Thatcham Nature Discovery Centre

Forum post: I have not been recently

daisy — Fri, 04 Jan 2013 11:21:00 GMT

I have not been to the Thatcham Nature Discovery Centre for a while because the weather has been so bad. Has anybody here been down there in the last couple of days and what are conditions like?

Forum post: Great Crested Grebes dancing their tango!

Eriowl — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 21:04:00 GMT

Last Sunday was great at the Thatcham lake, two couples of great crested grebes kept dancing their usual Spring tango. They seemed to be at quite an early stage of courting, hence hopefully they'll keep on displaying for a few more weeks!

Blog post: March already

Teresa VB — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 11:44:00 GMT

Hello All, Sharon the Volunteer here.

So the sun has started to reappear and the evenings are getting noticeably lighter. The Blackthorn blossom is beginning to appear and the pretty star like flowers of the Lesser Celandine are poking up. Walking around the lake there is so much to see. The Canadian Geese and Mallards are already vying each other for a mate. If you are lucky you might even get to see the Great Crested Grebes doing their fabulous ballet like mating dance, it looks like they are making heart shapes with their intertwined necks. We have also seen Shovelers on the lake which is a treat to see them so close. The Pochards are still to be seen and Bullfinches have appeared on the bird feeders.

In the RSPB classroom we are also getting ready for Spring. We have quite a few schools already booked for our new programmes and we are busy making resources. One of the programmes is all about pollination and thanks to a very talented local teacher we now own a beautiful felt flower which our (soon to be) knitted bees can pollinate. I still have to finish knitting the 30 caterpillars for the hedgerow game.....but first to spring clean and label the shelves.

Thankfully I have managed to persuade Teresa that I do not need to make a 6ft papier mache beanstalk to display the low waste lunch results. Instead I will make a poster of a bean stalk and display the results on leaves. The low waste lunch box is encouraging children (and parents) to think about what they put in their lunch boxes. During the lunch break we discuss the 3 R's- Reduce Reuse Recycle then when they have finished we offer them a compost box and ask them to take home all recycling then we weigh the landfill waste. We will be displaying the results on the poster once I have finished making it. The school with the least waste wins a visit from Teresa, lucky things!

Anyway I have cupboards to sort so I must go and I will try and post pictures of the felt flower for you all to admire as well as some of our visitors.

See you

Sharon

Blog post: Welcome Back Bloggers!

Teresa VB — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 14:27:00 GMT

Well, after a long break, I am glad to tell you all that The Nature Discovery at Thatcham's blog is up and running again!

I am Teresa Verney-Brookes, the Living Classroom's Eduction Officer based here at Thatcham and myself and my wonderful volunteer (Sharon) will be keeping the blog up to date from now on. We hope to provide you with a mixture of reports about the wildlife seen here at the site and our also about our on-going work with local schools etc.

SO - Please keep tuned for updates!

Forum post: Welcome Back Bloggers!

Teresa VB — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 13:49:00 GMT

Well, after a long break, I am glad to tell you all that The Nature Discovery at Thatcham's blog is up and running again!

SO - Please keep tuned for updates!

Photo: Blackcap

Heva19 — Sun, 17 Apr 2011 19:35:00 GMT

A male Blackcap taken at Thatcham Discovery Centre on the 10th April. Sorry about the heavily cropped photo!

Blog post: Face Bird Book

Lynsey MacFarlane — Sat, 09 Apr 2011 09:06:00 GMT

Keep your eyes peeled for a brand new facebook page for the Nature Discovery Centre this Summer...full of great pics of the site and information on what's happening here.

In the meantime, have a look at the events listings on the West Berkshire Council website, the latest is Easter crafts through out the holidays with the RSPB and a Family Wildlife Day on the 19th April

Now, get off the computer and enjoy the glorious weather!

Blog post: Big Garden Bird Watch RESULTS!

Lynsey MacFarlane — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 10:06:00 GMT

The results are in!!

You can see the overall results, or the results for Berkshire on the RSPB website. Have a look and see if what you saw is up there in the Top 10 Birds!

http://www.rspb.org.uk/birdwatch/

Blog post: Bringing Reedbeds to Life

Lynsey MacFarlane — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 12:21:00 GMT

Brilliant info on Reedbeds and the RSPB's "Bringing Reedbeds to Life" Project if you click on the link below.

We are lucky enough to have the reedbeds here in Thatcham, and a bird hide to watch the species who inhabit the reeds too. This is why we are a Site of Special Scientific Interest and a great nature reserve.

