Meetings take place on the first and third Tuesday of each month (between October & March) at Pangbourne Village Hall from 19:45. All visitors are welcome at both our indoor meetings* and field excursions. If you wish to become a member click here.
* There is a £3 charge for non-members at indoor meetings
Winter 2017/2018
3rd October David Cliffe
Presidential Address: The Photographs of Ken Grinstead
Ken was a committee member, editor of The Reading Naturalist and an excellent natural history photographer. Following his death in 2010, the Society received some 10,000 of Ken’s slides. This talk will show some of the slides, now in digital format, and make suggestions as to how they might be utilized.
17th October Dr. Tom Oliver (Reading Univ.)
Impact of climate change and land use on butterflies.
In the UK, we have a wealth of natural history data collected by dedicated volunteers which is very useful for understanding the impact of environmental change on butterflies. Dr. Oliver will show how detailed analysis of the data enables environmentalists to make informed decisions for butterfly conservation.
7th November Des Sussex (Natural England)
Damselflies and Dragonflies in Southern Lowland Britain.
The talk will cover both common and scarcer species of damselflies and dragonflies and their habitats, with particular reference to localities in Berkshire. Des will discuss their lifecycles, and include details of some conservation actions taken to help these wonderful insects. Joint meeting with BBOWT.
21st November Katrina van Grouw
A very Fine Swan Indeed: Art, Science and the Unfeathered Bird.
If you’d expect a book about bird anatomy to be specialized and academic, think again. The Unfeathered Bird is a unique combination of art and science aimed at anyone interested in birds. Join Katrina as she discusses her inspirations for the book, and the 25-year journey to create it.
5th December Dr. Tara Pirie (Reading Univ.)
Leopards in South Africa.
Dr. Pirie will talk about South African leopards including general biology, her research and the methods used to identify them using their coat patterns. The talk will include information about the extremely rare strawberry/erythristic leopard captured on camera.
19th December
Christmas Party and Photographic Competition
2018
2nd January Tony Rayner
Conservation – my way.
Tony’s Presidential Address in 2003 was about creating a private nature reserve from scratch. 14 years on, this talk seeks to outline the development and uses of this Cholsey site. Expect to hear about education, cider and a book.
16th January Dr. Michael Keith-Lucas
Climate Change – What will happen to your garden?
Our speaker will talk about the effect of climate change on the plants in our gardens, and how it is affecting agriculture and wild species throughout the year. Michael has made an in-depth study of this topic over many years, so come along to hear a very well informed talk.
6th February Dr. Seirian Sumner (UCL)
Why you should love wasps.
Everyone loves bees and is awe-struck by ants but no-one loves wasps. Dr. Sumner’s mission is to make you think differently about these insects: there are 100 times more species of wasps than ants and bees combined, and their populations are declining at rates faster than bees. Without wasps your garden would be swamped with insect pests and spiders. But the main reason our speaker loves wasps is because their social behaviour is extraordinary and has many parallels with our own. Come along to find out!
20th February Lizzie Croose (Vincent Trust)
On the trail of polecats and pine martens, Britain’s most elusive mammals?
This illustrated talk will present information on the ecology of polecats and pine martens, and the trials, tribulations and pleasure of studying them. Joint meeting with BBOWT.
6th March Prof. Richard Fortey FRS, FRSL
The History of a Beech Wood.
Prof. Fortey owns a small patch of Chiltern beech wood, and has spent several years researching its natural and human history to understand more about the origins and dynamics of our “ancient” countryside. Prof. Fortey is a paleontologist, natural historian, writer and TV presenter. Author of The Wood for the Trees.
20th March AGM and Members’ Evening
Winter 2016/2017
4th October Jan Haseler
Presidential Address: The ghost of field trips past
This talk compares sightings on recent field trips with wildlife reports from members of the Society for the years 1880 – 1959 and tells how the Society’s publications have chronicled historic changes to our local countryside.
18th October Dr. Martin Bidartondo (Imperial College)
Heathlands underground
Joint meeting with BBOWT. Britain’s heathlands are of global significance for biodiversity conservation and are fascinating habitats to understand ecology. In the last few years we have gained new information on how trees invade heaths and how bryophytes aid heathers. Come to hear this popular speaker describe how the intimate links between fungi and plants shape our heathlands.
1st November Prof Alex Rodgers (Oxford Univ.)
