Photo: Purple jellydisk - Andrew Graham
Our talks are until further notice held online. Members 'attend' free of charge and will be emailed the link a few days in advance. Guests are also warmly invited to join us - just email Dick Budden at treasurer.tisnathist@gmail.com for instructions on paying the guest fee of £2 and he will then send you the link. There are opportunities to comment and ask questions.
You can download a PDF of the full programme, including Young Nature Watch, here.
You can download a PDF of the full programme, including Young Nature Watch, here.
OUR NEXT TALK:
Thursday, 18 March 2021, 7.30pm
Neil Turnbull and Richard Salter, Wiltshire Police Rural Crime team
Note: This talk will be hosted by Wiltshire Police using Microsoft Teams. Members will be sent the link in advance, guests please email Dick Budden at treasurer.tisnathist@gmail.com for information on paying the guest fee of £2.
Neil Turnbull and Richard Salter, Wiltshire Police Rural Crime team
Note: This talk will be hosted by Wiltshire Police using Microsoft Teams. Members will be sent the link in advance, guests please email Dick Budden at treasurer.tisnathist@gmail.com for information on paying the guest fee of £2.
Wildlife crime isn't just hare coursing - Photo: Abby Eaton
Wiltshire Police work within a national strategy dedicated to combating all kinds of rural crime – agricultural, environmental, wildlife and also heritage crime. This involves many other police forces and since last year Wiltshire alone has a team of over 20 officers. There is legislation to protect everything from foxes to hedgerows – and of course to combat poaching.
Right on our doorstep near Lawn Farm evidence of what seemed to have been hare coursing was found last month - a burnt out 4x4 with a Lurcher dog sat outside the back of the vehicle. The dog was still alive, but mal-nourished. A dead hare was located next to the vehicle.
In the past, successful prosecutions have resulted in prison sentences for those convicted and/or being banned from entering parts of the country.
Wiltshire Police work within a national strategy dedicated to combating all kinds of rural crime – agricultural, environmental, wildlife and also heritage crime. This involves many other police forces and since last year Wiltshire alone has a team of over 20 officers. There is legislation to protect everything from foxes to hedgerows – and of course to combat poaching.
Right on our doorstep near Lawn Farm evidence of what seemed to have been hare coursing was found last month - a burnt out 4x4 with a Lurcher dog sat outside the back of the vehicle. The dog was still alive, but mal-nourished. A dead hare was located next to the vehicle.
In the past, successful prosecutions have resulted in prison sentences for those convicted and/or being banned from entering parts of the country.
Thursday, 15 April 2021, 7.30pm
Tom Morath, Hawk Conservancy Trust
The work of the Hawk Conservancy Trust and the National Bird of Prey Hospital.
Tom Morath, Hawk Conservancy Trust
The work of the Hawk Conservancy Trust and the National Bird of Prey Hospital.
Thursday, 6 May 2021
Andrew Graham, TNHS Committee: Anyone can be a wildlife recorder
Andrew took over the late David Rear's responsibility for monitoring butterflies in the Oddford Vale and also monitors elsewhere in Wiltshire, he's been doing weekly counts of birds in his garden for several years and last summer extended this to using a trap provided by Butterfly Conservation to monitor moths in his garden as well - hence the stunning photographs posted on this website.
We are hoping to recruit volunteers to help us monitor the population of swifts in Tisbury, after the new nest boxes are installed in April. We already know of a number of nest sites that have been used until last year and it is vital that we check whether they are again this year.
For more about wildlife recording, go to that page.
Andrew Graham, TNHS Committee: Anyone can be a wildlife recorder
Andrew took over the late David Rear's responsibility for monitoring butterflies in the Oddford Vale and also monitors elsewhere in Wiltshire, he's been doing weekly counts of birds in his garden for several years and last summer extended this to using a trap provided by Butterfly Conservation to monitor moths in his garden as well - hence the stunning photographs posted on this website.
