Wild About Whitstable
Friday 12th August 2022
90-minute walks starting at 6.00, 8.00, 10.00, 15.00 and 17.00 meeting at Longrock by the Skate Park just look for the man with the binoculors.
Dusk to Dawn Walks
A Day in The Life of Longrock Wildlife
6.00 - 7.30 For the early birds! A lot of wildlife is most active at this time, particularly Birds and Mammals.
8.00 - 9.30 Still good for birds and the first insects become active.
10.00 - 11.30 A good time for Insects and reptiles still good for birds depending on the tide.
15.00 -16.30 After a midday lull Wildlife starts to become active again. Plenty of plants to see. Insects still active.
Hour and a half guided walks around the SSSI by experienced local wildlife enthusiast Andy (The Bird Man) Taylor who has been exploring the site for 20 years
A chance to discover and learn about and how to identity the local wildlife on your doorstep within the Longrock part of the SSSI. We will be looking and listening for migrating birds on the shoreline over the sea and in the marsh. Searching for and occasionally smelling the many rare and special plant species of the area! We will be also looking for (although can't guarantee to sight) butterflies moths and bugs, water voles, seals, reptiles and maybe a few surprises. Each walk will be different as the wildlife will change with the time of day and the tide.
NB. With all Wildlife with the exception of the plants nothing can be guaranteed which makes it all the more exciting when we do see something. A lot will depend on the weather and tides and a bit of luck.
Please bring appropriate clothing for the weather. These walk can go ahead even if it is raining or windy. Please bring water and sun protection, hats if hot.
Andy will have binoculars including a spare pair but it would be great if anyone can bring their own it does not matter how old or dodgy they can be good for watching insects and mammals too. He will have a Telescope for use of participants.
Accessible to all as the walk can be adapted to participants. Given the length of the walk and that we might be spending time looking for or at a particular subject for a while or having to be quiet it is possibly not suitable for very young children age 8 and above is recommended but Andy won’t send anyone packing!
Free max 10 people book your place at natwhitgroup@gmail.com
10.30 to 16.30 Whitstable Community Museum and Gallery Wednesday to Saturday
Dusk to Dawn WalksHog's Fennel - nationally rare, locally plentiful - display
Visit Whitstable Museum to view a display about the nationally rare plant, Hog’s fennel, and the moths that depend on it and a display of some other plants found along the seashore between Faversham Creek, Whitstable, and Long Rock SSSI. An exhibition of Kent seaweeds including information on the history and uses of seaweeds will be displayed in the Museum later in the year.
Photo by Sue Carfrae
10.00-11.30 Wildplaynaturesway Honey Hill Blean CT2 9RJ
Wildplaynaturesway
A free-play nature session in a private woodland. Children can immerse themselves in Nature play in a dedicated outdoor learning environment.
Please note there is uneven terrain unsuitable for pushchairs or wheelchairs baby slings are advised. Suitable for 0-5 years £5 per child 15-20 spaces
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To book email wildplaynaturesway@aol.com or message via Facebook.
10.00 – 11.30 at the Whitstable And Herne Bay Beekeeper’s teaching apiary; accessible by car with on-site parking
A Practical Taster Session in Beekeeping - Morning Training Event
As part of the taster session each attendee will receive a briefing on apiary hygiene, health & safety and an introduction to the basic hardware and PPE used in beekeeping. They will have the opportunity to observe at close quarters in groups of two attendees an experienced beekeeper (the mentor) open a hive and talk through what they are doing and what can be seen and to ask questions of the mentor during that inspection. The inspection can include, if the attendee wishes, a chance to handle a frame of bees; we will also provide a group Q&A session between the visitors and mentors after closing of the hives, a pack of information on the learning pathway that we recommend and a digital photo as a personal memento of attendance.
Regrettably visitors must 18+ years old. We require that an attendee's faculties are unimpaired by any medication, drugs or alcohol and that they have no known risk of anaphylaxis or other serious allergy to bee stings and are capable of ensuring their own physical safety and that this is unimpeded.
We will provide the PPE needed except that the attendee must provide their own clean boots (a pair of freshly cleaned wellies would be most suitable).
£25 per head must be booked and paid in advance only 6 visitors per session
To book contact Whitstable & Herne Bay Beekeepers, Roger Simpson - Branch Secretary; email: rogersimpson122@yahoo.co.uk; text: 07989492401
14.30 Stream Walk Community Garden
Wild Medicine
Herbal walk with Belinda Murray. Discover the medicinal properties of everyday garden plants.
Up to 15 spaces
Free event
18.30 St Alphege Church
Eels: from the Domesday Book to the Mighty Boosh
Matthew Hatchwell chair of the DICE Advisory board at UKC, former head of the Wildlife Conservation Society Europe and ex-Director of Conservation at the Zoological Society of London will talk about the amazing ecology of the European eel and its marathon migration between Europe and the Sargasso Sea, threats to the survival of this critically endangered fish, and its place in British history and popular culture.
Free no booking required but donations to St Alphege Church would be much appreciated.
13.00 – 14.30 at the Whitstable And Herne Bay Beekeeper’s teaching apiary; accessible by car with on-site parking
A Practical Taster Session in Beekeeping - Afternoon Training Event
As part of the taster session each attendee will receive a briefing on apiary hygiene, health & safety and an introduction to the basic hardware and PPE used in beekeeping. They will have the opportunity to observe at close quarters in groups of two attendees an experienced beekeeper (the mentor) open a hive and talk through what they are doing and what can be seen and to ask questions of the mentor during that inspection. The inspection can include, if the attendee wishes, a chance to handle a frame of bees; we will also provide a group Q&A session between the visitors and mentors after closing of the hives, a pack of information on the learning pathway that we recommend and a digital photo as a personal memento of attendance.
Regrettably visitors must 18+ years old. We require that an attendee's faculties are unimpaired by any medication, drugs or alcohol and that they have no known risk of anaphylaxis or other serious allergy to bee stings and are capable of ensuring their own physical safety and that this is unimpeded.
We will provide the PPE needed except that the attendee must provide their own clean boots (a pair of freshly cleaned wellies would be most suitable).
£25 per head must be booked and paid in advance only 6 visitors per session
To book contact Whitstable & Herne Bay Beekeepers, Roger Simpson - Branch Secretary; email: rogersimpson122@yahoo.co.uk; text: 07989492401
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