Events
Unless otherwise specified, you do not need to be a member of the RSPB or a local group to join us at our events. Birdwatching experience is not necessary, as members are always very willing ready to share their expertise with beginners. If you have any questions please call the contact number shown with the event details.
For our field trips take RSPB membership cards (or entrance fees may be charged),
warm waterproof clothes and footwear, binoculars and packed lunches.
February 2012
Tue14
Broadwater Warren Volunteer Work Party
Location: Meet at the reserve car park - contact Alan Loweth for more information
Working party
Time: 10.30
Price: Free
Telephone: 01892 752430
E-mail: alan.loweth@rspb.org.uk
Wed15
Indoor meeting "Etosha to the Cape"
Location: St Philip's Church, Salisbury Road, Cage Green, Tonbridge
Postcode: TN10 4PA (Google map)
Brian Gallop is another old friend of the group. This talk takes us around the west coast of Africa, from Namibia to South Africa.
(This is a programme change - was "Wildlife of the West Indies" )
Time: 7.45 pm
Price: RSPB member - £3.00, Non member - £4.00, RSPB Concession - £2.00.
Telephone: 01732 771464
E-mail: g.shoebridge@btinternet.com
Sat18
Field trip - Dungeness
Location: Dungeness RSPB reserve and possibly shore. For meeting place and transport arrangements, email Martin (at least a week ahead) or phone Gabrielle.
Latitude/longitude: 50.93980,0.93364 (Google map)
All day Saturday visit led by Geoff Shoebridge to this unique peninsula and the RSPB reserve. Many species possible including various grebes, goldeneye.
Take RSPB membership cards (or fees may be charged), warm waterproof clothes and footwear, binoculars and packed lunches.
Time: 10 am to about 4 pm
Price: £2 minimum
Booking essential
Telephone: 01732 365583
E-mail: martin@ellismp.plus.com
Wed22
Field trip - Dungeness
Location: Dungeness RSPB reserve and possibly shore. For meeting place and transport arrangements, email Martin (at least a week ahead) or phone Gabrielle.
Latitude/longitude: 50.93980,0.93364 (Google map)
All day Wednesday visit led by Brian Gallop to this unique peninsula and the RSPB reserve. Many species possible including various grebes, goldeneye.
Take RSPB membership cards (or fees may be charged), warm waterproof clothes and footwear, binoculars and packed lunches.
Time: 10 am to about 4 pm
Price: £2 minimum
Telephone: 01732 365583
E-mail: martin@ellismp.plus.com
Tue28
Broadwater Warren Volunteer Work Party
Location: Meet at the reserve car park - contact Alan Loweth for more information
Working party
Time: 10.30
Price: Free
Telephone: 01892 752430
E-mail: alan.loweth@rspb.org.uk
March 2012
Sat3
Broadwater Warren Volunteer Work Party
Location: Meet at the reserve car park - contact Alan Loweth for more information
Working party
Time: 10.30
Price: Free
Telephone: 01892 752430
E-mail: alan.loweth@rspb.org.uk
Sun4
Tudeley Woods Volunteer Work Party
Location: Meet at the reserve car park. Contact Mathew Allen for more information.
Weekend work party If attending for the first time please let us know in advance.
Time: 10 am
Price: 0
Booking essential
Telephone: 01892 752433 07872157743
E-mail: mathew.allen@rspb.org.uk
Tue13
Broadwater Warren Volunteer Work Party
Location: Meet at the reserve car park - contact Alan Loweth for more information
Volunteer working party
Time: 10.30
Price: Free
Telephone: 01892 752430
E-mail: alan.loweth@rspb.org.uk
Wed21
Indoor meeting "Wildlife of the West Indies"
Location: St Philip's Church, Salisbury Road, Cage Green, Tonbridge.
Postcode: TN10 4PA (Google map)
Ian Rumley-Dawson is a popular speaker who needs no introduction to the Group. The palmed fringed beaches of these tropical islands provide breeding areas for a variety of sea birds and are visited by the giant Leatherback Turtles to lay their eggs in the warm sand at night.
This is a programme change - was "Etosha to the Cape"
Time: 7.45 pm
Price: RSPB member - £3.00, Non member - £4.00, RSPB Concession - £2.00.
Telephone: 01732 771464
E-mail: g.shoebridge@btinternet.com
Sat24
Field trip - Pulborough Brooks
Location: Pulborough Brooks RSPB reserve is set in the sheltered Arun Valley within the South Downs National Park.
For meeting place and transport arrangements, email Martin (at least a week ahead) or phone Gabrielle.
