The calendar tells me that summer is here again, even if the weather is telling me otherwise. We have now completed our series of indoor meetings and come to the end of my first year as leader of the group. It has been a surprisingly busy year for me but a very enjoyable one.
We have once again enjoyed some excellent speakers, with the highlights for me being the magnificent photographs of Florida presented by George McCarthy, the developments affecting the machair of North Uist as explained by Graham Atkins and the sexy secrets of our garden birds as divulged by our undercover reporter, Dominic Couzens. Additionally we have enjoyed talks on the Holme Reserve in Norfolk, the Galapagos Islands, Lesvos, New Mexico, Skokholm, Australia and the moors and dales of Yorkshire as well as listening to the sounds of nature as recorded by Dennis Furnell.
The details of our excursions are given in the outing secretary’s report but I have to say that I have thoroughly enjoyed all the excursions this year and seen some super birds as well. The black redstart and Pomarine Skua at Dungeness, the Water Rail and White-Fronted Geese at Pulborough and Cuckoos, Cettis Warblers and Garganey at Brandon Reserve are just some of the outstanding birds we have seen on these trips.
Nearer to home, in May, John Wyatt, leading local ornithologist, led a dawn chorus walk in Ashridge, where twenty-four species were seen and heard. John was even able to explain the calls, some of them warning of an overhead predator and some of them warning of danger from below.
In June, seven members of the Group visited College Lake and, after enjoying the guided walk and homemade refreshments, were treated to a fly-past by an osprey. Yes, an osprey. At College Lake. In June.
Unfortunately the Boxmoor Conker Festival was a washout, with torrential rain all day. Our sales table took only £2 but on the positive side, we did enrol two Junior Wildlife Members.
The Group ran a successful stall at the Dacorum Environmental Fair in Gadebridge Park in July. This was well attended by members of the public on the Sunday and by the local schools on the Monday. Some new members were signed up and many name-gathering cards were collected. Oh, and Sue Bolton from our committee won a washing machine in a competition there.
In November we ran a stall at the Mayor’s Charity Fair in The Pavilion where we raised £208 selling Christmas goods.
Bill Oddie with Peter Bolton and Paul Green (photograph: Pat Smith)
In March I had a telephone call from the South Beds Group asking me if we would run a stall at an event on Dunstable Downs as their Group was already committed to a coach outing that day. As the event was the opening of the final part of the Icknield Way Bridle Path by Bill Oddie, I agreed to do it in the hope that we might hobnob with the famous personality. We were not disappointed as he came over and spent some time with us and also helped with the story telling for children just in front of our stall. We raised £28 on sales goods and all involved enjoyed the day. Our Quiz Night in July realised a net profit of £433, which BP will double in their Matched Giving Scheme.
Several members of the committee have been working with
members of Boxmoor Trust and in April we successfully launched the Hemel
Hempstead Junior Wildlife Watch which is being run as an RSPB Wildlife Explorer
Group for children aged between 8 and 12. Forty-seven children registered with
the Group, which will have monthly meetings at The Old Barn, Westbrook Hay. I
was particularly pleased to see the two junior members who braved the rain to
join the Wildlife Explorers at the Boxmoor Conker Festival enrol as we now had
something more to offer them. I have to say that all members of the committee
have gained so much pleasure from this activity. The response we have had from
the children after the first meetings has been absolutely terrific and given us
all great enthusiasm to carry on.
Thanks are due to Pam Litton, our committee member, who organised a harvest stall raising £98 (can I get my order in for more plum jam next year please?) and a plant stall raising £75 at our indoor meetings. Thanks also to John Penfold who has continued to spend a tremendous amount of time sorting through our stamps, coins and postcards to donate a further £50 this year, bringing the total raised from this activity to over £420.
Unfortunately we have to say goodbye to two of our longstanding committee members. Chris Goodwin is moving away from the area after serving as Group Treasurer for 27 years. Helen Reeley is also resigning due to her many other commitments after serving 15 years on the committee although I am pleased to report that she will continue to meet and greet us at the indoor meetings. Thanks to both of them for the tremendous amount of work they have done over the years and of course we wish them both well for the future.
In ending this, my first review, I should like to thank all the people who have helped in the running of the Group over the past year. The committee members have given their full support and, despite the many years of service, remain as enthusiastic as ever. Special thanks to Jenni Anderson who has guided me through my first year of leadership and helped me settle into the role. Thanks of course to Anne Farrer and husband Phil for the patient handover and thanks to the volunteers who provide the refreshments at our indoor meetings. Thanks to David Stevens for editing this newsletter.
Finally thanks to all of you who come to our monthly meetings or support us by buying the Grand Draw tickets.
We look forward to seeing you at our future meetings.
Paul Green - Group Leader