Cheshire and Peak District Branch Events 2009

The Cheshire & Peak District Branch events for 2009

 

23rd May, Saturday, Teggs Nose Country Park
Target species: - Green Hairstreak
Time: - 11.00am to 1.00pm
Meeting Point: -. Teggs Nose Visitor Centre (SJ950733). Parking fee payable
Leader: - Tony Pioli Tel:- 01298 77815

The walking distance is fairly short on footpaths, but it is slow going in the hilly terrain. This should prove to be a popular event, as, once you have found this little butterfly it obligingly hangs around for a while.  It is not as skittish as other species, but the trick is in spotting it in the first place as it is cleverly disguised in the bilberry.  The site also supports a very small colony of the Wall Brown, which we may be fortunate enough to find. There should also be a chance of spotting up to nine other species including Small Copper, Comma & Holly Blue.

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24th May, Sunday. Butterfly Talk & Walk
Target species: - Brimstone
Time: - 11.00am to 2.00pm
Meeting point: - Nelson Pit Visitor Centre, Lyme Road, Higher Poynton.
(near Boar’s Head pub) SJ945833
Leaders: - George Martin and Ranger Ed Pilkington

Booking essential: - 01625 504505 – Bring packed lunch.

A one-hour talk followed by a break for lunch and an easy mostly flat walk round Poynton Coppice to look at the variety of butterflies in this semi-ancient woodland.  The Middlewood way is an 11-mile traffic free route running between Marple & Macclesfield following the line of a former railway, which closed in 1970.  It is within easy reach of Jacksons’ Brickworks nature reserve.

This is a partnership event with Macclesfield Ranger Service.

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27th June, Saturday, Drinking for Butterflies (changed from 20th June)
Target Species – Ringlet
Time –11:30am
Meeting Point: - (SJ605427) The Combermere Arms, Burleydam, Whitchurch
Leader: - George Martin - Tel: 01477 532888

We will start with a morning coffee, or something stronger as there is a wonderful selection of real ale at this establishment. At about 12.00 we will start the walk of about 2 ½ miles going out and just short of 2 miles on the way back. Initially along the road and then into a field where we follow the hedge then into a wooded area with a stream and out onto farmland again. A short stretch on a country lane brings us to a wide canopied path and once more out onto farmland, where we will probably have to walk the field boundary. Here we will come into Kennelwood and we will be able to explore the area and have use of a barn and toilet kindly made available by Richard who has been our host on previous visits. On our return we shall walk by a south facing field hedge and out onto the country road, which will return us to the cars. The date change should give us a better chance of seeing the Ringlet.

You will need stout footwear as the fields have been ploughed and some are very rutted. Bring a change of shoes as the pub has floors you could eat off. There are six to eight stiles in good condition.

The pub is open all day from 11.30 for food and drinks. Sandwiches start at £5.00, light bites from £7.00 and main courses from £9.00. Very nice coffee from £2.00 and tea at £1.60 (as we go to press)

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12th July, Sunday, Swettenham Meadows
Target species: - Several including Large & Small Skipper and Common Blue.–
Time: - 11.30am start and finish in time for lunch at the Swettenham Arms
Meeting Point: - (SJ801672) Take A54 Holmes Chapel Road out of Congleton and turn right at Sommerford Bridge along Chelford Road. After crossing the River Dane take the left fork for Swettenham Road and the next left fork and keep left to arrive at the pub and the church.
Leader: - Rachel Giles Tel: - 01477 571442 (Daytime) or e-mail racheljgiles@googlemail.com

Rachael will walk us over her transect in this nature reserve, part of which is an ancient semi-natural wet woodland.  Wet being the operative word here so wellingtons should be the footwear of the day and as there are steep slopes and stiles to negotiate a walking stick for added balance would not go amiss.  You have the opportunity to see this Grade A Site of Biological Importance and if there is time afterwards there is Sir Bernard Lovell’s Quinta arboretum to be explored.

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18th July, Saturday, Long Dale, near Newhaven
Target Species: - Dark Green Fritillary, Brown Argus
Time: - 11.00 am
Meeting Point: - (SK173607) directions from Buxton take A515 to Newhaven. At Newhaven turn left onto A5012; then turn immediately left to Friden; after 400-500 metres turn right into car park. Car park is opposite the brick works beside the High Peak Trail
Leader: - Tony PioliTel/Fax: (01298) 77815 Mobile:  07759890957

This is a new area, to me, for a field trip and I have it on good authority it never rains in Newhaven.  We shall be looking out for the above Dark Green Fritillary and the Brown Argus but also present in 2008 were Small Skipper and Common Blue.  We should also see Wall Brown, Hedge Brown (Gatekeeper) and Large & Green Veined Whites.  The site is also renown for its abundance of Dwarf Thistle.

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25th July, Saturday, Handforth Fields – Dragonflies & Butterflies
Time: - 11.15 a.m.
Meeting Point: - (SJ865835)- Meet at Marks & Spencer car park at Handforth Dean, off the west side of the A34 Handforth by-pass.  Look out for a red Ford Transit camper van.  Bring a packed lunch plus boots or wellies. 
Leader: - Stu Burnet – Please contact him on 0161 485 5107 or 07971895761 or
e-mail stuburnet@ntlworld.com during the previous week if you intend
to come.  Also check for cancellation if weather poor.

This popular walk soon takes us by a long tall hedge, which never fails to have a variety of butterflies seeking shelter there.  We will probably lunch by a pond that abounds with dragonflies and while we partake of our victuals Stu will gallantly wade round the pond to catch, and show us, the best specimens.  He also has some unusual fact about dragonflies to pass on to us.

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18th or 19th September, Friday or Saturday, Moth Night
Time: - from 6pm to late - bring a torch, sensible shoes, umbrella and warm drinks etc
Meeting Point Car Park at Chadkirk, Marple. Map ref: SJ 937 897 http://www.streetmap.co.uk/streetmap.dll?G2M?X=393940&Y=390250&A=Y&Z=120
Leader: -Shane Farrell Tel: - 0161 355 6919 e-mail shane.farrell@ntlworld.com
Please contact Shane to confirm interest in this event and he will advise you near the time which night it will be.

 

 


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