Latitude/longitude: 50.93729,-0.49562 (Google map)
All day Saturday visit led by Geoff Shoebridge to this very popular reserve for early spring migrants.
Take RSPB membership cards (or fees may be charged), warm waterproof clothes and footwear, binoculars and packed lunches.
Time: 10 am to about 4 pm
Price: £2 minimum
Booking essential
Telephone: 01732 365583
E-mail: martin@ellismp.plus.com
Tue27
Broadwater Warren Volunteer Work Party
Location: Meet at the reserve car park - contact Alan Loweth for more information
Work party
Time: 10.30
Price: Free
Telephone: 01892 752430
E-mail: alan.loweth@rspb.org.uk
Wed28
Field trip - Pulborough Brooks
Location: Pulborough Brooks RSPB reserve is set in the sheltered Arun Valley within the South Downs National Park.
For meeting place and transport arrangements, email Martin (at least a week ahead) or phone Gabrielle.
Latitude/longitude: 50.93729,-0.49562 (Google map)
All day Wednesday visit led by Brian Gallop to this very popular reserve, for early spring migrants.
Take RSPB membership cards (or fees may be charged), warm waterproof clothes and footwear, binoculars and packed lunches.
Time: 10 am to about 4 pm
Price: £2 minimum
Booking essential
Telephone: 01732 365583
E-mail: martin@ellismp.plus.com
Sat31
Quiz night at Hadlow college, Tonbridge, Saturday 31st March 2012
Location: Hadlow College, Hadlow, Tonbridge. There is plenty of free parking.
Postcode: TN11 0AL (Google map)
Our group has been running these really popular enjoyable quiz nights for several years now, with all funds raised going to the RSPB. Quiz leaders Alan and Frances Dane promise that there will be definitely NO bird Questions! The ticket price includes a fish supper or ploughman's prepared and cooked by the college. Bring your own drinks and glasses. Suggested table size: 6 people.
Last year the event sold out, so book early using the form in the newsletter or contact Carol for more information.
Time: 7:00 pm for prompt 7:30 pm start
Price: £13 per person including supper.
Booking essential
Telephone: 01732 360527
E-mail: goulden.carol@btinternet.com
Sat31
Broadwater Warren Volunteer Work Party
Location: Meet at the reserve car park - contact Alan Loweth for more information
Working party
Time: 10.30
Price: Free
Telephone: 01892 752430
E-mail: alan.loweth@rspb.org.uk
April 2012
Wed18
Indoor meeting "Crossing Boundaries - A story of birds and people on the high seas of Iraq"
Location: St Philip's Church, Salisbury Road, Cage Green, Tonbridge
Postcode: TN10 4PA (Google map)
Rolf Williams is the RSPB Communications Officer - Kent, he formerly served with the Royal Navy. Join him in a dramatic story of unfolding human and wildlife drama in the dangerous waters of the North Arabian Gulf. When the warship's decks fill with migrating birds, he is 'ordered' to an Iraqi oil platform ten miles out at sea to witness an avian spectacle. With no plants at all, and not a song to be heard, will you be able to identify the dizzying variety of species he has photographed for you? The RSPB tells us that 'birds enrich our lives', see what happens when they drop into this politically charged environment.
Time: 7.45 pm
Price: RSPB member - £3.00, Non member - £4.00, RSPB Concession - £2.00.
Telephone: 01732 771464
E-mail: g.shoebridge@btinternet.com
Sat21
Field trip - Rye Harbour
Location: Rye Harbour Local Nature Reserve between Rye and Winchelsea Beach on the East Sussex coast. For meeting place and transport arrangements, email Martin (at least a week ahead) or phone Gabrielle.
Postcode: TN31 7TU (Google map)
All day Saturday visit led by Geoff Shoebridge. Expect to see a great variety of birds, possibly including yellow wagtails and whinchats.
Take warm waterproof clothes and footwear, binoculars and packed lunches.
Time: 10 am to about 4 pm
Price: £2 minimum
Booking essential
Telephone: 01732 365583
E-mail: martin@ellismp.plus.com
Wed25
Field trip - Rye Harbour
Location: Rye Harbour Local Nature Reserve between Rye and Winchelsea Beach on the East Sussex coast. For meeting place and transport arrangements, email Martin (at least a week ahead) or phone Gabrielle.
Postcode: TN31 7TU (Google map)
All day Wednesday visit led by Brian Gallop. Expect to see a great variety of birds, possibly including yellow wagtails and whinchats.
Take warm waterproof clothes and footwear, binoculars and packed lunches.
