Guided walk along the Mel

Cam Valley Forum has invited us to a guided walk along part of the river Mel from Melbourn to Meldreth on Tuesday 24 May.

Steve Hawkins, chair of the River Mel Restoration Group, has kindly agreed to lead the walk and talk about the improvements that have been carried out by volunteers from Meldreth and Melbourn. We will start from the Melbourn village car park at 6.30pm and end at the British Queen pub in Meldreth.

If you are coming from Cambridge along the A10 you should take the first turning into Melbourn, and follow the road into the village where the car park will be on your left, just past the Elm Tree pub and behind the bus stop.

This is quite a short walk of about a mile and a half, but Cam Valley Forum will arrange a lift back to the car park in Melbourn for those who would like it. In order to organise the lifts it would be helpful if you would let Peter Brunning know by Sunday 15 May if you are hoping to come - he can then advise CVF.

News from Granta Park Lake

George reported on Saturday 2nd April that the swans were still in control of the lake ("No fly zone" in operation) but not yet on the nest - but they left a sentry near the nest site.





Two days later, a swan was sitting on the nest!



Spring is in the air and there's a wonderful tree in full bloom:

Naturewatch Programme - April to July 2011

These details are provisional and will be updated from time to time. Members will be reminded and details of time confirmed about a week before the event.

April

Sat 16th 9.15am - River Sampling

May

Sat 7th late afternoon - Native Bees (Talk and walk)

Tues 24th evening – Beech Wood

Sat/Sun 28/29th weekend - Local Birdwatch

June

Thurs 9th evening - River Sampling

Sat 11th - RSPB Lakenheath - Plant Study walk

Sat 18th - Fleam Dyke 1 - Plant Study walk

Fri 24th - Haslingfield

July

Sat 2nd – Fleam Dyke 2 - Plant Study walk

(Thurs 7th July evening - Project Team meeting)

Sat 16th - Welney Bird Outing

Fri 22nd - Chalky Road 1 - Plant Study walk

Ideas for autumn programme – dates to be confirmed

August
Upland Farm - Plant Study Walk

September/October
Fungus Foray
River sampling 3

October
Project Team Meeting, Members Meeting

Any other ideas for the Naturewatch programme gratefully received.

News from Granta Park Lake

Our local correspondent, George Woodley, reports:

"The swans are nesting and the battle for the lake has started this morning with five Canada Geese driven off in the usual spectacular fashion."

Grey Lag Geese at Granta Park Lake on 19th March

Fungi on Cambridge Road

Sally Turnidge found Flammulina veluptipes (Velvet Shank) in their garden today:

Members' Spring Meeting - 12th March 2011

Keep the date free - 12th March at 10:30.
The café will be open!

Expedition to Paxton Pits - 26th February 2011

A small group braved the rain to visit Paxton Pits Nature Reserve (http://www.paxton-pits.org.uk/).


After observing birds around the feeders during a heavy shower, we set off and were rewarded by a good selection of water birds under bright but overcast lighting.







Sally Turnidge recorded the birds seen:

Long tailed Tits
Teal
Wigeon
Golden eye
Gadwall
Moorhen
Coot
Greylag geese
Canada geese
Heron
Cormorant
Great crested grebe
Pochard
Blue tits
Sparrows
Reed buntings
Chaffinch
Dunnocks
Great tits
Collared doves
Magpies
Mute swan
Mallard
Tufted duck +
Blackheaded gull

We also saw a Grey squirrel!