News archive

October 2009

Tuesday, 20 October 2009

Short-eared owl sitting on the ground

Changes for the Group

The RSPB is changing its emphasis and the way it works. Conservation to help all of nature, but particularly birds, is still its overriding goal, but the means of funding and publicising this is changing. Membership recruitment and spreading the word about conservation are now the main priorities for us to tackle locally. Increasingly recruitment events and collections days are being organised at Regional level, so our Group is moving to support these rather than organise events ourselves.
We will still organise collections at supermarkets, but we will attend fewer local shows and no longer sell RSPB sales goods and bric-a-brac at them, restricting ourselves to information and themed money-raising activities.
We will maintain our yearly programme of illustrated lectures as these are our Group's linchpin and the raffle and sale of birdfood will continue to be a part of these evenings.
Field trips will be reduced in number until we find someone to take over from Peter Stoppard in organising the yearly programme of weekend days out and mid-week local walks.
Our committment to school visits and talks to other groups will continue with Norman at the helm.
A programme and three newsletters will still produced each year, this web-site will be maintained and the monthly e-mail will still appear.

Monday, 19 October 2009

Great tit perched in small tree

Conservation work at Linacre Reservoirs

Our partnership with Derbyshire County Council's Countryside Service started in February 2006 when we installed nestboxes in the trees at Linacre Reservoirs ready for the 2006 breeding season. We began monthly survey walks in July 2006 to monitor the birdlife and feed the results into the BTO's Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS). The nestboxes are maintained over the winter and then monitored during the breeding season to see which species are using them and with what level of success. In 2008 a family of Pied Flycatchers was raised in one of our boxes. In 2008 and 2009, in conjunction with DCC, we also led a Dawn Chorus Walk in May.
The monthly surveys are an excellent opportunity for any novices to learn more by being out and about with some really good knowledgeable spotters and get a feel for the sights and sounds of our local birds through the seasons. So, why not come and join us? We meet once a month on a Saturday morning at 8.30 am in the lower car park. For more information please contact Peter on 01246 411460. Our final two dates for 2009 are 21st November and 19th December.

Thursday, 15 October 2009

Robin sitting in grass

Talks to groups and schools

As well as attending shows and collecting money, our group also gives talks to schools and other groups about birds, the RSPB, and general wildlife.
We can provide talks and practical sessions for schools and youth groups, and wildlife talks to groups such as retirement clubs, womens' groups, and church groups. If you know of a group or school that might be interested in our services, please get in touch with Norman on 01246 414903

Wednesday, 14 October 2009

Cup of tea

Membership - how to join our Group

Membership of the RSPB Chesterfield Local Group is not restricted to members of the national RSPB, although obviously we would prefer you to be an RSPB member.
For RSPB members the cost per year is £3.50 (£3.00 for concessions). For Non-RSPB members the cost is £5.00 (£4.50 for concessions).
Our membership year runs from September to September (although you can join in any month).
Members receive a newsletter 3 times a year, an annual programme of events, and pay a reduced rate for trips and lectures.
The easiest way to join? Come along to one of our monthly illustrated lectures and join there. Or, if you can't get to a meeting, either e-mail us via the "contact us" page or call Sue on 01246 569431 with your name and address and we will post our local group literature and joining form to you.