Calendar of Events - October 2007 to February 2008

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 February 2008 are below. We're now into the heart of the conservation season, so there's plenty of coppicing, scrub-bashing and tree-felling to get your teeth into.
On the social side, a games eveing, pub evenings, a winter walk and of course the Christmas meal are all waiting to be enjoyed ...

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 info icon to get brief pop-up info on the event.

October 2007
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
1 2 3 4 5 6
7 8 9 10 11 12 icon 13
14 icon 15 16 17 18 19 20
21 22 23 24 25 26 27
28 icon 29 30 31
November 2007
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
1 2 3
4 icon 5 6 7 8 9 icon 10
11 icon 12 13 14 15 16 17
18 19 20 21 22 23 icon 24
25 icon 26 27 28 29 30
December 2007
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
1
2 icon 3 4 5 icon 6 7 8
9 10 11 12 13 14 15 icon
16 icon 17 18 19 20 21 22
23 24 25 26 27 28 29
30 31
January 2008
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
1 2 3 4 5
6 icon 7 8 9 10 11 12
13 icon 14 15 16 17 18 19
20 icon 21 22 23 24 25 26
27 icon 28 29 30 31 icon
February 2008
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 icon 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 icon 18 19 20 21 22 icon 23
24 icon 25 26 27 28 29
Colour key : Social project Meeting
October 2007
social Fri 12th Dave J's House Games evening
Another one of our popular games evenings. Bring along your favourite games. Starts at 7:30pm.
Contact : on 01256 420818.
project Sun 14th Pamber Forest Coppicing
The stems of hazel and other trees are cut down to the ground and allowed to grow back over the following decade. Each stage of growth provides different ecological niches for wildlife associated with this ancient woodland. Phone Graham Dennis on 01189 700155 or the task leader for details.
Contact : on 01256 320898.
project Sun 28th Bartley Heath Tree Felling
The rare Marsh Gentian grows on this wet heathland common. Following on from last winter's successful project, once again we will be felling some of the larger trees to create sunny clearings in the area of secondary woodland, which is now managed by grazing. Phone the leader for details of meeting point.
Contact : on 01256 474531.
November 2007
social Sun 4th Weald and Downland Museum Visit
Come and visit the Weald and Downland Open Air Museum near Chichester, and see the collections of historic buildings and demonstrations of past country life. We will aim to lift share as far as possible. We're meeting at 9:30am.
Contact : on 01256 420818.
social Fri 9th The Plough, Little London Pub evening
Come and join us for a popular pub evening at The Plough, Little London for 7:30pm.
Contact : .
project Sun 11th Pamber Forest Coppicing
BCV's home site is a 195 ha. 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 used to make hurdles, packing boxes, brooms and a multitude of other items. The site is noted for its rare insects, which are adapted to the warmer, open conditions created by coppicing. We will be continuing cutting near Burney Bit and collecting materials to be used for hedge-laying. Please contact Graham Dennis for meeting point in the week before the project.
Contact : on 01189 700155.
social Fri 23rd Tina's House Games evening
Tina is hosting this evening, starting at 7pm, so come and bring your favourite games and a few nibbles. Please let her know if you will be joining us.
Contact : .
project Sun 25th Bartley Heath Tree felling
Bartley Heath near Hook was once completely devoid of trees, kept clear by the activity of the commoners, grazing animals and collecting wood. With the end of the common-economy, woodland quickly returned, although rarities like Marsh Gentian still survived in places. The site is now grazed by New Forest ponies and its condition is improving slowly. Carrying on from work earlier in the Autumn, we will be thinning out trees on the edge of woodland glades to improve the wood pasture areas. We will be felling some of the larger trees to create sunny clearings in the area of secondary woodland, which is now managed by grazing. Phone the leader for details of meeting point.
Contact : on 07771 805000.
December 2007
project Sun 2nd Fleet Pond Reedbed work
