Colchester
Natural History Society
EVENTS
Field Trips
Come along and join us for an enjoyable trip. You do not have to be an expert as everyone has varying degrees of knowledge and interests. Bring along a packed lunch if you plan to stay for the day, a drink, suitable clothing and footwear (check with the leader to find out if wellies will be needed).
​
Coach Trips
Unless stated otherwise you do not need to book for most field trips and there is no charge. One exception is the coach trip. For coach trips please email Pascale Genevois to book a seat.
​
Indoor Meetings (Sep-April)
Our talks are free to members and non members alike, but donations are accepted for refreshments. Unless otherwise stated all indoor meetings are held at the Cardinal Bourne Hall in Priory Street, Colchester [see map] and usually start at 8.00pm. The Hall is situated at the East Hill end of Priory Street with car parking almost opposite by the Roman Wall at the cost of £2.
Please remember there are special events such as the Christmas Social in December & AGM in January each year which start earlier. Don’t get caught out!
​
Sat, 16 DecColchester16 Dec 2023, 19:30 – 22:00Colchester, D'Arcy Rd, Colchester CO2 8BB, UKBeing held at The Old Heath Community Centre. A chance to meet fellow CNHS members and the committee for an evening of food, drink, talk and of course - the raffle!
Sun, 21 JanEssex Wildlife Trust, Abberton Reservoir21 Jan 2024, 10:00 – 13:00Essex Wildlife Trust, Abberton Reservoir, The Rows, Church Rd, Layer de la Haye, Colchester CO2 0EU, UKJoin Dougal for a mid-winter visit to Essex Wildlife Trust's Abberton reservoir reserve in search of winter wildfowl such as Smew and Goosander, hopefully some Bewick’s Swans too. £2 donation will be requested from non-members of EWT or CNHS.
Tue, 30 JanColchester30 Jan 2024, 19:30 – 21:30Colchester, D'Arcy Rd, Colchester CO2 8BB, UKYour chance to hear what members of the Society been been getting up to during the past year, including reports on plants, birds, mammals and a range of insects.
Tue, 27 FebOld Heath Community Centre27 Feb 2024, 19:30 – 21:30Old Heath Community Centre, D'Arcy Rd, Colchester CO2 8BB, UKSven Wair, the Society Secretary, will explore the ways in which plant life occupies and colonises the spaces and structures that we create around us.
Sat, 09 MarMistley09 Mar 2024, 10:15 – 14:00Mistley, High St, Mistley, Manningtree CO11 1HE, UKThe walk will follow part of the route described by Russell Leavett in ‘Self-guided Walks’ in the ‘Members Only’ section of our Website. At this time of the year estuary birds will be in good numbers, ranging from Goldeneye, Red-breasted Mergansers, through to Pintail and Brent Geese.
Tue, 26 MarOld Heath Community Centre26 Mar 2024, 19:30 – 21:30Old Heath Community Centre, D'Arcy Rd, Colchester CO2 8BB, UKThe importance of urban habitats, including gardens, will be discussed alongside how to attract bees to the garden with videos of intriguing behaviour.
Tue, 30 AprOld Heath Community Centre30 Apr 2024, 19:30 – 21:30Old Heath Community Centre, D'Arcy Rd, Colchester CO2 8BB, UKYou are invited to present a short illustrated presentation on any wildlife subject of your choice - this could be showing a selection of photographs on a particular subject, tor you might wish to update members on a project that you are working on.
Tue, 28 NovOld Heath Community Centre28 Nov 2023, 19:30 – 21:30Old Heath Community Centre, D'Arcy Rd, Colchester CO2 8BB, UKInsights into the species most in decline, those on the increase, possible reasons for these changes, conservation action needed, as well as describing the current mothing scene in North-East Essex
Sat, 18 NovWivenhoe18 Nov 2023, 09:30Wivenhoe, Walter Radcliffe Rd, Wivenhoe, Colchester CO7 9WS, UKTo book please contact Michael Padmore on 07936 325603. The Colne Estuary is a SSSI of international importance for wintering Brent Geese and supports large numbers of Avocets and Black-tailed Godwits along with a good range of other waterbirds.
