Winter indoor lectures 2025-26
Arnside and District Natural History Society - Winter indoor lectures 2025-26
Indoor lectures at Arnside WI and Village Hall, Orchard Road, Arnside
Lectures start at 7.30 pm, doors open 7.00 pm unless stated otherwise
Thursday 11th September 2025 7.30 pm
“Bears, Beavers and Bustards; How nature restoration is possible, and happening now”
In this illustrated talk author Karen Lloyd will be talking about her book, 'Abundance: Nature in Recovery,' and the projects and places she visits across Europe from Scotland and the Lake District to Romania to show how people are working to restore nature and the places where nature is doing it for itself. Karen’s books will be available to buy after the talk, but only cash payments can be taken.
Thursday 9th October 2025 7.30 pm
Richard Bate will be talking about our local orchid flora and in particular his discovery of the Ghost Orchid.
Thursday 13th November 2025 7.30 pm
Guy Broome will give a talk on Moths in Cumbria and climate change: genetics and adaptation.
There have been dramatic recent changes in our Cumbrian moths, both for distribution and abundance, and huge concern over our upland cold adapted species that are clinging on by moving north and to higher altitudes. Equally there has been mass increase in some species moving up from the south. The talk will include some discussion on genetics and other mechanisms that may allow adaptation and mitigation.
Thursday December 11th (Jacob’s join) 2025 7.00 pm. Doors open 6.30 pm
Bob Hamnett will talk about the current situation on Red Squirrels in the Arnside & Silverdale National Landscape.
Thursday January 8th 7.30 pm
Planting for Pollinators. Explore the world of pollinators with Cumbria Wildlife Trust and how we can help them in our gardens and community spaces. Learn more about the Planting for Pollinators project, funded by Westmorland and Furness Council, that is creating pollinator-friendly habitat with communities in the South Lakes.
Thursday February 12th 7.30 pm
Beatrix Potter, Mycologist – Helen Speed will give a talk on aspects of Beatrix Potter’s mycological work and look at the earlier part of her life (primarily to around 1900).
Thursday March 12th 7.30 pm
Lynne Farrell will give a short talk about recent botanical recording in the local area. David Shaw, our new botanical recorder will also be present.
Thursday April 9th 7.30 pm
AGM followed by an update on the Arnside verges restoration project by Steve Porter titled 'Weeding out the truth about wildflower verges'