Welcome to our Spring/Summer Programme
March 2025 to August 2025

All members are very welcome to join any Section meeting. If you wish to become a regular participant in any Section, please give your name and contact details to the Section Leader, who will inform you of any activities which do not appear in the published programme. In the event of bad weather, please check with the Section Leader before setting out. See overleaf for their names and contact details.

Visitors are welcome to attend 2 meetings in a year and requested to introduce themselves to the leader at the start of the meeting. We hope this will encourage them to join us. A few meetings may have to be restricted to members only, for various reasons. This will be indicated in the programme.

Health & Safety Advice: On outdoor activities, please wear stout waterproof footwear, and clothing that protects against scratches and bruises. Everyone who takes part in our activities does so at their own risk.

Society President: Dr Vivian Roberts, Tel 865420 or Mob 07768 091370, email roberts.iwnhas@gmail.com
Membership Secretary: Mrs T Goodley, Tel 652702 or Mob 07849 089924, email tonigoodley@gmail.com
Society Secretary: Colin Pope, Tel 611591, email colinrpope@gmail.com
Society Treasurer: Nigel Locke, Tel 407287, email nigel.jill.007@btinternet.com

SECTION LEADERS

Archaeology: Dave Staughton, Tel 07802 918416, email dave@staughton.me

Botany: Colin Pope, Tel 611591, email colinrpope@gmail.com
Dave & Hazel Trevan, Tel 853927 or Mob 07979 098760, email davidandhazel@hotmail.com

Entomology: Selena Bone, Tel 298073 or Mob 07971 457624, email selena.iow@icloud.com

Fungi: Colin Pope, Tel 611591, email colinrpope@gmail.com

General: Maggie Nelmes, Tel 852274, email maggienelmes51@gmail.com

Geology: Steve Hutt, Tel 840237 & Trevor Price, Tel 07593 811751, email trevorshorse@yahoo.co.uk

Looking at the Countryside: Mary Edmunds, Tel 532055 or Mob 07791491562, email john.mary.edmunds@gmail.com

Microscopical: Paul Bingham, Tel 526049, email iowpaulb@aol.com

Ornithology: Jim Baldwin, Tel 07528 586683, email wightbto@hotmail.com

Visual Records Collection: We would welcome digital or printed photographs of meetings: flora and fauna, geology, archaeological artefacts – anything relevant to the interests and history of the Society – for our photo library. All originals will be returned. Please contact Society Headquarters.

Society Headquarters: Unit 7c, Prospect Business Centre, Prospect Rd, Cowes PO31 7AD, Tel 282596, Email iwnhas@btconnect.com

Society’s Website: https://iwnhas.org
Programme Secretary: Maggie Nelmes, Tel 852274, Email maggienelmes51@gmail.com

Venue for indoor meetings: Arreton Community Centre, Main Road, Arreton, near Newport (unless otherwise stated).

Archaeology
Dave Staughton is our new Archaeology Section Leader. We usually have regular weekly meetings on Wednesday mornings. These are mostly field activities, although occasionally we will have indoor talks and other events. Details of our meetings will be posted on the Society webpage and announced by email. If you wish to receive the email notifications, please contact Dave: dave@staughton.me

Geology
We are pleased to be able to list two fossil walks in this programme. However, due to the need for accurate tide tables and information related to any access problems i.e. road closures/cliff falls, the details of the Winter/Spring 2025 walks will only be available on the Society’s Website nearer the time.

---

FEBRUARY 2025

Botany

Saturday 1 February 13:30 hrs to 16:00 hrs

Botany Indoor Meeting. Our annual Indoor Meeting is at Arreton Community Centre. We will be reviewing last year’s finds and looking at plans for the coming year. There will also be an illustrated talk on interesting plants. Please bring along any photographs or pressed specimens of interest for the exhibition during the tea break.

Ornithology

Sunday 2 February at 09:30 hrs

Seaview and Hersey Reserve. Meet at the north end of Bluett Avenue, Seaview SZ626917. We should see divers, ducks, grebes and gulls. Leader: Dave Fairlamb contact details as 14 September.