Fleet Pond is the largest body of fresh water in Hampshire. It supports a diverse range of species, including Water Rails and recently Bitterns have been here during the Winter. The edges of the reedbeds are being invaded by Alder trees which will eventually dry them out. BCV will be removing trees from either the Wellington or Northern reedbeds, so phone the leader for details of the meeting point.
Contact : on 320898.
meeting Wed 5th White Hart, Charter Alley Committee Meeting
All welcome, starting at 8pm.
Contact : on 01256 420818.
social Sat 15th Dave's House Christmas Meal
Dave J is hosting this popular annual event, starting at 6pm. Please bring some food to share. Please let Dave know if you will be joining us and what you will be bringing.
Contact : on 01256 420818.
project Sun 16th Pamber Forest Christmas Tree Special
The traditional post Christmas meal task. Last year no-one took home their free Christmas tree. A Scots Pine is truly sustainable and won't drop needles into the bargain - the ultimate eco-tree! Removal of the Birch and Scots Pine will help regeneration 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).
Contact : on 01635 268482.
January 2008
project Sun 6th Pamber Forest Coppicing
BCV's home site is a 195 ha. 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 used to make hurdles, packing boxes, brooms and a multitude of other items. The site is noted for its rare insects, which are adapted to the warmer, open conditions created by coppicing. We will be continuing cutting near Burney Bit and collecting materials to be used for hedge-laying. Please contact Graham Dennis on 0118 9700155 or the task leader for meeting point in the week before the project.
Contact : on 420818.
social Thu 13th Ecchinswell Winter walk
Burn off those Christmas calories with an early year walk around Ecchinswell and Burghclere. We will be stopping off for a pub lunch. Meet at 10am.
Contact : on 01635 268482.
project Sun 20th Ancell's Farm Scrub Clearance
A return for BCV to this wet heathland in Fleet. Managed by H&IOW Wildlife Trust, grazing has recently been re-introduced. It supports a remarkable amount of the aromatic Bog Myrtle and a diverse range of dragonflies breed in the pond. BCV will be removing scrub which I expect will mostly be birch. Meet at the side of Ancell's Road by the reserve entrance at SU 823 557.
Contact : on 01635 268482.
project Sun 27th Pamber Forest Coppicing
BCV's home site is a 195 ha. 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 used to make hurdles, packing boxes, brooms and a multitude of other items. The site is noted for its rare insects, which are adapted to the warmer, open conditions created by coppicing. We will be continuing cutting near Burney Bit and collecting materials to be used for hedge-laying. Please contact Graham Dennis on 0118 9700155 or the task leader for meeting point in the week before the project.
Contact : on 01635 49304.
meeting Thu 31st Red Lion Committee Meeting
Join us at 8pm for a few drinks and a meeting to plan forthcoming events.
Contact : on 420818.
February 2008
social Fri 8th Calleva Arms Pub evening
Join us for a popular social evening at the Calleva Arms, Silchester, from 7:30pm.
Contact : .
project Sun 17th Greenham Common Scrub bashing
The Common is under management of West Berkshire Council, who aim to maintain and enhance the wildlife interest of this large heathland, now that the USAF has vacated the site. We will be combining our effort with Greenham and Crookham Common CV. The task will be decided nearer the time but usually ends up with a large fire - ideal for roasting your chestnuts! The meeting place will be the control tower car park, off Bury's Bank Road on the northern edge of the common (SU 499 651).
Contact : on 420818.
social Fri 22nd Mike's house Photo evening
A chance to show any wildlife pics you may have taken recently and to see what others have captured. Could be on slides, but prints, DVD, artwork (even sound files!) would all be welcome. Start at 7:30pm.
Contact : on 01635 268482.
project Sun 24th Pamber Forest Stake making
Last summer Pamber Forest's stock of stakes was lost when the store was set alight. BCV will be bark stripping and splitting the chestnut poles to make fencing stakes in the traditional manner. These will be used in the spring for deer fencing the coppiced area cut this winter. Phone the leader for details of the meeting point.
Contact : on 474531.
March 2008 onwards
Details of events from March 2008 onwards will be published in February.