Programme

Wednesday 1^st September

How to Identify Bats from Quite a Long Way Away

Dave P

All you ever wanted to know about the worlds only mammal with the natural ability for powered flight. Find out how those little fluttery things you see at twilight are in fact highly efficient hunters, and listen to some recordings of their ultrasonic calls. An absolute must if you want to come on next week's bat walk.

Wednesday 8^th September

Bat Walk

Dave P

We think the woods around Mill Green will be a really good place to see bats on a late summer evening - or perhaps it's the lure of the Viper Pub?

Meet at the car park opposite the Viper (1½ miles north of Ingatestone, on the road between Mill Green and Highwood, grid ref TL641018, see map) at 7.30pm (prompt) for a dusk walk with Dave's bat detector, or from 9pm for a drink in the pub.

Sunday 12^th September

Danbury to Woodham Mortimer Walk

Rose

Danbury Common is the second largest area of common land in Essex after Epping Forest. Recent clearance is helping to re-establish more of the heathland habitat with its associated wildlife of heather, bedstraw, milkwort, tormentil and common lizard, adder, butterflies and moths.

Meet at the main National Trust car park at Danbury Common (the larger car park near the centre of the common, Grid ref TL782044, see map) at 10.30 am. We'll walk to Woodham Mortimer for lunch at the Hurdle Makers Arms.

Please let Rose know if you're planning to come.

Wednesday 15th September

Committee Meeting

We will be trip planning for winter and organising Wednesday evening activities for November. Everybody welcome!

Wednesday 22^nd September

Table Tennis

Marion

Prepare yourselves for a sporty evening on the table tennis tables of the Riverside Leisure centre, Victoria Rd., Chelmsford. The idea is to hire the tables from 8 till 9 then retire to the Riverside bar for a well-earned drink. Marion will need to know who wants to come at least one week in advance. Cost will depend on how many players we have, but should be in the region of £2-£3 each.

Friday 24^th to Sunday 26^th September

YHA Medway

Tom

Join us for a delightful weekend exploring the wonders of Kent. Medway YH is a converted oast house by Capstone Country Park, near Rochester. As well as the walking opportunities on the North Downs, there's the chance to visit Rochester with its castle and Dickens Centre, and the Historic Dockyard at Chatham is well worth a visit.

Deposit £24. Total cost about £35 (inc. meals & petrol)

Wednesday 29^th September

My Spiny Friends

Ali

Just about everyone has at least one cactus decorating their window sill at home. They are the ultimate in easy care houseplants. But more than this they are a collection of weird-looking plants, highly evolved to suit extreme environments & exotic locations. Come and learn more about what they are and where they come from. Books, pictures and live specimens will be provided.

Note: Unless otherwise stated, Wednesday events start at 8.30pm at the YMCA in Victoria Road, Chelmsford

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