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

Tue
14

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

Wed
15

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

Sat
18

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

Wed
22

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

Tue
28

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

Sat
3

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

Sun
4

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

Tue
13

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

Wed
21

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

Sat
24

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

Tue
27

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

Wed
28

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

Sat
31

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

Sat
31

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

Wed
18

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

Sat
21

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

Wed
25

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

Sat
12

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

Sat
19

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

Wed
23

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

Sat
9

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

Wed
13

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