We are hoping to recruit volunteers to help us monitor the population of swifts in Tisbury, after the new nest boxes are installed in April. We already know of a number of nest sites that have been used until last year and it is vital that we check whether they are again this year.
For more about wildlife recording, go to that page.
Thursday, 16 September 2021, 7.30pm
Simon Smart: Wildlife on land owned by the Ministry of Defence
Simon Smart: Wildlife on land owned by the Ministry of Defence
Thursday, 21 October 2021, 7.30pm
Steve Flowerday: Diversity of invertebrates in freshwater systems
Steve Flowerday: Diversity of invertebrates in freshwater systems
David Holroyd with his 'catch' - Photo: Andrew Carter
This talk complements the invertebrate survey of the River Nadder in September 2020, led by David Holroyd.
Thursday, 18 October 2021, 7.30pm
Speaker from Plantlife
Speaker from Plantlife
A late but nonetheless handsome fungus in February '21 - Photo: Elizabeth Forbes
For more about Plantlife, go to their website:
'Wild flowers , plants and fungi are the life support for all our wildlife and their colour and character light up our landscapes. But without our help , this priceless natural heritage is in danger of being lost.
'From the open spaces of our nature reserves to the corridors of government , we work nationally and internationally to raise their profile, celebrate their beauty, and to protect their future.'
'Wild flowers , plants and fungi are the life support for all our wildlife and their colour and character light up our landscapes. But without our help , this priceless natural heritage is in danger of being lost.
'From the open spaces of our nature reserves to the corridors of government , we work nationally and internationally to raise their profile, celebrate their beauty, and to protect their future.'
Thursday, 16 December 2021
Robin Walter, Forester and local author of 'Living with Trees'
'Grow, protect and celebrate the trees and woods in your community.'
'Britain's woodlands occupy much less land than in other European countries and our woods and trees are under threat - whether from development, from poor management or from simply not understanding the vital role that trees play in our lives - as witnessed by the recent large-scale felling of city trees in Sheffield.' (Google books)
This is also our Christmas Party.
Robin Walter, Forester and local author of 'Living with Trees'
'Grow, protect and celebrate the trees and woods in your community.'
'Britain's woodlands occupy much less land than in other European countries and our woods and trees are under threat - whether from development, from poor management or from simply not understanding the vital role that trees play in our lives - as witnessed by the recent large-scale felling of city trees in Sheffield.' (Google books)
This is also our Christmas Party.
Thursday, 20 January 2022
Bob Gibbons: Why is the Isle of Purbeck so special?
Bob is based in Dorset and is a renowned naturalist, tour leader and photographer. He is also the author of several of the Pocket Guide series, and of The Wildlife Photographer: a complete guide and many others. He wrote Wildflower wonders of the world, describing 50 very special sites around the world, about which he spoke to the Society back in 2016.
Bob Gibbons: Why is the Isle of Purbeck so special?
Bob is based in Dorset and is a renowned naturalist, tour leader and photographer. He is also the author of several of the Pocket Guide series, and of The Wildlife Photographer: a complete guide and many others. He wrote Wildflower wonders of the world, describing 50 very special sites around the world, about which he spoke to the Society back in 2016.
Thursday, 17 February 2022
Mark Elliott, Beaver Project Lead, Devon Wildlife Trust: Reintroducing beavers to England - lessons from the River Otter Beaver Trial
This is also our Annual General Meeting.
Mark Elliott, Beaver Project Lead, Devon Wildlife Trust: Reintroducing beavers to England - lessons from the River Otter Beaver Trial
This is also our Annual General Meeting.
Thursday, 17 March 2022
Imogen Cabadino, Royal Horticultural Society: Slugs and snails
Imogen Cabadino, Royal Horticultural Society: Slugs and snails
Thursday, 21 April 2022
Peter Inness, Lecturer in Meteorology, University of Reading: Future weather trends in the UK and the effect on wildlife
Peter Inness, Lecturer in Meteorology, University of Reading: Future weather trends in the UK and the effect on wildlife