Forthcoming 2008 events
	Crossness Nature Reserve
Date		Event	Meeting details
Sat 26^th Jan		PRACTICAL CONSERVATION DAY REEDBED MANAGEMENT Tools and gloves supplied, but do feel free to bring billhooks, sickles and scythes if you have them. Light refreshments supplied.	10am at the gate to the protected area Unfortunately the Norman Road gate will be closed due to road improvements. Please make your way to the reserve on foot, or meet me at 9.45am at the Lakeside complex car park (off Belvedere Road) and I can run a shuttle service though the works in my truck
Sat 23^rd Feb		PRACTICAL CONSERVATION DAY MODIFICATION TO SAND MARTIN NESTING BANK TO CELEBRATE NATIONAL NEST BOX WEEK Tools and gloves supplied (see page 8 for details) Light refreshments supplied.	10am at the gate to the protected area Unfortunately the Norman Road gate will be closed due to road improvements. See above for alternatives
Sat 26^th Apr		GUIDED TOUR OF NATURE RESERVE This event is essentially for the Bexley RSPB group, but all members of the Friends scheme are welcome. REFRESHMENTS WILL NOT BE PROVIDED – SORRY.	10am at the Thames Path viewing platform. Please bring binoculars if you have them
Weds 30^th Apr		BIRDSONG IDENTIFICATION WORKSHOP with Andrew Waller. This workshop will begin with an indoor (bird hide) teaching session listening to recorded bird sounds, followed by a walk around the reserve identifying birds by their calls. This event is being opened up to anybody wishing to come along, not just to members of the Friends scheme, so do feel free to promote this event more widely to friends and family. Some light refreshments provided. Please bring stout shoes, outdoor clothing and binoculars if you have them.	8.30am in the bird hide Unfortunately the Norman Road gate will be closed due to road improvements. Please make your way to the reserve on foot, or meet me at 8.15 at the Lakeside complex car park (off Belvedere Road) and I can run a shuttle service though the works in my truck
Thurs 8^th May		BREEDING BIRD SURVEY with Andrew Waller. Building on what we learned on the birdsong identification workshop, we will undertake a breeding bird survey of the reserve by identifying singing pairs. Please bring binoculars if you have them. Refreshments provided. We will undertake a similar survey on the southern marshes the following week on Thurs 15^th May. You do not need to have attended the workshop to join in.	8.30am in the bird hide Unfortunately the Norman Road gate will be closed due to road improvements. See above for alternatives
Thurs 5^th June		PRACTICAL CONSERVATION DAY TO CELEBRATE VOLUNTEERS WEEK AND WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY Ragwort control (which is toxic to livestock) on Crossness Nature Reserve. Gloves supplied. Refreshments supplied.	10am at the gate to the protected area Unfortunately the Norman Road gate will be closed due to road improvements. Please make your way to the reserve on foot, or meet me at 9.45am at the Lakeside complex car park (off Belvedere Road) and I can run a shuttle service though the works in my truck
Thurs 26^th June		DRAGONFLY AND BUTTERFLY WALK with Andrew Waller. Please bring clothing suitable for the weather conditions. Binoculars are useful for this event. Refreshements provided.	11am at the gate to the protected area. Estimated completion time 2pm
Mon 7^th July		BARN OWL AWARENESS DAY – A discussion about barn owl ecology and conservation, and a look at barn owl pellets and their content on the pond dipping platform; then, if we’re lucky, an opportunity to watch some owl activity around the nest site (the latter can’t be guaranteed unfortunately)	7.45pm in the protected area for 8pm start. Barn owl watch starting approximately 9pm (sunset at 21:18)
Fri 25^th July		BAT WALK with site warden. Please bring torches and clothing suitable for the weather conditions.	8.45pm at entrance to the protected area (sunset at 20:59)
To be confirmed		WINTER BIRD WALK Please bring binoculars, though some are available for loan if required. Refreshments provided.	To be confirmed

	Forthcoming 2008 events
	Crossness Southern Marshes
Date		Event	Meeting details
Thurs 15^th May		BREEDING BIRD SURVEY with Andrew Waller. Building on what we learned on the birdsong identification workshop, we will undertake a breeding bird survey of the marshes by identifying singing pairs. Please bring binoculars if you have them. A similar survey will be undertaken on the reserve the week before on Thurs 8^th May. You do not need to have attended the previous workshops to join in. REFRESHMENTS WILL NOT BE PROVIDED FOR THIS EVENT – SORRY.	8.30am at Southmere Lake/Lakeside car park off Belvedere Road
Sat 7^th June (to be confirmed)		MOTH SURVEY ON NATIONAL MOTH NIGHT hopefully with expert entomologist Colin Plant. We have been running this popular event for a couple of years now and there is always much to see and learn. Refreshments provided, usually in the comfort of Colin’s camper!! Be prepared for a late one (though people are free to leave earlier of course) as sunset isn’t until 21:14 and the traps need to be out a while before we get decent moth activity. Look out for further communication regarding this event and whether or not it goes ahead	9pm (or make your way to Crossness Southern Marsh earlier if you wish to help set up) at Southmere Lake/Lakeside car park off Belvedere Road (to be confirmed)
Thurs 17^th July		PRACTICAL CONSERVATION DAY ROOT OUT RAGWORT Ragwort control (which is toxic to livestock). Gloves supplied. Some light refreshments supplied. Please be advised that the paddock in which we will be working will have grazing horses, so this event is unsuitable for anybody with a fear of horses	10am at Southmere Lake/Lakeside car park off Belvedere Road
Fri 15^th Aug		BAT WALK TO CELEBRATE EUROPEAN BAT WEEKEND with site warden. Please bring torches and clothing suitable for the weather conditions. Actually, European Bat Weekend is the following weekend but since that falls on the August Bank Holiday when many people will be away, I’ve decided to bring our event forward. REFRESHMENTS WILL NOT BE PROVIDED FOR THIS EVENT – SORRY.	8.15pm at Southmere Lake/Lakeside car park off Belvedere Road
Date to be confirmed		CROSSNESS HEALTH WALK with site manager for the South East London Green Chain Walking Festival. The route will lead from Southmere Lake to the Crossness Southern Marsh footpath (1.5km), take us through Crossness Nature Reserve, along the Riverside Walk and down the Ridgeway back to Southmere Lake. This is approximately a 4km walk which we estimate to take around 2.5 hours. Please be advised that Public Footpath 1 requires walking up and over a fairly steep bank which leads to the Eastern Way (A2016) dual carriageway, and crossing the A2016. Please wear stout, comfortable walking shoes; clothing appropriate for the weather conditions; and please bring a bottle of water.	1pm at the Southmere Lake/Lakeside car park (Belvedere Road, Abbey Wood).