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HAFWEG Needs New Committee Members - 10th November 2008 HAWFEG continues to need some new members to join the small organising committee which arranged events and practical activities. If you are interested and can give about six hours per year, please contact me. John Thorne (01295) 760117 or e-mail Lecture on Biodiversity - 6th October 2008 HAFWEG IN ASSOCIATION WITH WESTON WEA
FARMING FLORA AND FAUNA Biodiversity: why it matters in the landscape around us
Dr Godfrey Armitage
7.30 p.m. Friday 7th November 2008 Weston Community Project Entry £3 to include interval drinks Tickets at the door from 7.00 p.m.
Godfrey Armitage lectures in the Departments of Education and Biological Sciences at Warwick University, where he is Director of the Lifelong Learning Certificate in Ecology and Conservation. He believes that “all conservation begins at home” and so has chosen to talk about preserving biodiversity in the countryside around us.
Perhaps The Final Fungal Foray? - 3rd November 2007
The foray will be again on a Monday afternoon, starting at 2 pm outside the Weston Community Project building and this time we will go to Everdon Stubbs. Everdon Stubbs belongs to the Woodland Trust and should produce some interesting specimens. We'll go even if rain is threatened. Afterwards we will return to Weston to identify them (as we did last time) and have a hot drink too. If possible, please let Betty Stubbs or myself know whether you will be coming. Glynn Jones - 01327 261265. Film - An Inconvenient Truth - 29th October 2007
Successful Fungus Foray - 24th October 2007 On October 22nd four fungal hunters braved the hazards of dog poo and foraged briefly in Wistley Wood, briefly because we realised that there was not a great diversity of fungi to be seen, and because in a short time we had enough specimens to tax our powers of identification. Adjourning to the Weston Community Project for that purpose (and a cup of tea) we surprised ourselves by naming (at times a bit hesitatingly it's true) most of them. Several were ones we did not see last year when we went round with Michael Jordan. Glyn Jones Plea For Help - 8th October 2007 John Thorne, as chairman of HAFWEG, is appealing for help to run the Group so that tasks can be shared. He particularly needs the support of a secretary and two or three volunteers who will arrange events such as meetings with guest speakers. If you are interested in Helmdon's wildlife and environment, and would like to help for a year or two, please contact him on (01295) 760117
The presentation covered all eight species of of amphibians and reptiles found in the BRitish Isles, from the well known common frog, to the less well known Great Crested Newt. Many people had experience of these creatures in their own gardens but it was fascinating to learn about their life cycle, habitat and behavior. Ian Cooper explained the various levels of protection given to these animals and reminded all that certain species, and their habitats, are heavily protected by law. After the presentation Ian took questions from members of the audience, giving advice on the keeping of tadpoles, and the protection of pond fish from the unwanted attentions of grass snakes. The talk was a prelude to a HAFWEG event to occur sometime in March. It is intended to conduct a Toad Watch on the road near Astwell ponds where hundreds of toads are killed by cars every year on their way to their favourite breeding pools. The intention is to use volunteers to capture the animals on one side of the road, typically in the first hour after dusk, and transport them safely to the other side. If half can be saved then it must surely be worth the effort. If anyone would like to offer their services please contact any member of the HAFWEG committee. Talk on Fungi - 18th September 2006
Are they fruits, or vegetables, or plants, or unique forms of life?
Which ones are good to eat? Where can we find them?
HAFWEG members and visitors enjoyed an illustrated talk about British
bats given by Michelle Henley from the Wildlife Trust. As dusk descended
and the rain departed she then led a foray around the field opposite
the school, and armed with hand-held electronic detectors tuned
to sound waves emitted by the bats electro-location systems we located
pipistrelle bats, which were not initially detectable by eye, flying
within and alongside the high hedge to the south of the field. These
little mammals are Britain's commonest bat and Europe's smallest.
One would fit on the end of your thumb, and weighing less than a
£1 coin they can enter nesting holes through gaps of just
8 millimetres.
The primary school was turned in to an invertebrate menagerie on
Monday 7th November when HAFWEG hosted a talk by Emma Butt of the
Stratford-Upon-Avon Butterfly Farm.
The talk included a description of the work of the butterfly farm,
which is Europe's largest. Apart from the display of tropical butterflies
at Stratford the business also owns farms around the globe and is
one of the world's largest importers and exporters of butterfly
pupae.