General Meeting

Saturday 8 February at 14:00 hrs

Isle of Wight National Landscape: Evolution or Revolution, an illustrated talk by Richard Grogan. With changes in legislation, policy and guidance, is the change from Isle of Wight AONB to Isle of Wight National Landscape an obvious progression or a radical transformation? The talk will explore the role of the national designation in the light of the climate change crisis and biodiversity emergency, and speculate about the future in the light of Local Nature Recovery Strategies and other initiatives. Venue: Arreton Community Centre.

Looking at the Countryside

Tuesday 11 February at 10:00 hrs

Meet at Quay Road, Ryde (hovercraft end), SZ595928 for a walk around Appley and Ryde eastern esplanade, approximately 2 hours. Leader: Richard Smout, email smoutrichard@gmail.com.

Botany

Saturday 15 & Sunday 16 February

Wood Calamint Working Party. The annual Wood Calamint working party at Rowridge Lane will take place on a weekend morning in mid- February. Please contact Mark Simmons for details, Tel 07392 614256, email nodewell@googlemail.com

---

MARCH 2025

General Meeting

Saturday 8 March at 14:00 hrs

A Dinosaur Renaissance on the Isle of Wight: an illustrated talk by Dr Jeremy Lockwood. We are beginning to understand the Early Cretaceous ecosystem on the Isle of Wight as being one of the most diverse in the world. Over the last five years, ten new species of dinosaur have been identified, six of which Jeremy has been involved with. He explains how palaeontologists find and diagnose these species, using comparative anatomy, CT scanning, bone histology and computer analysis, and asks why the Island is such a rich and important source for these fascinating fossils. Venue: Arreton Community Hall.

Ornithology

Sunday 16 March at 09:30 hrs

Yarmouth. Meet at the beginning of the cycle path in Thorley Road, SZ363895 for a walk in the area. We should see ducks, geese, gulls and waders. Leader: Dave Fairlamb, Mobile 07470 438815 or email natural.links@outlook.com

THE IWNHAS ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Saturday 22 March 13:45 hrs for 14:00 hrs start

All our members are invited to attend the AGM to hear about the Society’s activities and finances during the past year and to vote for our officers and committees. We look forward to meeting you and having a chat, and we will try to answer any questions. Contributions of food items to share will be very welcome – such as sandwiches, cakes, biscuits, quiche, crisps, nuts, fruit and raw vegetable sticks. Venue: Arreton Community Centre.

Looking at the Countryside

Saturday 29 March at 10:00 hrs

Ventnor to Bonchurch. Meet at Wheelers Bay car park, Ventnor, SZ568775 for a two hour walk along the revetment to Bonchurch and back. Leader: Andy Butler, Tel 854925 or email a.butler321@btinternet.com

---

APRIL 2025

Botany

Saturday 12 April at 14:00 hrs

Walters Copse, Newtown. A spring walk to enjoy and record the ancient woodland spring flora in this National Trust property. Roadside parking around Town Lane, SZ429904. Please park responsibly and share cars if possible. Botany Section Leader.

Looking at the Countryside

Wednesday 16th April at 09:40 hrs*

A walk from Shanklin to Newchurch. Meet at Newchurch car park, SZ562855 to catch the 09.55 hrs* no. 22 bus to Shanklin. We will walk back, about 4 miles. There is a pub or café on the old railway line at the end of the walk. WARNING – there is only one bus! Should you prefer to join the group at Shanklin, please contact Leader: Jill Green, Tel 863763 / 07876291385.

Ornithology

Sunday 27 April at 09:30 hrs

Culver Down. Meet at the far eastern car park on Culver Down, SZ636856 for a walk in the area. Spring migrant birds. Leader: to be confirmed.