Have a read, and then come see for yourself!

http://www.rspb.org.uk/ourwork/projects/details.aspx?id=tcm:9-210865

Blog post: Sand Martins Arrive from Africa!

Lynsey MacFarlane — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 12:09:00 GMT

Quick update!

Just today through the RSPB telescopes at the Nature Discovery Centre, I spotted the first sand martins of the year here! The were seen near Woolhampton last week and have made their way over to our Sand Martin bank in the middle of the lake.

Come down and see them close up through the binoculars and the telescopes. Such a delightful little bird, a great flyer, especially to have flown all the way from Africa to Thatcham!!

Blog post: Fairtrade Fortnight

Lynsey MacFarlane — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 08:30:00 GMT

Fairtrade Fortnight has begun for 2011...

I know a lot of you may ask...cocoa and coffee...for BIRDS?! But these products are grown in rainforests which are home to amazing bird species and these are under threat as our demand for these products increases and traditional farming methods are phased out.

It is not just birds in the rainforest- did you know some of the birds we see here in the UK in the Summer have flown all the way from South Africa, Ghana and the Ivory Coast. These countries produce a LOT of our coffee and chocolate.

So support traditional, bird-friendly and eco-friendly ways of growing cocoa and coffe by chosing products with the Fairtrade, Rainforest Alliance Certified or Soil Association trademark on them.

If you come to the Nature Discovery Centre this Sunday, 6th March, you can find out all about the RSPB's Fairtrade chocolate, and even try some! Yum! Make krispy cakes from Fairtrade Rice Krispies from your local Tesco's, and see the wide range of Fairtrade products available here on your doorstep!

http://www.fairtrade.org.uk/show_off_your_label/

Forum post: Re: Feeding the birds

Lynsey MacFarlane — Sat, 12 Feb 2011 13:01:00 GMT

I will pass that on to the wardens. It is a common concern for the RSPB, as you say, birds can get their legs/feet trapped in them and injure themselves.

I do put out a ground feeder at the Centre here which is better suited and we do have bird table and feeding boxes up too. I will mention the net meshing though, so hopefully we have nice, safe and happy birds!

Thanks for your concern :)

Blog post: Spring sunshine...?!

Lynsey MacFarlane — Sat, 12 Feb 2011 13:01:00 GMT

After the recent rain...comes some sun!

While it is still very muddy here at the Lakes (I highly recommend your wellies!) it is beautifully sunny too.

Come down for a walk and to feed the ducks with some seed. You can spot the three Swans who have arrived on the lakes this week, along with a very large Cygnet! Also, keep those wildlife-spotting eyes peeled for the Grebes who are getting ready for their 'courtship dance', which is a must-see!

Enjoy your weekend, and I will be back soon

Photo: Dunnock

Woodpecker — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 22:43:00 GMT

Photo: Long tailed tit

Woodpecker — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 22:42:00 GMT

Forum post: Re: Any Bittern sightings?

Woodpecker — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 22:34:00 GMT

Hi Lynsey

Sadly, I didn't spot the bittern on any of the occasions when I was there.

Photo: Fighting Canada Geese

Woodpecker — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 11:14:00 GMT

Taken at TNDC February 2010. One of these geese was trying to drown the other one for several minutes, and it wouldn't let up despite the 'loser' trying to get to the waters edge. It was difficult to watch.

Photo: Pochard

Woodpecker — Sun, 09 Jan 2011 23:48:00 GMT

Taken at TNDC March 2010

Forum post: Re: Canada Goose & Common Tern Incident Monday 21/06/10

Lynsey MacFarlane — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 13:46:00 GMT

I would have loved to have seen this display! Hopefully the Common terns will be back again this spring for more antics!

There are still lots of lovely ducks and waders, even some Winter visitors like the Shovellers down here at the Lakes at the moment so keep visiting :)

Blog post: Christmas Time!

Lynsey MacFarlane — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 13:13:00 GMT

http://www.thatchamtowncouncil.gov.uk/public/page.php?section=events&table=events&category=news&record=367

Had a great time (despite the freezing cold- Brrrrr!!) at the Thatcham Christmas Lights switch on

It was a great night with lots of people visiting the Broadway, to hear local schools singing carols and see Lee Dillion the Mayor turn on the lights.

The RSPB stall was popular as ever, and I had a lovely time!

Thanks Thatcham!