Indoor Meetings Programme 2024-25
Meetings are normally held January-March and October-December at Bayston Hill on Wednesdays. They are free for members: guests pay £2. Tea, coffee and biscuits are served halfway through the meeting at a nominal charge.
Swallows & Sand Martins
The meetings are informal, informative and interesting. Why not come along, especially if you have not been before? You will learn more about birds and nature in general and be able to chat to others with similar interests. Directions to the meeting venue can be found at the bottom of this page.
Talks designated as “family-friendly” are suitable for all ages, including our under 25 Youth members and any young people interested in ornithology, conservation or wildlife. Bring along your children or grandchildren if they have an interest.
2024
Wednesday, 6th November, 2024, 7:15 p.m. Mark Sisson (renowned and award-winning professional wildlife photographer):
- ‘By River and Sea’
Mark’s talk is split in two distinct parts: a coastal part and a reflection of wildlife and photography at the water’s edge and features an array of images and experiences from the shores of the UK as well as a little further afield. Mark has had several books published and is very popular speaker.
Wednesday, 4th December, 2024, 7:15 p.m. Nigel Spencer (wildlife guide and photographer):
- ‘Travelling South In Search Of Penguins And Whales’.
Nigel’s latest boat adventure sees him and his camera visiting both the South American coast and Antarctica in search of penguins, whales and some of the fascinating wildlife of the far south.
2025
Wednesday 8 January, 2025. 7:15pm online Zoom*. Jack Perks (Fish Twitcher, Wildlife Cameraman, Film-maker, Researcher, Author & Podcaster (@TitBearded). Credits on BBC Springwatch, BBC Winterwatch, Countryfile and The One Show:
- ‘Birds of the Water’ (A family-friendly talk)
Many bird species live by or in water. This talk takes us on a journey from the Farne Islands, full of Puffins, to reedbeds with booming Bitterns and a gives us an underwater view of our waterfowl. This talk takes a wetter side to birding and will be fascinating for people of all ages.
*Information on connecting with this online session will be made available closer to the date of the meeting.
Wednesday 5 February, 2025. 7:15 p.m. PLEASE NOTE – the presentation initially planned for this meeting will no longer take place. A replacement talk will be announced in due course and a reminder sent out to all those who have registered their email addresses with us.
Wednesday 5 March, 2025. 7:15pm Bayston Hill Memorial Hall. Hayley Garrod, The Chirk Swifts and House Martins Group:
- ‘The Extraordinary Lives of Swifts and House Martins and How We Can Help Reverse Their Decline.’ (A family-friendly talk)
Hayley will talk about the birds that she is passionate about and her award-winning community conservation project featured on BBC’s Countryfile as we get ready to welcome the birds back on their spring migration.
Wednesday 2 April, 2025. 7:15pm Bayston Hill Memorial Hall, Annual General Meeting, followed by Kevin Thornton (‘Low Carbon Kev’):
- Why You’re Lucky not to have an Inland Estuary: a Decade Stuck on the Man-made Flats of the Medway.
The avian history of the Medway, interwoven with the highs and lows of patching one shore of a very large estuary. Kev is very passionate about climate change action and low carbon birding.
Wednesday 1 October, 2025. 7:15pm Bayston Hill Memorial Hall. Steve Dawes (Well-known local wildlife enthusiast and photographer):
- ‘Shropshire – My Back Garden and Beyond’
This talk aims to showcase some of the County’s diverse wildlife, starting in Steve’s own back garden which he has developed over many years, specifically to provide a home and feeding place for all creatures. We then go further afield around Shropshire recounting some of Steve’s favourite places and the wildlife that can be found there.
Wednesday 5 November, 2025. 7:15pm Bayston Hill Memorial Hall. Ric Morris (‘Skull_Bloke’). Welsh border bones enthusiast, photographer, speaker, author of UK mammal bones ID guide):
- ‘The Skeletons of Birds’ (A family-friendly talk)
Ric is charismatic speaker with a huge passion and knowledge of anatomy and bones. Rick will take us on a tour of bird skeletons as well as some other interesting creatures and it will be a talk not to be missed!
Wednesday 3 December, 2025. 7:15pm Bayston Hill Memorial Hall. Project Penelope Team (A project lead by the Waterfowlers Network and funded by the Wildlife Habitat Charitable Trust):
- ‘Project Penelope’ – an International Wigeon Tracking Project (A family-friendly talk)
We get to hear about Project Penelope, a fascinating international project aiming to improve data collection, waterfowl habitats and sustainable management of waterbirds by collecting data on the Eurasian Wigeon across the species’ migratory flyway.
This talk is suitable for everyone of all ages and any level of knowledge and would also suit anyone considering a career in Conservation or Ornithology.
Directions to Bayston Hill Memorial Hall
- From Shrewsbury, take the Hereford Road A49 towards Bayston Hill at the Meole Brace roundabout. Turn right in the village onto Lyth Hill Road…
- From Ludlow & Church Stretton, enter Bayston Hill on the A49 and continue past “The Compasses” inn on the right. About 100 m beyond the pub, turn left onto Lyth Hill Road…
- Then, the Hall is 80 m on the left. If you go past Lodge Crescent (on the right) you’ve gone too far. There is car parking at the hall. The OS grid ref is SJ486087 and the postcode is SY3 0DU.
- For a map of the hall location (which can be panned and zoomed), click here.
