Calendar of Events - March to June 2007
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 programme until June 2007 are below.
We're travelling to the far extremes of our range over the coming months, but
of course there are also tasks at the Pamber heart-land, where the now traditional
fencing tasks will soon be underway again.
We also have a couple of fencing tasks in the far south (Noar Hill).
In the far east is Fleet Pond (surely we're due a task with some GOOD weather there!).
To the north and west we'll be doing some good old-fashioned scrub bashing at Greenham Common
and Headley Gravel Pits. So, hopefully, there's something for everyone!
On the social side, we have plenty of outdoor events lined up, including visits to sites when they are
in their prime (Old Burghclere and Headley Gravel Pits), a nightjars evening and a day's birding on the
south coast. It's not all outdoor fun though, with a games evening, a cinema trip and a French food evening
all lined up.
Top billing though goes to the summer party, to mark the 20th anniversary of BCV.
We're hoping to get in touch with lots of old-timers, so it should be a great day.
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 |
| February 2007 | |||
| social | Sat 3rd | Mike's House | Games evening |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Another chance to enjoy a fun games evening.
Please bring along any games you would like to play.
Contact : on 326339 for directions. |
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| project | Sun 4th | Pamber Forest | Coppicing |
|
BCV's home site is a 195ha ancient woodland managed by Hampshire Wildlife
Trust.
Winter is the season for coppicing, the practice of periodically cutting
the lower shrubs back to ground level.
The wood was traditionally used to make hurdles, packing boxes, brooms and a
multitude of other items.
The site is noted for its important community of insects,
which have adapted to the warmer, open conditions created by coppicing.
Depending on progress made on earlier tasks, we will be continuing cutting near Burney Bit (see Nov 26th) or moving on to a section near Bowmonts Brook and maybe at Honeymill Brook. Please contact Graham Dennis on 01189 700155 or the task leader for the meeting point in the week before the project. Leader : on 01635 49304. |
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| project | Sun 18th | Gt Binfields Copse | Ride widening |
|
Part of the once extensive ancient woodlands around Chineham,
Great Binfields Copse is an important green space and still has interesting
species such as Herb Paris and White Admiral.
We will be widening the ride and cutting scallops along the path to
benefit the many insects which favour warm sheltered conditions within woodland.
Meet in Tesco's car park at SU 658 544.
Leader : on 01189 700155. |
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| project | Sun 25th | Pamber Forest | Coppicing |
|
BCV's home site is a 195ha ancient woodland managed by Hampshire Wildlife
Trust.
Winter is the season for coppicing, the practice of periodically cutting
the lower shrubs back to ground level.
The wood was traditionally used to make hurdles, packing boxes, brooms and a
multitude of other items.
The site is noted for its important community of insects,
which have adapted to the warmer, open conditions created by coppicing.
Depending on progress made on earlier tasks, we will be continuing cutting near Burney Bit (see Nov 26th) or moving on to a section near Bowmonts Brook and maybe at Honeymill Brook. Please contact Graham Dennis on 01189 700155 or the task leader for the meeting point in the week before the project. Leader : . |
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| March 2007 | |||
| project | Sun 4th | Headley Gravel Pits | Birch Clearance |
|
The stunning display of Green-winged Orchids requires regular clearance of birch
and bramble by volunteers.
BCV will be returning to follow up our very effective effort of last year.
Parking at the entrance at SU 512 628 is tight and lift sharing and alternative parking
a short walk away at SU 517 627 is recommended.
Leader : on 420818. |
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| social | Mon 5th | Leisure Park | Cinema Trip |
|
Dave J is organising a trip to the cinema.
Meet at the Spruce Goose at 7pm for drinks and snacks, when we will be deciding what film to watch.
There will be time for a drink afterwards.
Contact : on 420818. |
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| meeting | Thu 15th | Dave's House | Committee Meeting |
|
Everyone welcome - join us for an informal meeting to keep the group's activities ticking over.
We'll be starting at 8pm.
Contact : on 420818. |
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| social | Sat 17th | Martin's House | Games evening |
|
Martin is the host for an evening of games on St Patrick's Day starting at 7pm -
if you know any Irish games, all the better.
Contact : on 07771 805000. |
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| project | Sun 18th | Greenham Common | Tree and Scrub Clearance |
|
The former USAF missile base is now the scene of a major heathland re-instatement project.
The huge area of the gravely plateau makes this an important site for wildlife with
butterflies like Small-blue already turning up.
Grazing is in place but as usual, control of birch trees still needs human effort.
We will be working with Crookham and Greenham Common Conservation Volunteers.
Meet at the site HQ at SU 500 652.
Leader : on 07771 805000. |
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| April 2007 | |||
| project | Sun 1st | Pamber Forest | Pine and Birch Bash |
|
BCV will marking the end of the cutting season with a final push on the heathland.
Removal of the birch and Scots Pine will help regeneration of the heather and Bilberry.
This isolated heath is impractical to graze and so tree cutting is essential to prevent
reversion to woodland. Meet at Burney Bit (SU 618 612).
You'll be a fool if you miss this one! Leader : on 474531. |
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| project | Sun 15th | Noar Hill | Stock fencing |
|
The site of an abandoned medieval chalk quarry near Selbourne harbours many rare orchids,
Dormice, Duke of Burgundy and Brown Hairsteak butterflies.
Grazing by sheep and cattle are essential in maintaining the grassland.
BCV will be building a fence around two yew trees, permitting the Dexter cattle to
range over the whole site.
The site North entrance is at SU 738 323, but contact the leader for parking details.
