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Basingstoke Conservation Volunteers | |
| Hands-on help for local wildlife | ||
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Calendar of Events until February 2006
It is a good idea to contact the organizer or task leader of the events before attending so that we can cater for numbers and arrange lifts if needed. All telephone numbers are Basingstoke area (01256) unless the code is given - you should also be able to contact the leader during the 2 days leading up to the task on the leader's mobile phone (the number is in the newsletter). Meet at 10am at the project site or at the toolshed at 9.30, unless other times are given. The numbers are OS grid references of the meet up point for the projects. Some of the sites are difficult to find, so if it's your first visit to a site, we'd recommend meeting us at the toolshed and then following the leader (who should know where he/she is going!) to the site.
Details in red are changes from the programme published in the newsletter.
Details of the Sep 2005 to Feb 2006 programme are below. The winter conservation tasks are now back in
full swing, so if it's exercise that you like, then there's plenty of coppicing and scrub-bashing to get stuck
into. We're returning to Greenham Common, as well as Fleet Pond and both Old Burghclere sites,
and of course there a several tasks to continue the coppice-restoration work at Pamber.
On the social side, there are plenty of events planned too - the details are below.
The tables below give a quick overview of when events are happening - click on the month name in a table's header to jump to details of events happening during that month, or click on the date to jump straight to details of that event. Hover your mouse over the 
icon to get brief pop-up info on the event.
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| Colour key : | Social | project | Meeting |
| September | |||
| project | Sun 4th | Pamber Forest | Coppicing |
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Time to begin the Winter coppicing. This process involves cutting understorey trees down to the ground, letting light reach the woodland floor, benefiting plants and insects. The trees grow back over the following years, before the process is repeated. Leader : on 01635 49304. |
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| social | Sat 10th | Russell's House | Games evening |
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Meet at Russell's House from 7pm for an evening of light-hearted games. Bring along your own favourite if you're keen to show your prowess! Contact on 329398 for more details. |
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| project | Sun 18th | Greenham Common | Scrub Bashing |
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Incredibly this is BCV's first visit to this site, made an icon of the cold war by the women's peace camp. The Common is under management of West Berkshire Council, who aim to maintain and enhance the wildlife interest of this large heathland. The task will either be birch invasion of the heathland or sycamore removal from inappropriate places in the wet woodland edges of the common. The meeting place is the control tower car park, off Bury's Bank Road on the northern edge of the common (SU 499 651). Leader : on 474934. |
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| meeting | Mon 19th | Red Lion, Mortimer West End | Committee Meeting |
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Join us at the Red Lion Pub at 8pm, to plan the Autumn's events and enjoy a few drinks. All welcome. Contact on 420818 for further details. |
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| project | Sun 25th | Pamber Forest | Coppicing |
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Winter coppicing continued. This process involves cutting understorey trees down to the ground, letting light reach the woodland floor, benefiting plants and insects. The trees grow back over the following years, before the process is repeated. Leader : on 474531. |
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| social | Sun 25th | Four Horseshoes Pub | Pub Quiz |
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What better way to round off the day after coppicing at Pamber, than to meet up at the pub, give your body a well earned rest, and instead put your mind to work in this excellent pub quiz. The Four Horseshoes is at Sherfield-on-Loddon. We'll meet at around 8pm, and the pub serves good food. The quiz usually starts at around 9pm. Contact on 420818 for more details. |
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| October | |||
| project | Sun 9th | Great Binfields Copse | Coppicing |
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This woodland site is a remnant of the large amount of ancient woodland that once covered the Chineham area. The work will be cutting scallops into the north side of a wet ride that cuts through the site. The ride is good for Scaly Male fern and Common Spotted Orchids and White Admiral butterflies have been seen. Recently a number of Scots pine trees have been felled to open up the ride to more light. Meet in the Chineham District Centre car park next to the Woodland (SU 658 544). Leader : on 329398. |
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| social | Fri 21st | Mike's House | Slide / Photo Evening |
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Come along at 7:30pm and share your holiday or hobby slides with others, who will be
gathering in Mike's house.
