The programme for Naturalists and Ecologists Recording data (NERD Club) is in development – here are the dates and events we have planned so far…
Here is the registration form for joining
| Month | Activity | Notes | Nest box population activities (on rota) |
| Dec 2024 | Rhododendron bashing with bonfire and Christmassyness 15 December 1 – 5pm | Bring gardening gloves if you have them (we have spares), old clothes you don’t mind getting dirty, waterproofs, wellies or walking boots. | |
| Jan 2025 | Putting up nest boxes Saturday 11 January 11am-4pm | Bring packed lunch, warm clothes, waterproofs, wellies or walking boots, gloves.We will also have a session from Evan on getting i-naturalist set up on our phones ready for the next session. | |
| Feb | The wonders of Moss-moss is around all year round and even prefers the wetter months. 22/23 February tbc | bring a hand lens if you have one. small bags for collecting moss. Phones with i-naturalist uploaded (see last meeting). Prof Hamlyn Jones will be joining us to share his moss knowledge and Aimée Moretti of TCV will come and talk about nature recording apps. | |
| March | Hopefully more bird ringing possibly sunday 23/30 March 1330-430pm tbc followed by a nest check induction for all people taking part | Nest check induction for surveyors (including parents for those under 16/18 – tbc) | |
| April | 1st Breeding Birds Survey followed by Badger Watching Sunday 27 April 3pm- 930pmsunset 2030. There will be an alternative/additional evening for badger watching a couple of weekday evening in Late April if weather good (tbc) | bring something waterproof to sit on, very warm clothes for sitting still, binoculars, notebook. we will do the bird survey 3-630pm then will come back to the house for pizza. and go back out at 7/745 for Badger watching You can just come for one of these activities if you like. | Early April – start weekly nest box checks |
| May | Nest box population catch-up meetingDate tbc – depends on progress of the nests | We will all meet to discuss how the nest checks are doing – what to expect from the chick period and confirm dates for ringing chicks. | weekly nest box checks |
| June | 2nd Breeding Bird survey a weekday evening probably Monday 23 June 5-9pm Ringing chicks (more than one date) Dates TBC but will most probably be weekdays 5-9pm | weekly checks and ringing chicks | |
| July | HOLIDAY phew…. | ||
| Aug | Bat survey Monday 11th August (sunset 2100 so meet 8pm for talk and leave c. 2200 – depends when the bats finish coming out) another evening or two pulling Himalayan Balsam, an invasive non-native – dates tbc depended on weather | Cleaning out nest boxes (could do ahead of the Bat evening) or another evening | |
| Sept | tbc – possible migration session – talk and inside discussion. or foraging plants. or both | ||
| Oct | Fungus Foray date tbc | probably a sunday afternoon 1330-4pm | |
| Nov | Bird Ringing at feeders date tbc | probably a sunday afternoon 1330-4pm |
Upper Woodburn 