Once again South Notts Local Group will be running it`s world famous pub quiz at the Poppy & Pint (Lady Bay) to raise funds for Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust. The quiz will be Sunday 27th January, arrival time 7 pm for a 7.30 pm start. The questions will again be set by Neil Glenn.

But also as usual we are limited to 25 tables, with a team size at a MAXIMUM of four people, Cost £3.50per head,

As last year was a sell out (and we had a few reserve teams).so if you are interested you should book early to avoid disappointment. So if you want to reserve a table please contact gordon.dyne@gmail.com.

A big thanks to P&P/Castle Rock Brewery for giving us use of the room

The WATCH GROUP have published their Autumn programme. The Group is aimed at children between 8 and 13 years old (under 8`s must be accompanied) and  usually meets on the 2nd Saturday of every month  (11am to 1pm, suggested donation £2) at the Visitors Centre and aims to provide nature exploration, discovery games and practical outdoors activities. The programme includes Sat 8th Sept (Beetle “Drive”),  Sat 13th Oct (An Apple a Day), Sat 10th Nov (A day in the life of an Oak Tree), Sat 8th Dec (End of year hootnanny). For more info contact Geoff East on 07804 297041 or rushcliffewatch@nottswt.co.uk. See poster http://www.southnottswildlife.org.uk/content/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Wildlife-Watch-programme-Autumn-2018-1.pdf

There will be a Swift Open Evening at St. Luke’s Church, Kinoulton, on Thursday 21st June from around 7.30pm until it goes dark.  All welcome but it would be good if folk could let me know so that we have enough coffee/tea/bikkies for all.  We hope to have aerial displays of screaming swifts around the tower as well as views of the birds on their nests via the TV screen in the church.  Perhaps bats and a glorious sunset as well if we’re really lucky. Please contact Carol Collins, 0194981798 or carolwcollins61@gmail.com at the beginning of June, by which time we should have decided on dates and times.

June 16^th to 23^rd 2018 is Swift Awareness Week. In Kinoulton, South Nottinghamshire, we are lucky enough to have encouraged swifts to nest in the tower of St. Luke’s Church and we would like to share our enjoyment of these amazing birds. If, as we hope, the swifts return to breed in the tower this year we will choose one or two evenings during Swift Awareness Week to invite anyone who would like to experience the swifts screaming around the church and over the churchyard, as well as seeing them on their nests via a CCTV screen, to come and join us. We’ll be there to answer questions and, if the elements are on our side, to witness the disappearance of the swifts into their nest boxes or up into the sky for the night, as the sun sets.

If you would like to join us please contact Carol Collins, 0194981798 or carolwcollins61@gmail.com at the beginning of June, by which time we should have decided on dates and times.

The Wildlife WATCH Group for children at Rushcliffe CP have released their winter activities list. See attached Rushcliffe CP WW Programme Jan – Apr 2018

Join us for the South Notts Local Group General Knowledge Pub Quiz, this time at Castle Rocks Poppy and Pint in Lady Bay, Pierrepont Road, West Bridgford  (NG2 5DX), on Sunday 11^th February starting 7.30 pm. Teams of up to a maximum of four people  at a cost of £2.50 per head and we can take a maximum of 25 teams. Book early to avoid disappointment, contact gordon.dyne@gmail.com or 0115 8784842 to reserve a place.

You could also help us by donating raffle and tombola prizes to use at the Pub Quiz and also the Spring Fair. If you have anything you would be prepared to donate please contact me on gordon.dyne@gmail.com

The Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire Entomological Society are running their annual insect exhibition at INSECT SHOW on Saturday 11th November 10.30-4.30 Brackenhurst Campus (Nottingham Trent University) on A612 just south of Southwell NG9 0QF

Come and explore the amazing world of insects. There will be a large number of fascinating and educational displays including live exhibits. There will also be various items for sale. There will be something to interest both adults and youngsters, whether you know anything about insects or not. A series of talks will also run throughout the day. Enjoy a browse, and take a break in the café for a cuppa. See www.danes-insects.org.uk

ENTRANCE AND PARKING ARE FREE Access and WC are suitable for wheelchairs. Nottingham-Southwell bus stops outside.

Rushcliffe Country Park Wildlife WATCH for children  have published their Autumn programme

First off on the 9th September we are going ‘wild in the country’. That means, weather permitting we shall be out and about using all our senses to discover what is lurking in the country park in late summer. This might mean that we will see how a tree feels when its hugged (not emotionally obviously!!), or how certain trees or plants smell when sniffed. Maybe we will come across a frog or a toad that might need kissing to reveal if there really is any truth to the fairy tales we know and love. As well as letting our senses loose in the great outdoors, we have a great game lined up – The Smelly Sock Game. Not quite as bad as it sounds – our socks will be fairly clean, but full of some interesting items for you to sniff at and to guess the contents. We promise no cheese of any sort. So don’t forget your coats and wellies, hats and sun-cream, nose pegs, etc. It will be fun. Start time is the usual 11:00 at the Education Centre and we will finish off with drinks and snacks just before 1 pm.

Then In October, we have an organisation called ‘Hawks of Steele’ coming to visit us and do expect this will be a busy session, so you might want to make sure you reserve a space and arrive on time so as not to miss a minute of the session. Prepare to be awestruck by some fantastic Raptors.

In November, we will be entertaining the Notts Fungi Group, who will be introducing us to some amazing fungi to be found in the park, so that will be a treat not to be missed. If we have time, we might even have a go at making and naming our own brands of fungi and we will all have fun guys (and girls). Oh dear, less of the silly jokes please we hear you all saying.

The Rushcliffe Wildlife Watch Group (for more info contact Geoff East on geoff.east@virginmedia.com), for a full programme follow this link.

Just a reminder that our winter Wildlife Talks programme starts again on the first Thursday in October at the Methodist Church, Musters Rd, West Bridgford as usual. we cover a range of topics relating to both local and world wildlife using knowledgable speakers. A snip at £3 per head (incl tea & biccies). Come along and try it, all welcome.

Full details of the 2017/18 Wildlife Talks Programme can be found on our web site 

First published in 2003 the Rushcliffe Nature Conservation Strategy is intended to promote the development of nature conservation and encourage increased local community engagement with wildlife across Rushcliffe. For the last few years the Implementation Group (RNCSIG) has reported back to the nature conservation community as part of an annual Rushcliffe Nature Conservation Forum. However this year there will not be a forum as it`s place is being taken by a Woodland Training Day, which is a rather more specifically targeted than the normal forum.

So RNCSIG has decided to try something a little different in the way of reporting back for this year and also proposing the make up of the Steering Group by doing it online via Survey Monkey. The link to the Survey Monkey Online “AGM” is RNCSIG Online AGM

We welcome a response from anybody who is engaged in or interested in wildlife and nature conservation in Rushcliffe, so please circulate this to members of your Friends Group, Reserve Work Party etc – all are welcome to participate. We have set a deadline of Friday 1st Sept, 2017 for responses.

Cheers – Gordon Dyne ​   (Chair – RNCSIG  )     ​