Leader : on 01189 700155. |
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| social | Sun 22nd | South Coast | Birdwatching |
|
We'll be heading for the south coast at 9am for a spring bird-watch, possibly to Keyhaven,
which has a reputation for turning up interesting birds at this time of year.
With any luck we'll have some good weather and be able to enjoy the sea air with a warm breeze in our faces! Contact : on 01635 49304. |
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| social | Sat 28th | Elizabeth's House | French Food Evening |
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Time to show off your French cuisine and also enjoy the cooking of others.
Elizabeth will be playing host, so please contact her beforehand to coordinate what you're bringing with the offerings of others. Meet at 7pm. Contact : . |
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| project | Sun 29th | Pamber Forest/Inham's Copse | Deer fencing |
|
Pamber Forest is one of the best ancient woodlands in the north of Hampshire.
It is valuable for plants, reptiles and birds, but has been famous for insects since
it was visited by Victorian naturalists.
During the winter three areas of coppice were cut and the coppice restored in an
area of Inham's Copse.
BCV will be fencing off the opened areas before the flush of spring shoots attracts the attention of Roe Deer. If the weather is sunny this will be a good time to see some of the butterflies that the habitat management in the forest is benefiting. Contact the task leader to confirm which entrance we will be using. Leader : on 320898. |
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| May 2007 | |||
| social | Sat 12th | Headley Gravel Pits | Green-winged Orchids |
|
If you've ever wondered why we work at Headley Gravel Pits, come along for this Saturday
afternoon stroll to find out. It's quite a spectacle and definitely worth the battle with the
thorny scrub that takes place during the winter months.
Graham will be leading this visit, starting at 2pm. Contact : on 01189 700155. |
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| project | Sun 13th | Noar Hill | Stock fencing |
|
Our second visit of the spring - the site of an abandoned medieval chalk quarry
near Selbourne harbours many rare orchids,
Dormice, Duke of Burgundy and Brown Hairsteak butterflies.
Grazing by sheep and cattle are essential in maintaining the grassland.
BCV will be building a fence around two yew trees, permitting the Dexter cattle to
range over the whole site.
The site North entrance is at SU 738 323, but contact the leader for parking details.
Leader : on 01635 268482. |
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| project | Sun 20th | Pamber Forest/Inham's Copse | Deer fencing |
|
Pamber Forest is one of the best ancient woodlands in the north of Hampshire.
It is valuable for plants, reptiles and birds, but has been famous for insects since
it was visited by Victorian naturalists.
During the winter three areas of coppice were cut and the coppice restored in an
area of Inham's Copse.
BCV will be fencing off the opened areas before the flush of spring shoots attracts the attention of Roe Deer. If the weather is sunny this will be a good time to see some of the butterflies that the habitat management in the forest is benefiting. Contact the task leader to confirm which entrance we will be using. Leader : on 01635 49304. |
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| meeting | Thu 24th | Red Lion | Committee Meeting |
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Everyone welcome - it'll be time to plan the next programme of events, so come along
and share your ideas. First orders at the bar at 8pm.
Contact : on 420818. |
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| June 2007 | |||
| social | Sat 2nd | Portsmouth Trip | Spinnaker Tower |
|
Mike is organising this trip to Portsmouth to enjoy the sights and
hopefully to include an ascent of the Spinnaker Tower.
We'll be leaving Basingstoke at 10am.
Contact : on 01635 268482. |
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| project | Sun 3rd | Fleet Pond | Benches, Banks and Fences |
|
Fleet Pond is Hampshire's largest body of fresh water,
which in the past served as a fish pond and as a power source to drive a mill.
Today it is an important wildlife habitat, especially the reed beds,
with breeding Reed Warblers in summer and often Bitterns in winter.
We will be fixing two picnic benches in place, modifying a bank to protect
it from mountain bikers and repairing a fence.
Meet at the main car park next to Fleet railway station. Leader : on 420818. |
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| social | Thu 7th | Old Burghclere | Fly Orchids |
|
Last month gave us Green-winged Orchids at Headley Gravel Pits, and now we're off to
Old Burghclere Lime Pits to see the fly orchids, along with many other flowers that
make this site a real treasure in the summer. Dave can provide a lift from Basingstoke
at 6:30, or you can meet us at the entrance at 7pm. We plan to retire to Mike's house
after the visit to enjoy a takeaway.
Contact : on 420818. |
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| social | Sat 16th | Down Grange | BCV is 20 |
| We've hired the Down Grange Walled garden to mark the group's 20th anniversary. We hope to track down past members and invite them along, so it should be a great day. Start time is 4pm with a barbecue. Please send an e-mail to by June 1st if you'd like to join us. | |||
| project | Sun 17th | Pamber Forest/Inham's Copse | Deer fencing |
|
Pamber Forest is one of the best ancient woodlands in the north of Hampshire.
It is valuable for plants, reptiles and birds, but has been famous for insects since
it was visited by Victorian naturalists.
During the winter three areas of coppice were cut and the coppice restored in an
area of Inham's Copse.
BCV will be fencing off the opened areas before the flush of spring shoots attracts the attention of Roe Deer. If the weather is sunny this will be a good time to see some of the butterflies that the habitat management in the forest is benefiting. Contact the task leader to confirm which entrance we will be using. Leader : on 843960. |
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| social | Fri 22nd | Silchester Common | Nightjars |
|
A two-headed beast is this one. Start off with a friendly drink at the Calleva Arms in
Silchester, before Graham leads the way around the border between Pamber Forest and
Silchester Common as we hunt for the elusive and mysterious nightjar.
Meet at the pub around 8pm. Contact : on 01189 700155. |
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| July 2007 onwards | |||
| Details of events from July 2007 onwards will be published in June. | |||