Wonders, old threats and new dangers in the oceans
The deep-ocean ridges of the Southern and Indian Oceans host an amazing range of habitats including cold-water coral reefs, gardens and hot springs. So far only 0.0001% of this habitat has been explored. Now it faces conflict not only with the deep sea fishing industry but also the prospect of mining on the ocean floor. How do we sustainably manage these issues?
15th November Irene Texidor Toneu (Reading Univ.)
Who took the roots away? Moroccan medicinal plants.
A wide range of plants in the High Atlas Mountains are harvested for medicinal use by the rural communities and sold in the souks. This talk will explore the medicinal plant diversity in Morocco and the factors that threaten the conservation of some important wild populations of medicinal plants.
6th December Prof Mark Fellowes (Reading Univ.)
By accident and by design: how our decisions affect our garden birds.
Joint meeting with RSPB. Our gardens are home to an incredible diversity of wild life. Every day we collectively make decisions that determine what lives and what dies on our doorsteps. In this talk Prof Fellowes shares examples from his research of the consequences for garden birds from blackbirds to red kites.
20th December
Christmas Party and Photographic Competition
2017
3rd January Prof. Paul Hadley (Reading Univ.)
Safeguarding the future of chocolate
Prof. Hadley will talk about the history of cultivation of cocoa, the making of chocolate and the current problems facing the crop. Farmers need improved cocoa with higher productivity and greater resilience to unfavourable climatic conditions, combined with more sustainable farming practices. The speaker is Director of the Centre of Horticulture and he has been working on cocoa crop improvement for over 35 years.
17th January Prof. Helen Roy (C.E.H.)
Unravelling the story of an alien invader – the harlequin ladybird.
The harlequin ladybird, Harmonia axyridis, was first recorded in the UK in 2004. What followed is a remarkable story of inspiring contributions from people across the country furthering our understanding of the ecology of this invasive non-native species.
7th February Dr. Markus Wagner (C.E.H.)
Rare arable wildflowers and their preservation in the modern agricultural landscape.
Agriculture has changed markedly since the 1940s with profound effects on arable ecosystems. This talk will focus on research into formerly widespread but now rare arable plants. Bring your smartphone to this talk for an introduction to CEH’s new Rare Arable Flowers mobile phone app.
21st February Dr. Lucy Aplin (Oxford Univ.)
Cultured birds? Social networks and foraging traditions in great tits.
Do animals use their social networks to learn new behaviours? Can this be considered “cultural”? Building on the well-known “milk-bottle” innovation, our speaker has researched these questions in great tits at Wytham Woods in Oxfordshire. By using tracking technologies and wild experiments, Dr. Aplin has studied the process by which such innovations spread in populations.
7th March Dr. Timothy King (Oxford Univ.)
Ants, ant intelligence and ant-hills.
After reviewing ants, our speaker will describe how an ant’s body is equipped for efficient communication and how colonies are organized. The yellow meadow ant builds the familiar mounds in pastures. Dr. King will explain how it increases animal and plant diversity, drawing on his research at Aston Rowant NNR.
21st March AGM and Members’ Evening
Previous seasons
Winter 2015/2016
6th October Jan Haseler
Presidential Address: The wildlife of the Streatley Hills
20th October Carl Hunter Roach
A local view of Bird Ringing
3rd November Dr. Richard Comont (Data Monitoring Officer, Bumblebee conservation trust).
The plight of the bumblebee.
17th November Owen Mountford (C.E.H )
Between the Woods and the Water: the Natural History of Romania
1st December Prof Peter Worsley ( Reading Univ.)
The Sulham Gap area from a geological perspective.
15th December Christmas Party and Photographic Competition
2016
5th January Peter Creed (Nature consultant and author)
Wild orchids in Berks, Bucks and Oxon
19th January Timothy Walker (Oxford Univ.)
Sex, Lies and Putrefaction
2nd February Dr. P. Morris (Author)
The Edible Dormouse- a protected pest coming your way!
16th February Dr. Tom Hart (Univ. Oxford)
Beyond Bases: 21st century techniques to monitor Antarctica
1st March Erika Degani/ Samuel Leigh(Reading Univ.)
Can novel crop rotations enhance multiple ecosystem services?
15th March AGM and Members’ Evening
Winter 2014/2015
7th October Dr. Michael Keith-Lucas
Presidential Address: The natural history of Shetland
21st October Emma Rothero (OU)
Floodplain meadows: a natural and cultural history
4th November Prof. Jeremy Thomas OBE (Oxford Univ.)
Butterflies that live with ants
18th November Marek Borkowski (Wildlife Poland)
Pole position in nature conservation
2nd December Katherine Booth-Jones (Reading Univ.)
