Upcoming Events
Sunday 26th April 2.30 pm Brampton Wood Leader: Tim Fryer/HLGWT
This Spring the Hunts Local Group of the Wildlife Trust, are leading a walk to explore the wood. Owned by the Wildlife Trust: Brampton Wood is a large, mostly ancient, broad-leafed wood known for its Bluebells and other spring flora. Depending on the weather and ground conditions, the walk will take visitors to the less visited areas, so even if you think you know the reserve, there may be more to learn. Booking, and payment of £5 for adults, via the Wildlife Trust BCN website, is required. Please note that the paths are muddy. We plan to finish at about 4.30pm
It would be greatly appreciated if members with identification and recording skills could come along to this event, please. We will reserve 4 free places on the booking site for these people. More info from Tim Fryer (07941 261346 or timpfryer@gmail.com) but bookings are through https://www.wildlifebcn.org/wild-events
Sunday 3rd May 2.30pm Midloe Grange Farm Leader: David Felce/ HFFS
HFFS last visited this farm some 15 years ago. The owner: David Felce has a great interest in balancing the provision of wildlife habitats with crop production. He has received the award of Countryside Farmer of the Year previously. The farm is some 250 acres with a history that dates to 1135 when the farm was transferred from Ramsey Abbey to Old Warden and paid a rent of 3 stones of wax a year. David would welcome a return visit to see how much further he has progressed. He would appreciate a record of all the fauna and flora we see and any advice we can offer. The farm has an ancient ridge and furrow calcareous lowland meadow designated as a County Wildlife Site: our visit should coincide with the flowering a small number of the Green -Winged Orchids. The farm has 7 historic ponds and will be digging another shortly: targeted towards Dragonfly and Turtle Dove. There are species rich hedgerows and field margins sown with wildflowers and grasses. A row of Smooth- leaved Elm supports the White -Spotted Pinion Moth. David is keen to share his experience of being on the National Register which can be used in calculations of Biodiversity Gain.
David Felce has kindly invited us for tea and fruit loaf at the end of the walk.
Meet at Moot Barn within the farm buildings adjacent to Midloe Grange. Drive through Southoe and turn right up Rectory Lane, continue to the end of the lane and turn left at the junction.
Post code PE19 5YD Grid ref TL163 645 What3words///supper.feasted.extensive.
Please book a place for this walk through https://www.wildlifebcn.org/wild-events
Friday May 22nd 10.30 am to 2.45 pm Old Sulehay Nature Reserve Leaders Leo Barrett/HFFS
The reserve is varied: with the Ancient Woodland of Old Sulehay to the north covered in Bluebells and Wild Garlic in the Spring while parts of the reserve were quarried for limestone and iron ore. Birch wood covers some of the old quarry workings, other areas such as Stonepit Close remain sparsely covered in grassland and rare flora. Scrub areas attract Bullfinches and Whitethroat, and Nuthatch and Tree Creeper live within the woodland. We might spot Grizzled Skipper in Stonepit Close.
We will start the walk in Old Sulehay followed by a picnic lunch and walk in Stonepit Close. We will retrace our steps back to the parking area through Old Sulehay. Please bring lunch with you.
Note: there are no toilets close to our route through the reserve: suggest Haddon Services just off A1 or nipping into the Haycock in Wansford before hand. There is cover within the nature reserve.
There is a 20 minute round trip walk to toilets in the classroom building from Stonepit Close.
Parking is very limited: please car share wherever possible. Park in the lay-by on the Yarwell road out of Wansford. Grid ref: TL068 987. What 3 words: notch.pirates.readers.
Please book a place for this walk through https://www.wildlifebcn.org/wild-events
Sunday 5th July 10.30 am to 1.00 pm Gamsey Wood & Woodwalton Marsh Leader Eamonn Lawler /HLGWT
This visit will take in two small nature reserves managed by the Wildlife Trust. Gamsey Wood is ancient woodland and has a similar woodland structure and species composition to other local woods: Ladys Wood and Raveley Wood. It is believed to have been part of the larger ancient forest that covered this area in Saxon times. It is a County Wildlife Site. We will then go on to Woodwalton Marsh: a rare example of a meadow on calcareous clay in Huntingdonshire. It is a SSSI and a little gem. The geology of the site gives rise to an unusual flora including Dropwort, Pyramidal Orchids and scarce Sulphur Clover. The site is very sheltered and supports a range of butterflies: Marbled White, Ringlet and Grizzled Skipper. It is covered in large anthills on which lizards can be seen basking.
Parking for both sites is very limited. Please car share if possible. Meet on the roadside of the minor road from Woodwalton to Great Raveley TL227 814 to walk to Gamsey Wood.
What 3 words: reduction.convey.sting.
Please book a place for this walk through https://www.wildlifebcn.org/wild-events
Wednesday 8th July 6.45 pm for 7 pm start St Johns College Gardens Leader HLGWT
A visit to the gardens of St Johns College Cambridge. This will be a follow up to the talk that was given to the HLGWT in March 2026.
Details of meeting point and parking to be decided – the event listing will have information when available. Please book a place for this walk through https://www.wildlifebcn.org/wild-events
Sunday 9th August 2.30 pm Cow Lane Gravel Pits Leaders HFFS various
The pits consist of 4 lakes created in the aftermath of gravel workings. The site is managed by the Wildlife Trust. At this time of year we will expect to see a wide range of Dragonfly and Butterfly species. This is a County Wildlife Site and the Trust would be grateful to receive any records we make during our visit.
Park at the end of Cow Lane Godmanchester. TL2639 7149
What 3 words near to: joggers.useful.grins
Sunday 18th October 2.00pm Bedford Purlieus Leader: Alan Robbins/HFFS
Join in with our annual fungal foray at this big and varied wood, owned and managed by the Forestry Commission. The wood is over 520 acres and is a National Nature Reserve and a Site of Special Scientific Interest. The wood has a very large range of tree species including Lime, Elm, Hazel, Ash, Beech, Spruce and Birch. It also has large open areas of grassland.. We found, probably, our biggest and most varied range of Flora and Fauna species seen in recent visits during our visit in the summer of 2025. Mycologists recommend visiting in the Autumn for an equally diverse range of fungi species.
Directions: From the A14 going north, take the A47 west signed Leicester. After two miles, take a left turning down a dirt road. The car parking area is about 200 yds along the track. It is not signed off the A47. There is a lay-by just before the turning. Grid reference TF039 004
What 3 words: thinking.classic.formless