---

MAY 2025

Bats

Thursday 1 May at 20:15 hrs

Puckpool Park. Meet at the long stay car park, SZ615921 for a walk around the park to hear and see bats. Bring a small torch and a bat detector if you have one. Leader: Hazel Makepeace, Mobile 07884 247361 or email: hazelmakepeace@aol.co.uk

General Meeting

Thursday 8 May – from 07:30 hrs All Day

Coach trip to DORCHESTER, a county town rich in heritage and museums. For the fittest, there’s the option to visit Maiden Castle, the largest Iron Age hilltop fort in Britain, with spectacular views over the town and the surrounding countryside. In Dorchester, the Dorset Museum and Art Gallery has a gallery devoted to each of the following: Archaeology, Geology and Wildlife. Its tour of Roman Dorchester, includes the Roman Town House. The British Museum’s touring exhibition Gladiators of Britain, is being held there. Those interested in Egyptology can visit the Tutankhamun Exhibition, with its replica of his tomb. And there’s a small museum dedicated to the Terracotta Warriors, the first Emperor of China’s Terracotta Army. The replicas were made in dedicated cultural workshops in China. See the individual websites for further information. Please fill in the questionnaire and booking form in the leaflet and return the whole leaflet to me at the address provided, together with a cheque payable to IWNHAS. No cheque book? You can pay directly into the IWNHAS bank account. Please email me maggienelmes@gmail.com if you have any questions about this trip, or if you didn’t receive the leaflet as an insert in this Programme.

Botany

Saturday 10 May at 14:00 hrs

Rowdown, Brighstone. Rowdown has a spectacular display of Bluebells at this time of year but there are also lots of other interesting and unusual spring plants of sandy grassland to look for. Expect to see Sand Sedge, Spring Vetch and a variety of early clovers. Park in the (free) car park in Brighstone off Warnes Lane, SZ427827. From here we will walk about 1.5km to the site. Botany Section Leader.

Looking at the Countryside

Wednesday 21 May at 10:30 hrs

Wroxall and the Downs. Meet at Wroxall car park, St Martin’s Road, Wroxall, SZ55161/79850. A four-mile circular walk, the first part is steep as we walk to the downs. We will be rewarded with panoramic views and bluebells. On our return we will pass by the abandoned steam railway tunnel. Pub in village for coffee optional. Leader: Jill Poole, Tel 853998.

Ornithology

Saturday 24 May at 09:30 hrs

Laundry Lane. Meet at the St Helens end of Laundry Lane, SZ620882 for a walk along the lane and returning via Bexley Point and the new bridge pools. Breeding birds and migrant birds en route to their breeding grounds. Leader: Dave Fairlamb, Mobile 07470 438815 or email natural.links@outlook.com

Entomology

Saturday 24 May at 13:30 hrs

Pig Leg Lane. A walk along the lane into Swanmore Meadows. Please park in Quarry Road or surrounding area, SZ594916. Section Leader: Selena Bone.

---

JUNE 2025

Looking at the Countryside

Saturday 7 June at 10:00 hrs

Brighstone. Meet outside the Wilberforce Hall, SZ429831 for a circular walk northwards to Rowdown and Coombe. Place-names, old stones, and other historic curiosities. Steep climb at beginning, path can be muddy if wet. Dramatic views. Leader: Alan Phillips, Tel 741375.

Ornithology

Sunday 8 June at 09:30 hrs

Alverstone. Meet at the entrance to the cycle track by Sandown Water Works, SZ588851 for a walk to Alverstone. Breeding birds. Leader: Dave Fairlamb, Mobile 07470 438815 or email natural.links@outlook.com

Botany

Saturday 14 June at 14:00 hrs

Bembridge Down. A return visit to look for summer flowering chalk plants and, in particular, to monitor the population of Yarrow Broomrape that we found on our meeting last September. Meet at the first National Trust car park on the left past Bembridge Fort, SZ625860. Botany Section Leader.

Entomology

Sunday 15 June at 13:30 hrs

Pan Mill Meadows. Please meet near to National Tyres for a walk along Connie’s Way into Pan Mill Meadows, SZ503881. Section Leader: Selena Bone.