HAFWEG AGM 2005 - 15th October 2005
HAFWEG held its first AGM on 6th October in the school.
Incredibly HAFWEG (the Helmdon Astwell & Falcutt Wildlife and
Environment Group) is one year old, so it's time for the AGM.
A mixed group of non-members and members of HAFWEG met at Falcutt House on Tuesday 12 July. John Clews treated us to a very interesting talk not just about birds but also about the RSPB as an organisation. This included something of its history and the very important work it does in encouraging schemes which help to protect and sustain our existing bird life and in reintroducing species which had largely disappeared. John showed us a collection of excellent coloured slides of various birds, with some concentration on species which are endangered. He emphasised the concerns about some birds we have come to accept as commonplace, such as the skylark, starling and house-sparrow, all of which are reducing in numbers at an alarming rate. However, on a more optimistic note he described how many farmers, sympathetic to RSPB work, are willingly adapting their farming practices and undertaking schemes which are helping to slow down the reduction in numbers and maintain the populations of our native birds. There was also advice for those of us who feed birds visiting our gardens and some emphasis on the importance of this in the overall scheme of helping to ensure that there are no further reductions in their numbers. At the end of his talk John was thanked for an interesting and informative evening. The School Goes Wild - 11th June 2005
The Helmdon, Astwell and Falcutt Wildlife and Environment Group (HAFWEG) is a relatively new organisation with quite a high student membership. It was set up to meet a need that was identified in the Helmdon Parish Plan. Our aim, in brief, is to help to protect and enhance our environment and raise awareness of the importance of conservation. A HAFWEG fundraising event took place last Saturday, 11 June, in Helmdon Primary School. The original objective of this event was to raise start-up funds for this new organisation to pay for the cost of items such as insurance, various other running costs and environmental projects. Raising awareness of our existence would be an added bonus accruing from this activity. The event was opened by Mr Brian Webster, an expert on the wildlife of the local environment. There were other special attractions, such as two boa constrictors, brought by Mr Craig De Haan, and an exhibit of beekeeping equipment, including a beekeeper's special clothing, with a beehive and its contents, arranged for us by Mr Martin Seth-Smith. There were also pony rides, a raffle and stalls selling plants; garden tools, bulbs and seeds; fruit and vegetables; wildlife greeting cards and freshwater pearl jewellery, all items which had some relevance to the theme of wildlife and the environment. Payne's, Hurrans, and Farnborough Garden Centres, The National Herb Centre, Instore, and B&Q all contributed very generously to the garden and plant stalls. Local residents were also generous. The event was highly successful, being very well attended, and
an impressive £488.51 was raised by the various activities.
HAFWEG members would like to express their thanks and appreciation
to all those who supported this event and contributed to its success.
The Chair would like to say thank you to group members who worked
hard to make the day a success and a special thanks to some members
of the student group, in particular Jess Quiney, who worked exceptionally
hard leading up to the event. It's The Nature Of Things To Come - 17th May 2005
HAFWEG - the Helmdon, Astwell & Falcutt Wildlife & Environment
Group - is gearing up to hold its first public events. Conservation Area Clear Up
- 10th April 2005
The school has a conservation area by the old railway bridge at
the bottom of Wicket Mead. It was donated in trust to the school
by the Gulliver family. The area contains blackthorn, several large
trees, lots of other plants and countless numbers of "mini-beasts".
The work comprised largely of clearing blackthorn and making sure
the site is accessible for visiting school groups. This included
getting down to the children's level and checking for eye hazards!
Some of the older members took care of the heavy work and had a
bonfire, whilst the younger members did clearing, raking and cutting
back. Second Meeting - 23rd
February 2005 The second meeting of the new environment group took place on 23rd
February at Falcutt House. The group now has a name! It is HAFWEG
- the Helmdon, Astwell & Falcutt Wildlife & Environment
Group. It's quite a mouthful but the members felt it was important
that the name reflected the fact that it is not just a group for
the village of Helmdon, but for the whole parish, including all
the outlying properties and settlements. The name also encompasses
the aims and objectives of the group. Inaugural Meeting -
15th November 2004
The new group held its first meeting at Falcutt House, Falcutt
and over 25 people attended. The atmosphere was very positive and
many good ideas were put forward. |
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