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 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
The National Trust land at Streatley has some of the best surviving chalk grassland in Berkshire, together with some interesting woodland. The talk describes the history and management of the site, as well as some of the plants, butterflies, other rare invertebrates, bats and birds which can be found there.
20th October Carl Hunter Roach
A local view of Bird Ringing
Joint meeting with RSPB. This talk will give a brief history of bird ringing in Britain, with insights from local ringing into bird identification, migration & conservation efforts and how to qualify for a bird ringing licence. Carl has been ringing birds for thirty years.
3rd November Dr. Richard Comont (Data Monitoring Officer, Bumblebee conservation trust).
The plight of the bumblebee.
Joint meeting with BBOWT. Everyone recognises a bumblebee when they see one – but with 24 (and a half) species in Britain, including some species only recognised by their DNA and others which live a piratical existence taking over other bees’ nests, there’s a lot more to these declining insects than is generally realized.
17th November Owen Mountford (C.E.H )
Between the Woods and the Water: the Natural History of Romania
The EU country with the most varied natural history, Romania has mountains, forests with bear, wolf and lynx, one of the great wetlands in the Danube Delta, steppe and the Black Sea coast. All this is coupled to a remarkable range of culture. The talk will explore Romania, its diversity and beauty. The speaker leads wetland ecology research at the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology
1st December Prof Peter Worsley ( Reading Univ.)
The Sulham Gap area from a geological perspective.
The Sulham Gap is an anomaly as it has no through drainage. However, the landforms demonstrate that at least some of the River Kennet discharge flowed through the gap into the Thames during the final phases of the Last Ice Age around twelve thousand years ago. The possible reasons for abandonment will be explored.
15th December Christmas Party and Photographic Competition
2016
5th January Peter Creed (Nature consultant and author)
Wild orchids in Berks, Bucks and Oxon
More species of wild orchid are found in this region than anywhere else in Britain. Peter Creed has seen and photographed all the fascinating species and will talk about when and where to see them locally.
19th January Timothy Walker (Oxford Univ.)
Sex, Lies and Putrefaction
Joint meeting with BBOWT. The speaker was Horti Praefectus at Oxford Botanic gardens for 26 years and presented a series on the history of botany for BBC4. He will use his extensive knowledge of plants to introduce us to the wide variety of animals and other vectors that are exploited by plants for pollination, which is one of the closest relationships in Nature. He will demonstrate why this knowledge is so important to us all.
2nd February Dr. P. Morris (Author)
The Edible Dormouse- a protected pest coming your way!
The Edible Dormouse Glis glis was introduced to Britain in 1902. It has become a significant pest and is still expanding its range. This talk will describe its extraordinary ecology, based on a 20-year study in the Chilterns, the only long-term investigation anywhere in Europe. Dr. Morris was a zoology lecturer at Royal Holloway College until retirement.
16th February Dr. Tom Hart (Univ. Oxford)
Beyond Bases: 21st century techniques to monitor Antarctica
Penguins are some of the best studied species in Antarctica and the sub-Antarctic. Despite this, we know surprisingly little of their ecology and how they are responding to climate change and emerging fisheries. Dr. Hart will discuss a series of techniques that he has used to set up a monitoring network around the Southern Ocean.
1st March Erika Degani/ Samuel Leigh(Reading Univ.)
Can novel crop rotations enhance multiple ecosystem services?
Our project is looking into the potential of novel crop rotations to enhance biodiversity-derived ecosystem service in arable systems. We are focusing on soil fertility, pollination and pest regulation and any potential trade-offs and/or synergies between these 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) |