell Moss. There are no toilets so we may need to make a scheduled toilet stop somewhere near Bolton Fell Moss. We can talk about that when we meet on Thursday.

The weather looks like it should be good, so just remember a sun hat and sun cream. It can get a bit midge in the wooded parts, so insect repellent might be a wise move too!

DT

Mon 17th Jul

Cattle Grazing in Gait Barrows & Coldwell Meadow. Leader Bill Grayson. Meet W.I. 9:45am or Gait Barrows (SD478774) 10.00am.

Meet at the public car park at Gaitbarrow NNR at 10.00am. Car share if possible due to limited parking.

We will have a guided walk around Colwell Meadow and Gaitbarrow meadow to see how Bill Grayson’s organic cattle grazing can benefit good management for habitat improvement and wildlife.

Bill is a fund of knowledge and a national expert on this fascinating and often overlooked topic.

Due to finish at lunchtime but depending on weather and interest there will be an optional Brown Hairstreak hunt for those who wish to  stay. [suggest a packed lunch for those who stay.]

Contact Chris Winnick as for 5th June.

CW

Fri 28th July

Hoverflies of Myers Allotment with Brian Hugo. Meet Arnside W.I. at 9:45am or SD 476750 at 10.00am. Parking on the Row (very limited) or at RSPB Leighton Moss.  Morning only

DT

August

Fri 4th Aug

Hay Bridge Nature Reserve guided walk with Chris Berry. Meet W.I. 9:45am or Hay Bridge Car Park (SD337876) at 10:30am. Finish 3pm. There is £5 charge for this event.      

Directions: Take the A590 to Newby Bridge and on to Backbarrow then after one mile turn right at the sign to Bouth. In Bouth pass the White Hart and head north to Burn Knott where the minor road turns sharp left.....here take the right turn [i.e. straight on!] onto an even more minor road for Low Hay Bridge. After about one mile [past a small lake on the left] park in the car park at the end of the road on the left.... with the reserve building/meeting place on the right. GR SD 337 876. Satnav. LA12 8JG.

We will meet at 10.30am at HAY BRIDGE NATURE RESERVE for a guided walk by professional guide Chris Berry. Chris guides for a living and is highly recommended so we have agreed with him that there will be a charge of £5.00 per person. 

Chris Berry will cover all aspects of natural history at this outstanding charitable trust nature reserve run by the ‘John Strutt Foundation’

The site is a mosaic of woodland, grassland, heathland, meadow and moss and is especially known for its birds [including Ospreys, Flycatchers and Honey Buzzards] wild flowers, reptiles, [especially Grass Snakes] and Red Deer.

There is also an indoor display area and museum, toilets and somewhere to make a hot drink.

Bring a packed lunch and suitable clothing/footwear. 

Contact Chris Winnick as for 5th June.

CW

Tue 8 Aug

Conservation work on Arnside Knott (Scotch Argus etc.) with Craig McCoy. Meet Arnside W.I. at 9:45am or Arnside Knott NT car park (SD 450 774) at 10.00am.  

Meet at 10.00am at the National Trust car park at ARNSIDE KNOTT for a guided walk by the NT warden Craig McCoy.

The target species will be late Summer butterflies especially High Brown and Dark green Fritillaries and Scotch Argus.

Craig will tell us much about the way the NT manage this site for natural history visiting parts you may not have been to before!

Bring a packed lunch/drink and suitable footwear/clothing.

There will be some gentle walking but also some gentle to moderate slopes to navigate.

DT

Wed 16 Aug

Moth morning, Meet at Mike’s house (SD461737) last bungalow before Jenny Brown’s Point 10am. Leader Brian Hancock. 

MW

Fri 25 Aug

Leighton Moss. Getting the most from your bat detector followed by bat walk on reserve with Gail Armstrong, Meet 18:45 at The Holt, Leighton Moss (SD477750). Finish by 21:45  approx.      

GA

Tue 29th August

Flora New and Old – Eaves Wood and Middlebarrow. Meet W.I. 10.00am or Eaves Wood car park (SD 472759) at 10.15am. Leader Roger Spooner.

RS

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Arnside and District Natural History Society
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