Time: 10 am to about 4 pm
Price: £2 minimum
Booking essential
Telephone: 01732 365583
E-mail: martin@ellismp.plus.com
May 2012
Sat12
Coach Trip to Lakenheath Fen (not Fingringhoe)
Location: The coach will pick up at a number of places in Tonbridge, including the coach depot and railway station.
See http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/l/lakenheathfen and http://www.norfolkwildlifetrust.org.uk/weeting.aspx for more information.
Latitude/longitude: 52.44839,0.53250 (Google map)
The annual RSPB Tonbridge Local Group coach trip this year will be to Lakenheath Fen on the Norfolk/Suffolk border, west of Thetford.
The reserve has poplar woodland, intensive reed beds, open water and marsh. There are two trails and four open view points and a picnic area. It is a reliable site for golden oriole and also marsh harrier, bearded tit, hobby, bittern and reedbed warblers. It has a visitor centre, toilets, and a drinks machine but no food.
We also plan an optional visit to the Norfolk Wildlife Trust Nature Reserve at Weeting Heath. This is a small reserve where we hope to see stone curlew. This also has a visitor centre, toilets and drinks and there are two hides. The normal entrance fee is £4.00 unless you are a member of the NWT.
Please book as early as possible by speaking to Gabrielle at an indoor meeting or by phone, or by emailing Martin (details below).
Time: 8 am
Price: About £21 per person, depending on numbers and how many wish to go to Weeting Heath.
Booking essential
Telephone: 01732 365583
E-mail: martin@ellismp.plus.com
Sat19
Field trip - Pegwell Bay
Location: Pegwell Bay nature reserve, managed by Kent Wildlife Trust, situated around the estuary of the River Stour between Sandwich and Ramsgate. The Pegwell Bay Coastal Park and car park is situated on the north side of the Stour on the A256 and is well signposted. For meeting place and transport arrangements, email Martin (at least a week ahead) or phone Gabrielle.
Postcode: TN4 8EJ (Google map)
All day Saturday visit led by Geoff Shoebridge. The location includes a complex mosaic of habitats: inter-tidal mudflats, saltmarsh, shingle, sand dunes, ancient dune pasture, chalk cliffs, wave cut platform and coastal scrubland.
Take waterproof clothes and footwear, binoculars and packed lunches.
Time: 10 am to about 4 pm
Price: £2 minimum. There is also a car parking charge, £1.50 at the 2011 rate.
Booking essential
Telephone: 01732 365583
E-mail: martin@ellismp.plus.com
Wed23
Field trip - Pegwell Bay
Location: Pegwell Bay nature reserve, managed by Kent Wildlife Trust, situated around the estuary of the River Stour between Sandwich and Ramsgate. The Pegwell Bay Coastal Park and car park is situated on the north side of the Stour on the A256 and is well signposted.
For meeting place and transport arrangements, email Martin (at least a week ahead) or phone Gabrielle.
Postcode: TN4 8EJ (Google map)
All day Wednesday visit led by Peter Lloyd. The location includes a complex mosaic of habitats: inter-tidal mudflats, saltmarsh, shingle, sand dunes, ancient dune pasture, chalk cliffs, wave cut platform and coastal scrubland.
Take waterproof clothes and footwear, binoculars and packed lunches.
Time: 10 am to about 4 pm
Price: £2 minimum. There is also a car parking charge, £1.00 at the 2011 rate.
Booking essential
Telephone: 01732 365583
E-mail: martin@ellismp.plus.com
June 2012
Sat9
Field trip - Ashdown Forest
Location: Various locations in Ashdown Forest! For meeting place and transport arrangements, email Martin (at least a week ahead) or phone Gabrielle.
Postcode: TN4 8EJ (Google map)
All day Saturday visit led by Geoff Shoebridge, for redstarts, tree pipits and maybe Dartford warblers
Take waterproof clothes and footwear, binoculars and packed lunches.
Time: 10 am to about 4 pm
Price: £2 minimum
Booking essential
Telephone: 01732 365583
E-mail: martin@ellismp.plus.com
Wed13
Field trip - Ashdown Forest
Location: Various locations in Ashdown Forest! For meeting place and transport arrangements, email Martin (at least a week ahead) or phone Gabrielle.
Postcode: TN4 8EJ (Google map)
All day Wednesday visit led by Peter Lloyd, for redstarts, tree pipits and maybe Dartford warblers
Take waterproof clothes and footwear, binoculars and packed lunches.
Time: 10 am to about 4 pm
Price: £2 minimum
Booking essential
Telephone: 01732 365583
E-mail: martin@ellismp.plus.com