Meetings are normally held on Tuesday evenings at Pangbourne Village Hall, RG8 7AN, starting at 19.45. Members are invited to bring exhibits and share their observations. While Covid-19 restrictions are in place, meetings will be for members only and will start this season on Zoom, returning to Pangbourne Village Hall as soon as possible. If you wish to become a member click here. Our full programme of field trips and informal walks takes place throughout the year and is listed in our calendar of events.
Winter 2020/2021
6th October Ken White (RDNHS/BTO)
First impressions of Patagonia
Three weeks of austral summer on Patagonia through the eyes of a Darwinian birdwatcher and botanist.
3rd November Dr Brian Ferry (Royal Holloway College)
Vegetation patterns on the Dungeness shingle
Dungeness is the largest shingle landscape in Europe, with a sequence of several hundred shingle ridges extending several kilometres inland. The natural succession of vegetation change associated with ridge age will be described. Much of the landscape has been disturbed by man, resulting in a rich secondary flora. Scattered over the area are wetlands, some natural and others man-made, which add further to the diversity. These various elements make Dungeness one of the richest sites for plants in Kent.
1st December Dr John Thacker (RDNHS)
What has DNA ever done for us?
DNA provides the information to construct and maintain the identity of each organism. Access to this information is revolutionising our ability to describe and understand ourselves and other organisms, but how useful is DNA analysis in the identification, recording and conservation of wildlife?
15th December
Christmas Party and Photographic Competition
The photographic competition will be held online this year – see website for details. Results to be announced at the party, which may also be held via Zoom.
19th January 2021 Dr Jim Asher (Butterfly Conservation)
What’s up on the Downs?
For many years, local Butterfly Conservation volunteers have been carrying out survey and conservation work in a valley system on the Aston Upthorpe Downs. In this fully illustrated talk Jim will describe the valley, its wildlife, especially butterflies and moths, and the work done by volunteers.
2nd February Dr Lucy Woodall (Oxford University)
The deep sea: what does it do for you?
What does the deep ocean look like? This presentation will share the delights and challenges of exploring the ocean’s deep reef communities. It will also highlight why these places are important to humanity and what we can all do to help them stay healthy.
16th February Prof Owen Lewis (Oxford University)
Exploring Rainforest Biodiversity
Tropical rainforests support an extraordinary diversity of species, but are threatened by high rates of deforestation and degradation. Based on my experience researching rainforest biodiversity on three continents, I will discuss why rainforest diversity is so high, why it is threatened, and how we can maintain it.
2nd March Keith Betton (Hampshire Ornithological Society)
Return of the Peregrine
Peregrines in the UK declined to just 350 pairs during the period 1940-1970. Since then they have increased to 2000 pairs – and have nested in several Berkshire locations. A new trend is nesting on buildings and pylons. Keith Betton has studied their rise and shares his experiences of them – often nesting in boxes that he has supplied.
6th March
AGM and Members’ Evening
Winter 2019/2020
1st October David Cliffe
Presidential Address: Midsummer on Gotland
An account of a trip made to this Swedish island in the Baltic in 2006, illustrating the rich and varied flora. Something of its history and archaeology will crop up along the way.
15th October Dr Jonathan Mitchley (Univ. Reading)
He’s singing our song! Dr M’s guide to British Grasses
Grasses are considered difficult to identify but the Poaceae is a very important family, many are ecological indicators of site condition and it is also very satisfying to be able to identify at least common grasses. This talk will include examination of living material and will provide tips for a better understanding of grasses green and wonderful.
5th November Dr Phil Baker (Univ. Reading)
Hedgehogs
Hedgehogs are one of our most loved British mammals but are in serious decline. Their future depends on our help, but just how far are people prepared to go to help our spiny friends? Joint meeting with BBOWT.
19th November Ailsa Claybourn
Cockatoos and Kookaburras: The birds of Sydney suburbs
Australia’s birds are impossible to ignore: frequently colourful, large, abundant and often unafraid to be literally “in your face”, they are very much a part of everyday suburban life in Sydney. Why are they so different from our usually smaller, more melodic and less conspicuous birds? Joint meeting with Reading RSPB Group.
3rd December Dr Ben Woodcock (C.E.H.)
Neonicotinoids and bees
This talk will discuss the impacts and implications of the use of neonicotinoid pesticides on both wild and honey bees in Europe. The talk focuses on explaining some of the evidence base underpinning the recent EU ban on these chemicals that were used on wheat and oilseed rape in the UK. Rescheduled from last year.
17th December
Christmas Party and Photographic Competition
2020
7th January Ken White
Bird migration
This is a review of global bird migration with an emphasis on raptors, whose numbers are monitored at key migration hotspots. Visual counts, satellite and tagging results are presented to describe the phenology and remarkable feats these and other birds achieve on an annual basis.
21st January Dr Jon Robson (Univ. Reading)
The day after tomorrow – is the Gulf Stream set to shutdown?