Tue, 14 NovZOOM event14 Nov 2023, 19:30 – 21:00ZOOM eventProfessor Carl Sayer of the Norfolk Ponds Project gives his lively talk followed by the film Ghost Ponds which Film Director Amanda Sosnowski has given us permission to show. Book your FREE ticket now.
Sat, 11 NovChanterelle Car Park, Highwoods CP11 Nov 2023, 13:30 – 15:30Chanterelle Car Park, Highwoods CP, Chanterelle, Highwoods, Colchester CO4 9RY, UKJoin fungi expert Sarah Manning on this stroll around the woods in the vicinity of the Chanterelle car park area of High Woods Country Park discovering the fascinating mushrooms and toadstools that grow here. Book ith Sarah on 07702 607898.
Sun, 05 NovHazeleigh Wood05 Nov 2023, 10:00 – 15:00Hazeleigh Wood, Woodham Mortimer, Maldon CM9 6GT, UKContact Sarah Manning on 07702 607898 to book and for further information, especially regarding footwear and the nature of the site at the time.
Tue, 31 OctOld Heath Community Centre31 Oct 2023, 19:30 – 21:30Old Heath Community Centre, D'Arcy Rd, Colchester CO2 8BB, UKRob will describe why the site is so special and will tell us about some of the scarce and notable species that have been found on the Ranges.
Sun, 29 OctHumberlands (W3W hazy.microfilm.vets)29 Oct 2023, 10:00Humberlands (W3W hazy.microfilm.vets) , Harwich Rd, Lawford, UKJoin fungi expert Sarah Manning for a walk around this interesting site with a wide variety of habitats. Booking essential on lizc@cnhs.uk or 01206 394184.- Sat, 28 OctColchester28 Oct 2023, 13:30 – 15:30 BSTColchester, 174 Turner Rd, Colchester CO4 5JR, UKJoin the Society fungi recorder, Sarah Manning, for a stroll around the Country Park close to the Visitor Centre. Contact Sarah on 07702 607898 to book and for further information.
- Sat, 14 OctWivenhoe Woods14 Oct 2023, 13:30 BST – 15 Oct 2023, 15:30 BSTWivenhoe Woods, Rosabelle Ave, Wivenhoe, Colchester CO7 9PA, UKMeet Sarah at the free car park in Rosabelle Avenue, Wivenhoe, CO7 9PA (TM035223) for approximately a one mile walk around the wood.
- Tue, 26 SeptOld Heath Community Centre26 Sept 2023, 19:30 – 21:30Old Heath Community Centre, D'Arcy Rd, Colchester CO2 8BB, UKAn introduction to the fascinating yet relatively poorly understood kingdom of fungi, exploring what they are, what they do, and why they're vital to the planet and everything on it.
Sun, 24 SeptGosbeck's Archeological Park24 Sept 2023, 10:00 – 12:00Gosbeck's Archeological Park, Stanway, Colchester CO3 0SJ, UKJoin the Ranger to discover what wildlife can be seen across the conservation grassland side of this site. We will be discovering what wildlife is using the site at this time of year along with identifying some of the flora in the grassland.
Your health and safety
As part of our insurance requirements we do occasionally have to review our procedures at events to ensure that we not only look after our members, but ensure that the committee and walk leaders are not left open to malicious prosecution for accidents that can occasionally occur. The committee is now required to provide Risk Assessments as part of that insurance. This should not affect anyone coming out with us or attending an event, but you may be asked to listen to a short safety talk before setting off. A common sense approach to safety is encouraged to avoid the need for more prescriptive health and safety regulations that could affect our ability to do the activities we have enjoyed since the Society was formed in 1953.
First aiders
Some of us are already trained as first aiders by the organisations for which we work, however it is not a requirement for CNHS to provide a qualified first aider for walks. Despite this, the committee feels it would be sensible to provide a portable first aid kit so all walk leaders will carry one with them. Members are still advised to take sensible precautions to ensure their own safety when attending organised events.