Tracking tropical seabirds: the influence of genes and environment on dispersal
16th December
Christmas Party and Photographic Competition
2015
6th January Dick Greenaway (Chairman West Berkshire Countryside Society)
Where did our woods come from? A short history of woodland in southern England
20th January Alan Potter (Brunel microscopes)
Microscopes and natural history
3rd February Dr. Helen Read (Conservation Officer, Burnham Beeches NNR)
Pollards and pollarding, with particular emphasis on Burnham Beeches
17th February David Cliffe
Flowers of Greece: south and north, autumn and spring
3rd March John Tyler (Naturalist)
The island of crabs
17th March AGM and Members’ Evening
Winter 2013/2014
1st October Dr. Owen Mountford
From Wilderness to Cabbage Patch to a new Waterland – the Changing Face of Fenland
15th October Dr. Malcolm Storey
Fungi in the Garden
5th November Martin Townsend
Oak Processionary Moth: history and life history in Berkshire and elsewhere
19th November Prof. Ben Sheldon
Half a century and counting: population studies of the Great Tit population at Wytham Woods.
3rd December Chloe Hardman
Wildlife-friendly farming in the UK
17th December
Christmas Party and Photographic Competition
2014
7th January Dr. Michael Keith-Lucas
Presidential Address:How Plants solve Crime
21st January Martin Woolner
A close and friendly look at some British spiders
4th February Dr. Martin Bidartondo
Fungi and plants working together
18th February Dr. Glynn Percival
What’s New in Tree Protection?
4th March Malcolm Brownsword
Butterflies and Orchids of the Upper Thames Region
18th March AGM and Members’ Evening
Winter 2012/2013
2nd October Prof. Chris Bucke
Presidential Address: European Mountain Flowers
16th October Roger Dobbs
Practical woodland management – does all our blood, sweat and tears really help wildlife?
6th November David Redhead
Understanding the Brown Hairstreak Butterfly
20th November Brian Clews
Wildlife of the JubileeRiver
4th December Des Sussex
The Thames Basin Heaths
18th December
Christmas Party and Photographic Competition
8th January Dr Peter Spillett
The Pantanal – Home of the Jaguar
22nd January Jennnifer and Victoria Wickens
British Bees: an Introduction
5th February Darren Mann
The Hope Entomological Collections, Oxford – Just a load of dead bugs?
19th February Dr Daniel Allen
Otters of the World
5th March Dr Phil Baker
Urban Cats
19th March AGM and Members’ Evening
Winter 2011/2012
4th October Nathan Callaghan / Mark Lee
Traffic Pollution and the Environment
18th October Helen Whiteside
The Real Life of Fantastic Mr. Fox
1st November Dr. Fred Rumsey
Ferns of the British Isles
15th November Prof. Georges Dussart
Slugs and Snails and….? The life and loves of a soft-bodied animal
6th December
Christmas Party and Photographic Competition
2012
3rd January John Eyre
Gilbert White – the man who started us all bird-watching
17th January Dr. Renton Righelato
Bird Conservation in Ecuador
7th February Prof. Chris Bucke
Presidential Address: Photosynthesis
21st February Jo Hodgkins
Lowland Meadows of England: their history, conservation and wildlife
6th March Rob McBride
Offa’s Dyke First Ever Ancient Tree Survey
20th March AGM and Members’ Evening
Winter 2010/2011
5th October Graham Saunders (Presidential Address)
Ancient Medicine
19th October Catherine Side and Ray Winger
The Islands of the Hauraki Gulf
2nd November Paul Stanbury
Wildlife of Madagascar
16th November Dan Carpenter
Earthworms
7th December
Christmas Party and Photographic Competition
4th January Peter Spillet
Peru, Land of Incas, Earthquakes and Biodiversity
18th January James Butler
An Evening on Safari
1st February Samantha Cartwright
Conservation of the Mauritius Kestrel
15th February David Cliffe
As we were – 130 years of the RDNHS
1st March Dr Malcolm Storey
The Seashore
15th March Members’ Evening, AGM and Book Sale
2009 Winter
| Date | Title | Speaker |
| 6th October | Presidential Address – AncientGardens: | Graham Saunders |
| 20th October | Antarctica to Ascension: | Martin Sell |
