Colchester
Natural History Society
EVENTS
Field Trips
All field trips will need to be booked this year - there is no charge unless stated differently.
Come along and join us for an enjoyable part day or a whole day out, you don’t have to be an expert. We are a friendly group with varying degrees of knowledge and interests. Everyone is welcome, including non-members too. Please 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). Sunscreen and a hat are thoroughly recommended at appropriate times. Please take care of your own Covid security and obviously the Society will adhere to any new restrictions, should they become necessary.
Indoor Meetings (Sep-April)
The Society is on the move again and is heading to Old Heath this autumn for its monthly indoor meetings. In early 2022 with Covid still about the committee felt that the Parnell room in the Friends’ Meeting House was too small for our members to feel comfortable in during well attended meetings.
We looked around for an alternative venue and have chosen Old Heath Community Centre in D’Arcy Road, Old Heath, CO2 8BB for our forthcoming monthly indoor meetings. The Centre is at the eastern end of D’Arcy Road, close to Old Heath Road, which is the main road from town to Rowhedge – not far from the junction off to the Whitehall Industrial Estate. Unfortunately, the hall is not in the town centre but is located on the south-east side of town with plenty of on-street parking close by. The hall has parking for five cars and a disabled space too. The modern spacious hall, is energy efficient and warm with a fully functional kitchen for us to use, as well as toilets.
Sun, 08 JanDaisy Meadow Car ParkThe pit is directly adjacent to the RAMSAR Blackwater estuary with saline, brackish and freshwater all next to each other. Around 220 bird species have been recorded.
Sun, 22 JanEssex Wildlfie Trust, Abberton ReservoirJoin Dougal for a mid-winter visit to Abberton reservoir in search of winter wildfowl such as Smew and Goosander, hopefully some Bewick’s Swans too.
Tue, 31 JanOld Heath Community CentreYour 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, 28 FebOld Heath Community CentreMark Nowers RSPB’s Turtle Dove Conservation Adviser in Essex, explains why Turtle Doves have declined and what action is being taken to redress this, both here and abroad. (Photo: Jonny Rankin)
Tue, 28 MarOld Heath Community CentreLearn more about the 'other' bees - the solitary bees. These include leafcutters, wool-carders, miners, masons and plasterers – the crafts people of the insect world!
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.