A printable pdf file of this programme can be downloaded here.
-
23 February 2025
Howe Park Wood -
11 May 2025
Rammamere Heath -
13 July 2025
Pilch Field -
12 October 2025
Shenley Wood
Date and Time:
Sunday, 23 February 2025; 10.30am – 12.30pm
Location:
Howe Park Wood – Ancient Semi-natural woodland
Leader & Co-leader:
Joe Clinch and Richard Schmidt
Car Parking:
Meet in main car park for the Howe Park Wood Centre, off Chaffron Way, MK4 3GG.
Car Park Grid reference SP 83040 34493.
What3words: https://what3words.com/appealing.extra.heartache
Information about the location:
Howe Park Wood is site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) managed by The Parks Trust. Starting the 2025 plant group programme with a Winter ID of trees and plants beginning to bud and flower.
The site is very wet and muddy in winter, wellies are advised.
For more information visit Howe Park Wood | The Parks Trust
Date and Time:
Sunday, 11th May 2025; 10.30am – 12.30pm
Location:
Rammamere Heath – Lowland heathland with sandy acid soils
Leader & Co-leader:
Di Parsons and Charles Kessler
Car Parking:
Rammamere Heath Car park – Brickhill Rd, Heath and Reach, Leighton Buzzard LU7 0BA
Grid reference – SP 91736 29896
What 3 words: https://what3words.com/villager.hopefully.onwards
Information about the location:
Site Location Grid reference SP 920 294
Plants Species to focus on heather, bilberry, acid grasses, town hall clock, lily of the valley.
For more information visit King’s Wood and Rammamere Heath | Wildlife Trust for Beds Cambs & Northants and
Date and Time:
Sunday, 13 July 2025; 10.30am – 12.30pm
Location:
Pilch Field – Wet wildflower meadows
Leader & Co-leader:
Jenny Mercer and Charles Kessler
Car Parking:
Parking along the road verges of Pilch Lane.
Grid ref: SP 749 321
What 3 words: https://what3words.com/obstruct.lateral.addingFor more information visit Pilch Field | Berks Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust
Information about the location:
A 12 Ha site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) owned and managed by BBOWT with over 200 plants. It is grazed by cattle at relatively low density from 1st June to the end of November.
Grasses and sedges, as well as wildflowers, will be examined on our visit, so hand lenses will be very useful (some spares are available and can be borrowed). The aim of this mid-summer visit is to make a comparison between the Stonepit Field habitats studied last mid- summer.
Date and Time:
Sunday, 12 October 2025; 10.30am – 12.30pm
Location:
Shenley Wood – Ancient semi-natural woodland
Leader & Co-leader:
Carla Boswell and Jenny Mercer and/or Joe Clinch
Car Parking:
Park and meet at Parks Trust Car Park, Off Merlewood Drive, Shenley Church End, MK5 6GG.
https://what3words.com/sliders.grumbles.alcove
Information about the location:
A return visit to this ancient woodland in the Autumn to cover fruiting trees, nuts and seeds with a focus on ferns.
For more information visit Shenley Wood | The Parks Trust
Date all 10.30 to 12.30 | Location | Habitat | Leader & Co-leader | Car Parking | Information about the location |
Sunday 23 February 2025 | Howe Park Wood | Ancient Semi-natural Woodland | Joe Clinch Richard Schmidt | Meet in main car park for the Howe Park Wood Centre, off Chaffron Way, MK4 3GG. Car Park Grid reference SP 83040 34493. | Howe Park Wood is site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) managed by The Parks Trust. Starting the 2025 plant group programme with a Winter ID of trees and plants beginning to bud and flower. The site is very wet and muddy in winter, wellies are advised. For more information visit Howe Park Wood | The Parks Trust |
Sunday 11th May | Rammamere Heath | Lowland Heathland with sandy acid soils | Di Parsons Charles Kessler | Rammamere Heath Car park – Brickhill Rd, Heath and Reach, Leighton Buzzard LU7 0BA Grid reference – SP 91736 29896 | Site Location Grid reference SP 920 294 Plants Species to focus on heather, bilberry, acid grasses, town hall clock, lily of the valley. For more information visit King’s Wood and Rammamere Heath | Wildlife Trust for Beds Cambs & Northants and |
Sunday 13 July | Pilch Field | Wet wildflower meadows | Jenny Mercer Charles Kessler | Parking along the road verges of Pilch Lane. Grid ref: SP 749 321 What 3 words: https://what3words.com/obstruct.lateral.addingFor more information visit Pilch Field | Berks Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust | A 12 Ha site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) owned and managed by BBOWT with over 200 plants. It is grazed by cattle at relatively low density from 1st June to the end of November. Grasses and sedges, as well as wildflowers, will be examined on our visit, so hand lenses will be very useful (some spares are available and can be borrowed). The aim of this mid-summer visit is to make a comparison between the Stonepit Field habitats studied last mid- summer. |
Sunday 12th October | Shenley Wood | Ancient Semi-Natural Woodland | Carla Boswell Jenny Mercer and/or Joe Clinch | Park and meet at Parks Trust Car Park, Off Merlewood Drive, Shenley Church End, MK5 6GG. | A return visit to this ancient woodland in the Autumn to cover fruiting trees, nuts and seeds with a focus on ferns. For more information visit Shenley Wood | The Parks Trust |
Please note that Clause 7 of the Society’s constitution reads: ‘The Society will exercise due care when arranging its meetings and activities for the benefit of members. Members taking part in any meeting or activity do so at their own risk.’
22.01.2025