| 3rd November | Flowers and fumigants – a brief history of botany at Kew: | Prof. David Mabberley |
| 17th November | The Darwin Conspiracy / Wallace: | Roy Davies |
| 1st December | Diatoms and Red Tides: | Prof. Jane Lewis |
| 15th December | Christmas Party and Photographic Competition | n/a |
2010 Spring
| Date | Title | Speaker |
| 5th January | Beavers: | Derek Gow |
| 19th January | Eels – a threatened species?: | Dr. Brian Knights |
| 2nd February | A botanist’s view of a tourist destination – the Canarian flora: | Frances Watkins |
| 16th February | Swift conservation: | Edward Mayer |
| 2nd March | Glow-worms: | John Tyler |
| 16th March | Members’ Evening, AGM and Book Sale |
2008 Winter
| Date | Title | Speaker |
| 7th October | Presidential Address: SU76 Finding the butterflies in a 10K square. | Jan Haseler |
| 21st October | Mr Toad, Ratty & Mole. | Rod d’Ayala |
| 4th November | Otmoor, a new RSPB reserve. | Dr Alan Parfitt |
| 18th November | Aspects of the natural history of the Arctic. | Prof. Peter Worsley |
| 2nd December | Work towards a new Flora of Morocco. | Dr. Stephen Jury |
| 16th December | Christmas Party & photographic competition. |
2009 Spring
| Date | Title | Speaker |
| 6th January | (Mis)adventures in Tien Shan. | Prof. Chris Bucke |
| 20th January | Pollen and archaeology. | Dr. Michael Keith-Lucas |
| 3rd February | The wildlife of Peru and Ecuador. | Andy Tucker |
| 17th February | The fall and rise of farmland birds in Britain. How can we make agriculture work for wildlife in Britain? | Prof. Keith Norris |
| 3rd March | Mad March Hares. | Prof. Stephen Harris |
| 17th March | Member’s evening, AGM & book sale. |
2007 Winter
| Date | Title | Speaker |
| 2nd October | Moor Copse – the Wildlife Haven on our Doorstep | Jan Haseler |
| 16th October | Coral Reefs – the Jewels of the Sea | Dr. David George |
| 6th November | The Ridgeway | John Tyler |
| 20th November | St. Kilda | Alastair Mackay |
| 4th December | Bengal Tigers | James Butler |
| 17th December | Christmas Party |
2008 Spring
| Date | Title | Speaker |
| 8th January | Bird Watching Identification – a New Approach | Terry Bond |
| 15th January | Fungi of the Rain Forest | Prof. John Hedger |
| 5th February | The Natural History Museum – an Insider’s View | Stuart Hine |
| 19th February | Stop Climate Chaos | David Nobbs |
| 4th March | Greenham Common | Andy Phillips |
| 17th March | AGM and Members’ Evening |
2006 Winter
| Date | Title | Speaker |
| 3rd October | Presidential Address – December in Patagonia | Prof. Chris Bucke |
| 17th October | Purple Emperor mythology & Silver-studded Blue | Matthew Oates & Grahame Hawker |
| 7th November | The New Forest | Mike Read |
| 21st November | Fungi of Wales (Fungi of the Rainforest by Prof. John Hedger postponed at short notice) |
Dr Gareth Griffith |
| 5th December | Christmas Party (including photo competition) |
2007 Spring
| Date | Title | Speaker |
| 2nd January | The Nightjar | Philip Palmer |
| 16th January | Namibia & its flora | Dr Michael Keith-Lucas |
| 6th February | The Galapagos Islands | Prof. Sir Ghillean Prance |
| 20th February | Moths | Martin Harvey |
| 6th March | The Hedgehog | Dr Pat Morris |
| 20th March | Member’s Evening (including AGM & book auction) |
2006 Spring
| Date | Title | Speaker |
| 3rd January | Butterflies of the Harris garden | Jan Haseler |
| 17th January | South Africa – Land of contrasts | Barry Oxley |
| 7th February | The importance of ponds | Dr Stephen Head |
| 21st February | Flowers & wildlife of Iran | Ian Green |
| 7th March | Bat conservation in Oxfordshire | Reg Tipping |
| 21st March | Member’s evening (including AGM & book auction) |
2005 winter
| Date | Title | Speaker |
| 4th October | Footprints in the mud (Java) | Prof. Chris Bucke |
| 25th October | Lundy – Island of contrasts (N.B. 4th Tuesday not 3rd Tuesday) |
Prof. Jennifer George |
| 1st November | European Dragonflies | Graham Vick |
| 15th November | Returning wild flowers and better farming to the countryside | Charles Flower |
| 6th December | Christmas party (including a photo competition) |