Indoor Meeting

Virtual presentation on Zoom Speaker: Chris Stewart (ProfessionalGardener)Chris described the earthworm as “the ultimate eco-engineer” for its work as a decomposer. There are at least 25 native species which are divided into 3 groups: Epogeic, living in the top 25mm of soil; Endogeic living in the top soil and burrowing horizontally; and Anecic, living deeper […]

Speaker: Aimee Felus (Chief Executive of the Western Sussex Rivers Trust) To an audience of 51, Aimee gave a comprehensive, but with depressing aspects, talk on the Health of Rivers. As CEO of the Western Sussex Rivers Trust (WSRT) she focussed on the Rivers Rother and Arun and their environs.Considering the state of waterways, WSRT […]

Lee Davies, Collections Manager, gave an informative and lively talk on Zoom to 23 members. The collection has 1.3 million specimens from all over the word with nearly 4,000 being added each year, sent in by the British Mycology Society and from expeditions.  Dry condition of 43% humidity and cool conditions of 18°C are needed […]

After the short business meeting there will be an illustrated Talk. Wildlife Projects in Haslemere and BeyondSpeaker: Gareth Matthes (Ecologist and HNHS member) Gareth, as a local ecologist, spoke to an audience of 39 of wide-ranging schemes and plans with which he is involved.He gave a number of useful contact details should members want to […]

Paul Stevens (Ecologist with increasing specialisation in hirundines and swifts) To a large audience of 60, Paul’s photos showed the physical difference between these species.Barn Swallow: Besides barns will nest in out-houses with an open door.  Mud is collected and added to an existing nest or to build a new one. There can be 3 […]

Speaker: Michael Blencowe (Sussex naturalist, co-author of “Butterflies of Sussex” and wildlife guide) An audience of over 60 enjoyed the presentation which had not only photographs but sounds of birds and entertaining, animated comments and diagrams.By the use of trail cameras and ultraviolet torches Michael recounted his night excursions, including:In the garden: sounds of Green […]

Speaker: Chris Stewart (Professional Gardener) Owing to technical difficulties, this Winter Talk did not take place.

Birds, climate and habitat in a changing world Speaker: Alan Perry (HNHS Committee member and Emeritus President of Sussex Ornithological Society) In the UK global warming is affecting birds, butterflies, moths and plants which are known to be moving northwards from areas that are too warm for them to thrive.Species moving north: Golden Plover, Dunlin, […]

Speaker: Richard Fortey (Paleontologist with research interests including trilobites, long-time career as Paleontologist at Natural History Museum, London, writer of 14 books on wildlife, presenter of television programmes including BBC4 “Nature’s Wonderlands: Islands of Evolution”). The subject of the talk was taken from the title of Richard’s recent book of memoirs of his early years. […]

Speaker: Dave Elliott (Lead Ranger: National Trust, South Downs West Area) Dave spoke to an audience of 60 members.The Valewood Project, was aimed to increase the biodiversity by natural processes: bringing in Longhorn Cattle and Beavers (a keystone species).  Beavers feed on soft vegetation, the cambium layer of tree trunks, shoots and buds of trees. […]