Further information
Contacts
Joyce Dignam (Chairman) for general information on any group activity, phone 01271 374324 or email joyce.dignam@hotmail.co.uk with 'Barnstaple LG' in the subject line.
Paul Madgett for information on conservation work-parties. Only in North Devon but not exclusively DWT ones. madgett@hotmail.com
Newsletters
Winter 2012 pdf
Autumn 2012 pdf
Spring 2012 pdf
Winter
2011 pdf
Autumn 2011 pdf
Spring 2011 pdf
Events Programme
Winter Events Programme 2012-13 pdf
Barnstaple & District Local Group
Indoor activities
Talks by good speakers on a range of conservation issues. We meet in the Castle Centre in Barnstaple, near to the large Cattle Market car park, and easy walking distance from the bus station and the railway station. Meetings are once a month from September through to April.
Outdoor activities
Summer time is for getting outdoors and enjoying wildlife first hand. We embark on a very ambitious programme of 'wildlife experiences'. Almost always involving a walk of some kind. We try to provide a good mix of very easy, level walks for the less able, and a selection of more strenuous walks for the fit and strong!
We can do all this because we have some kind of event every Tuesday evening, and very often a daytime walk too, either week-end or week-day. All outdoor events are bookable. This is so we can explain what to expect and have an idea of numbers. As with the indoor meetings, we are very popular.
Children
We do not organise events specifically for children, but they are welcome at all our events, both indoors and outdoors. While we do not get a lot of children attending at least nine of our outdoor events included one or more children with parent or guardian.
Nature reserves
Uppacott Wood nature reserve
Some of our members are Voluntary Wardens at Uppacott Wood, a lovely nature reserve only a couple of miles outside Barnstaple. We have work-parties there in the winter, keeping paths clear, coppicing and making clearings to encourage flora, butterflies and birds. Members have put up and look after 40 birdboxes, and 50 dormouse boxes which are monitored every month during the summer. We also encourage people to help by monitoring the vegetation through the summer months and we introduce people to the wood with guided walks.
Swanpool Marsh nature reserve
We also help at the DWT reserve at Swanpool, a freshwater marsh near Braunton. Mary Breeds is voluntary warden there.
Culm grassland nature reserves
One of the jewels in Devon Wildlife Trust’s crown (there are many jewels) is the wealth of Culm grassland reserves. Lots of information about the culm is available elsewhere on this website. One of our committee members, John Bradbeer, is voluntary warden on three of them, Mambury Moor, Volehouse Moor and Stowford Moor.
How to find out more
We publish a Barnstaple and District Local Group Newsletter every four months. A quick look through our past Newletters will give a good idea of what we have been getting up to. Click on one of the pdf files in the left hand panel.
We publish our own programme of events twice a year. A winter programme from September to April and a summer programme from April to August. You can find a printable version of our latest programme by clicking on the appropriate pdf file in the left panel. Events are also listed on the events webpage.