Contact on 326339 for more details. |
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| project | Sun 23rd | North Warnborough Greens | Scrub Clearance |
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The common at North Warnborough is a wet meadow next to the River Whitewater. Marsh Helleborine, Early and Southern Marsh Orchids and the rarity Slender Spike-rush can be found growing here. New Forest ponies now graze the site for part of the year, helping to maintain the condition of the plant community. BCV will be clearing a patch of scrub that is encroaching at one corner of the meadow. Site location is at SU 728 517, but parking may be tight so please share lifts if possible. Leader : on 01635 49304. |
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| November | |||
| project | Sun 6th | Fleet Pond | Alder Cutting |
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Fleet Pond is the largest water-body in the area and a SSSI.
It is man made and originally served as a fishpond for the Bishop of Winchester.
It is managed by the members of a keen society, supplemented by bands of roving volunteers.
On this occasion we will be following up the efforts of HCV, working at Alder clearance on
the edge of the Wellington and Northern Reedbeds. Leader : on 326339. |
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| social | Sat 12th | Dave J's House | Oriental Food Evening |
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Bring some Thai or Malaysian food at 7pm to share for a colourful evening at
Dave Jewsbury's house. Contact on 420818 to let him know you are coming and to get an idea of what you should bring. |
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| project | Sun 13th | Old Burghclere Lime Pits | Grass cutting |
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Lime from Old Burgclere was used to make plaster ceiling ornaments,
but it closed as a working quarry in 1940.
It has now become a isolated gem of chalk downland amidst an arable landscape.
Management of the site is careful balancing act between stopping scrub encroachment
and controlling rabbit grazing at a point that allows plants to set seed.
Hopefully the work will help to re-establish the colony of Small Blue butterflies at the site.
We will be cutting the vegetation in the rabbit exclosures.
Park in the farmyard at grid reference SU 469 577 and meet at the pit grid reference SU 471 575.
Leader : on 420818. |
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| project | Sun 20th | Greenham Common | Scrub bashing |
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This will be our second visit to this site of major importance, managed by West Berks Council.
We will be working with The Greenham and Crookham Common Volunteers.
This promises to be a giant scrub removal event, and a must for fans of large conflagrations.
Leader : on 420818. |
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| project | Sun 27th | Bartley Heath | Birch Tree Removal |
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We will be helping to clear some of the birch woodland that invaded this heathland
following reduction in grazing.
This will work in conjunction with the re-introduction of stock to restore the habitat
to a more favourable condition, helping plants such as the Marsh Gentian.
Leader : on 326339. |
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| December | |||
| project | Sun 4th | Pamber Forest | Coppicing |
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Pamber Forest consists of 200 Ha of Ancient Woodland situated near Tadley.
In association with Silchester common it forms a important complex of heathland,
woodland and wetland habitats and is designated as a SSSI.
Traditionally managed as a coppice woodland to provide material for local woodcraft industry,
since WWII it grew increasingly shady as coppicing declined.
Since 1978 it has been managed as a local nature reserve, with the rides opened up,
coppice plots cut in the stream valleys and some grazed as wood pasture.
It has a rich invertebrate fauna including Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary butterfly
and Moths like the Drab Looper and Common Fan-foot.
We'll be working at Inham's Copse, on the NE corner of the Forest, on this task Leader : on 474531. |
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| meeting | Tue 6th | Dave J's House | Committee Meeting |
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Open to all members.
Contact on 420818 for further details. |
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| social | Sat 17th | Mike's House | Christmas Meal |
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This year the BCV Christmas feast will be held at Mike's House, starting at 6pm.
This event takes a lot of planning, so please contact Mike well in advance if you are hoping to come and to arrange what contribution you could bring. Contact on 326339. |
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| project | Sun 18th | Pamber Forest | Coppicing |
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Pamber Forest consists of 200 Ha of Ancient Woodland situated near Tadley.
In association with Silchester common it forms a important complex of heathland,
woodland and wetland habitats and is designated as a SSSI.
Traditionally managed as a coppice woodland to provide material for local woodcraft industry,
since WWII it grew increasingly shady as coppicing declined.
Since 1978 it has been managed as a local nature reserve, with the rides opened up,
coppice plots cut in the stream valleys and some grazed as wood pasture.
It has a rich invertebrate fauna including Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary butterfly
and Moths like the Drab Looper and Common Fan-foot.
On this task we will be continuing Winter Coppicing and building a dead-hedge to protect
the trees from deer when they re-grow in the Spring.
