Field Meeting

Due to the problematic weather forecast, we have decided to cancel Saturday's field meeting to Thursley Common. Leader: James Giles (Reserve Manager)A walk on this National Nature Reserve with heathland and a Ramsar-designated wetland, with a focus on dragonflies and other invertebrates. Directions: (N.B. not the main car park!) From Elstead village go south on […]

Leader: Fiona Scully, Butterfly Conservation Reserves OfficerThis nine-acre ancient wetland meadow is an SSSI comprises a diverse mixture ofhabitats suitable for meadow and woodland insects and flora. Directions: The reserve lies 100m south-east of Bentley Station car park: turn off the A31 Guildford-Alton road at Bentley village for Bentley Railway Station. Car parking (charged) is […]

Leaders: Frank Denham (site owner) and Andy Swan (HNHS Member)This tiny site has been restored as a meadow, after being left as wasteground for many years. It is becoming rich in plants and insects, including some significant rarities. Note: very little walking needed for this visit! There will be an option to visit the nearby […]

Leaders: Phil Darley and Arthur Greenwood (HNHS Members)Oaken Wood is Butterfly Conservation's only reserve in Surrey. Butterflies were the main theme for the day, and the weather was perfect for them. Even before we had entered the Butterfly Conservation reserve, a Wood White fluttered past! Our leader, Phil Darley, introduced us to Oaken Wood and […]

Leader: Charlotte Eley (Area Ranger, National TrustIt was a glorious sunny morning when we met at the National Trust Offices at Woolbeding to be greeted by Ranger, Charlotte Eley, for a guided walk to learn about the ‘reimagining’ of former arable farm land on the southern slopes of the Rother Valley. The project was started […]

Leader: Jonnie Taylor (HNHS Member)On a sunny morning with a bit of a chill, 24 members attended this private site, which was a new one for us. The site sits on heavy clay, wet and soggy in the winter but dry in the summer. The owners had a plan for ecological restoration, their aim being […]

Leaders: Phil Darley and Doug Maughan (HNHS members) It was immediately apparent that there were large numbers of Brent Geese everywhere: on the sea, on the freshwater pools and on the meadows – there must have been many hundreds. We soon found Greenfinches on meadow-side bushes. On the sea were a group of smart Pintails […]

Leaders: Doug Maughan and Paul Nevett (HNHS Members) As we arrived at the centre for the 10 o’clock start the sky lightened to light grey, which made a change from the dark grey and rain we had for the previous week! The Song Thrush and Blue Tits announced that spring is on the way. The […]

Leaders: Paul Nevett and Andy Swan (HNHS members)On a lovely sunny morning at Frensham Great Pond, enjoyed by 12 Members, 40 bird species were recorded. Highlights were a group of showy Crossbills near the car park, a number of vocal Water Rails around the reedbeds, 2 Kingfishers, and a flock of c 50 Redwings moving […]

Leader: Neil Humphris (Leconfield Estate Head Forester) This site was of particular interest as it is mainly commercial woodland but managed in a way that encourages wildlife. In addition to timber, shooting and fishing were commercial activities in the woodland, so the group was intrigued to find out how all this was accommodated. The woodland […]