Field Meeting

Leader: Mike Waite (Living Landscapes Manager Surrey Wildlife Trust) 11 members of our Society visited Hankley Common, hoping to see the Great Fox Spider. Mike had spent two years searching for the spider that was thought to be extinct from the common, his hard work paid off. There were high hopes that one might be […]

Leader: Margaret Hibbard (HNHS Member) *** MEETING CANCELLED DUE TO BAD WEATHER *** Hampshire & Isle of Wight Butterfly Conservation manage this flower-rich grassland on chalk downland. Of the 34 butterfly species recorded it is possible that over 20 species will be there in July.  Bring lunch if you wish to stay on into afternoon.

Leader: Katy Ayers (HNHS Member) Although the water level in two ponds was very low an interesting range of species were found.In the more shaded pond there were many Common Newts, large dragonfly larvae, Ramshorn Snails and Pea Mussels.  Hand lenses were used to observe Water Louse and daphnia which had been transferred to white […]

Leader: Vanessa McClure (HNHS Member and Guildford NHS Member) In continuous sunshine the flowers were superb, including swathes of bright pink Sainfoin and Yellow Rattle. Among many other species identified were: Bulbous Buttercup, Salad Burnett, Common Milkwort and Pyramidal Orchid.Vanessa located yellow spikes of Man Orchid, so called because of 4 spurs from each floret […]

Leader: Phil Darley (HNHS member) Thirteen members were not disappointed in the hope of seeing Wood White butterflies, of which at least 15 were flying. Also seen were Brimstone, Speckled Wood, Holly Blue and many Speckled Yellow Moths.As part of Butterfly Conservation’s Wood White Project over 1,000 plug plants needed as food plants by Wood […]

Leader: Fiona Haynes (Reserves Officer) A Red Kite greeted 17 members at the entrance.  This chalk downland site with 50 former small chalk pits and many old ant hills has SSSI status. Widespread and impressive were Cowslips still in flower.  When the sun broke through several adult Duke of Burgundy butterflies were seen.Also seen or […]

Leader: Jon Taylor (HNHS Member) Jon, who has acute hearing, wanted the 17 members to identify species of birds by listening carefully to their song, rather than by through binoculars.The Chiffchaff and the Cuckoo call their own name; the Song Thrush loudly repeats different phrases over and over; and the Blackbird has a beautiful, relaxed […]

Leader: Dr. June Chatfield (Vice President British Conchological Society) Snail species totalled 18 (plus 2 slug species) thereby opening members’ eyes to an often overlooked group of organisms. In grassland were found: Wrinkled, Garden and White-lipped. In the beech hanger living examples were found: Round-mouthed, Discus and door snails.  The highlights were 3 species of […]

Leader: Mike Prince (RSPB Volunteer) 14 members were treated to sightings of around 43 different bird species and several Roe Deer. These included several flocks of Linnet, Dartford Warbler, Stonechat.At Stilt Pond, there were sightings of a Grey Heron, many Wigeon and Shoveler, a solitary Avocet, a Greenshank and 2 Common Ringed Plovers, The highlight being […]

Leader: Mike Edwards (Member of The Lynchmere Society) In 2012 our Society had given a donation for the purchasing of Hazel saplings. The walk passed the plantation on “Little Common” where, despite the poor acid soil, the trees had reached a good height and were covered in yellow catkins.Mike gave help to identify trees in […]