Details of the meeting point may vary, so phone the leader before the task for latest information.
Leader : on 329398. |
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| January | |||
| project | Sun 8th | Pamber Forest | Coppicing |
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Pamber Forest consists of 200 Ha of Ancient Woodland situated near Tadley.
In association with Silchester common it forms a important complex of heathland,
woodland and wetland habitats and is designated as a SSSI.
Traditionally managed as a coppice woodland to provide material for local woodcraft industry,
since WWII it grew increasingly shady as coppicing declined.
Since 1978 it has been managed as a local nature reserve, with the rides opened up,
coppice plots cut in the stream valleys and some grazed as wood pasture.
It has a rich invertebrate fauna including Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary butterfly
and Moths like the Drab Looper and Common Fan-foot.
On this task we will be continuing Winter Coppicing and building a dead-hedge to protect
the trees from deer when they re-grow in the Spring.
Details of the meeting point may vary, so phone the leader before the task for latest information.
Leader : on 01635 49304. |
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| social | Sat 15th | West of Basingstoke | New Year's Walk |
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This ramble is being arranged by Dave J and will begin at 9:30am.
The starting point will be the Deane Gate Inn, on the B3400 about 5 miles west of Basingstoke.
The route will cover about 6 miles, taking in the wonderful scenery around the Upper Test Valley.
Plans take the walk to Overton via Steventon and then back again through Ashe
for lunch back at the Deane Gate.
Contact on 420818 for more details or to arrange a lift to the starting point. |
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| project | Sun 22nd | Old Burghclere Lime Pits | Scrub bashing |
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On our second visit of the Winter to this fine chalk grassland reserve,
we will be applying our bow saws to some of the scrub, to keep it in check.
Park in the farmyard at grid reference SU 469 577 and meet at the pit,
grid reference SU 471 575.
Leader : on 474934. |
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| social | Sun 22nd | Four Horseshoes Pub | Pub Quiz |
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Having exercised the body at Old Burghclere during the day, here's your chance to
exercise your grey matter too! Join the BCV team at the Four Horseshoes Pub in Sherfield-on-Loddon
at around 8pm. The pub serves good food, and a round of drinks is up for grabs in the
competition, and BCV have won this more than once in the past!
Contact on 420818 for more details or to arrange a lift. |
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| meeting | Sat 28th | Red Lion Pub | Committee Meeting |
| It's time for the 4-monthly meeting at the Red Lion, in Mortimer West End. At this meeting we'll be making plans for the March to June programme. Join us to have your thoughts and ideas heard. All members welcome. | |||
| February | |||
| project | Sun 5th | Pamber Forest | Coppicing |
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Pamber Forest consists of 200 Ha of Ancient Woodland situated near Tadley.
In association with Silchester common it forms a important complex of heathland,
woodland and wetland habitats and is designated as a SSSI.
Traditionally managed as a coppice woodland to provide material for local woodcraft industry,
since WWII it grew increasingly shady as coppicing declined.
Since 1978 it has been managed as a local nature reserve, with the rides opened up,
coppice plots cut in the stream valleys and some grazed as wood pasture.
It has a rich invertebrate fauna including Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary butterfly
and Moths like the Drab Looper and Common Fan-foot.
On this task we will be continuing Winter Coppicing and building a dead-hedge to protect
the trees from deer when they re-grow in the Spring.
Details of the meeting point may vary, so phone the leader before the task for latest information.
Leader : on 01189 700155. |
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| social | Sat 11th | Dave J's House | Games Evening |
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Always one of the most popular and enjoyable evenings we organize.
We're never too sure what games we'll end playing, but it invariably
results in lots of fun and laughter. If you have your own favourite, please bring it
along. First dice-throw at 7:30pm.
Contact on 420818 for more details. |
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| project | Sun 19th | Old Burghclere Railway Cuttings | Scrub bashing |
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This site was found by Peter Billingshurst the voluntary site manager at the Lime Quarry.
It is designated as a Site of Interest for Nature Conservation (SINC) and needs annual
cutting to maintain and hopefully improve the flora on the deep cutting sides.
Park at the junction of the track and road at SU 476 593. The site is at 473 592.
Leader : on 474531. |
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| March 2006 onwards | |||
| Details of events from March 2006 onwards will be published in February 2006. | |||