A common popularisation of extreme climate change is that the Gulf Stream, a fast-flowing ocean current in the North Atlantic, will ‘shutdown’ with radical implications for the UK’s weather and climate. But how likely is this scenario, and is it even possible? Dr Robson will review the science and the possible implications.
4th February Dr Carol Ellison (CABI)
Himalayan balsam: can biological control with a rust fungus bring an end to ‘balsam bashing’?
Himalayan balsam (Impatiens glandulifera) is a non-native plant species that has become highly invasive across the UK. Ministerial approval has been given to trial a rust fungus from the Himalayas to manage this weed. Dr Ellison will be discussing the current status of the rust release programme in the UK.
18th February Jill Butler (Ancient Tree Forum)
Knepp Wildland – is wilding good for wildlife?
Since 2001, most of the historic Knepp Estate, once intensively farmed, has become a rewilding project where grazing animals drive ecological succession to ‘free’ nature. Rare species like turtle doves and purple emperor butterflies are now breeding; and common species numbers are rocketing. Is this the way forwards for many more areas of the UK? Joint meeting with BBOWT.
3rd March Dr Camilla Lambrick (Oxfordshire Flora Group)
Rare Plants I have known
‘Think global, act local’ – the slogan was given teeth by the 1992 Earth Summit, so a Rare Plants Group was started and was asked to investigate Creeping Marshwort. Then they started studying other local rarities – including Fen Violet and Green Hound’s-tongue. Some have since flourished, others are in trouble – Creeping Marshwort has been re-graded as Critically Endangered, and its Flora Guardian is still finding out new things about it.
17th March AGM and Members’ Evening
Winter 2018/2019
2nd October 2018 David Cliffe
Presidential Address: The nature diaries of T.W.Marshall
In this talk, our President will be using the diaries of a past President to show what has changed since the 1930s, and what remains the same – habitats in our area, species and attitudes to nature conservation. Illustrated with some 1930s photographs.
16th October Graham Scholey (Environment Agency)
Conservation of the Riverine Environment
A general synopsis of the work of the Environment Agency with respect to river ecology and conservation, the sorts of issue we deal with in our regulatory and advisory role, and some examples of local collaborative initiatives such as Fobney Island Wetland Nature Reserve.
6th November Adrian Lawson (Reading tree warden)
The Shady Side of Town – Reading’s trees.
The Shady Side of Town is a book of stories about some of Reading’s trees. In writing the book, the author was restricted to a handful, and many favourites were left out. The talk will be about some of the trees that met the editor’s axe. [*NOTE * Rescheduled from 4th December]
20th November Rose-Ann Movsovic
An introduction to British bats
Joint meeting with BBOWT. A brief introduction to British bats followed by an account of the National Nathusius’ Pipistrelle Project and the contribution the Berks & South Bucks Bat Group is making to our knowledge of this rarely encountered and little understood migratory species. Live bats on display.
4th December Dr. Sarah Ball (Univ. Reading)
Wild flowers in Eastern Andalucía
We will be taking a short virtual excursion to the coasts and mountains of Eastern Andalucía, exploring the wild plants and their adaptations to extreme environments. We will ‘visit’ wild places, botanic gardens and other sites to consider impacts of climate change and conservation needs. [*NOTE* Rescheduled from 29th January]
18th December
Christmas Party and Photographic Competition
15th January 2019 Prof. Mark Fricker (Univ. Oxford)
The magic of slime moulds
Slime moulds thrive in damp woodlands and normally spread over rotting logs, eating bacteria and fungi. They are also unusual in being single giant cells that show remarkably sophisticated behaviour considering their humble form. This talk presents a little vignette of the science behind these curious beasts.
29th January Dr. Ben Woodcock (C.E.H.)
Neonicotinoids and bees
This talk will discuss the impacts and implications of the use of neonicotinoid pesticides on both wild and honey bees in Europe. The talk focuses on explaining some of the evidence base underpinning the recent EU ban on these chemicals that were used on wheat and oilseed rape in the UK. [*NOTE* Rescheduled from November 6th]
5th February Prof. Tim Guilford (Univ. Oxford)
The Shearwater’s world
Shearwaters are amongst the most elusive creatures on earth, spending most of their lives far out to sea and coming on land only to breed. From navigating trans-global migrations to understanding the threats to their future existence, I will introduce Oxford Navigation (OxNav) group’s research into the shearwater’s world. Joint meeting with Reading RSPB group.
19th February Dr. Karsten Schonrogge (C.E.H.)
Of pests, disease and climate change: Oak in the 21st century
Trees and forests are and will be subject to sources of stress, such as climate change, pests and diseases which are forecast to increase in the future. I will summarise some of the current research aiming to mitigate such impacts with a focus on oak health research at CEH. Joint meeting with BBOWT.
5th March Vicki Boult (Univ. Reading)
The future of the African Elephant
Human population growth presents significant immediate threats to the persistence of elephant populations across Africa, whilst climate change may act in the long-term to compensate or exacerbate human-induced threats. What does the future hold for elephants and what options do we have to conserve them?
19th March AGM and Members’ Evening
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