Ornithology

Sunday 15 June at 20:30 hrs

Mottistone Common. Meet at the National Trust car park in Strawberry Lane towards the bottom of the hill (not Mottistone Manor car park), SZ411837. An evening walk to hear and see Nightjars. Please bring a torch as paths are uneven and it will be dark. Leader: Teresa Tearle, Mobile 07795 078049 / email Teresa.tearle@btinternet.com

Geology

Saturday 21 June at 13:00 hrs

Dinosaur Footcasts. Hanover Point, near Brook – meet in the car park to the west of the point at 12:45 hrs for 13:00 hrs on the beach. Hanover Point National Trust car park, SZ378841 (or What3Words bowhead.punctual.hurry) Society members have visited this section of coastline before, but this event will aim to locate and photograph as many of the fossilised dinosaur footcasts as we can find. Please bring a mobile phone or digital camera to take images. I will attempt to bring metre rulers which can be used as references in the images, but please feel free to bring your own. This will form part of a wider project to record the changing geodiversity of the Isle of Wight due to coastal erosion and human interaction with the landscape. Due to the trip being on the beach, and the slippery nature of the mudstones on the foreshore, please ensure any footwear is waterproof and has suitable tread. All welcome, especially younger members. Approximate total walking distance 1km. Section Leader: Trevor Price.

Ornithology

Swift Awareness Week

National Swift Awareness Week commences on Saturday 28 June and ends on Sunday 6 July. In conjunction with the Wight Swifts Facebook Group, we will be meeting for an evening walk to view Swifts at a venue and date yet to be decided. Look for details on the Society website nearer the time. There will also be information on the Facebook group Wight Swifts.

General Meeting

Saturday 28 June at 10:00 hrs

Discover Ventnor’s Pavement Plants and Iconic Wall Lizard. A celebration of the wildlife that is flourishing on Ventnor’s hillside terraces since the Town Council persuaded Island Roads to stop spraying toxic weedkillers on pavements and walls. Ironically, it was a non-native species of lizard that prompted this change. Botany enthusiasts are welcome to help identify the wild plants. Parking is available at the roadside along Park Avenue. Meet at the main entrance to Ventnor Park, SZ556773. Leaders: Maggie Nelmes (on herbicides and wall lizards) and Dave Trevan (on plant identification).

---

JULY 2025

Looking at the Countryside

Saturday 5 July at 10:30 hrs

Gunville Past Present and Future. Meet at Towngate Mill Pond, Newport, SZ49078904. A walk along Gunville stream to Poleclose Farm returning along the Lukely Brook. Approximately 4-5 miles. Could be muddy. Leaders: Michele Van Buren phone or text 07761587931 and Section Leader Mary Edmunds.

General Meeting

Saturday 12 July at 10:00 hrs

Carisbrooke. A 5-mile circular walk to explore the early and late medieval topography and landscape history of Carisbrooke and Bowcombe. We will look at the church and village before passing the castle to Dark Lane, then on to Bowcombe and Plaish, returning to Carisbrooke mid to late afternoon. There may be an opportunity to climb the church tower. Please bring a packed lunch and wear suitable footwear and clothing. Meet outside St Mary’s Church in Carisbrooke High Street, SZ486882. Leaders: John Margham and Vicky Basford.

Botany

Saturday 19 July at 13:00 hrs

King’s Quay. The estuary and shoreline at Kings Quay, west of Fishbourne, is a fascinating area which has not been surveyed in recent years. We are negotiating access to the eastern side of the private site and hope to be able to agree arrangements to allow us to visit. Please contact Section Leaders: Colin Pope or Dave Trevan for details nearer the time.

Entomology

Sunday 20 July at 13:30 hrs

Ryde Cemetery. Meet at the entrance in West Street for a look around the cemetery grounds. Please park in West Street, SZ589920. Section Leader: Selena Bone.

Ornithology

Sunday 27 July at 09:30 hrs

West High Down. Meet at the National Trust Chalk Pit car park above the High Down Inn, Totland, SZ324855 for a downland walk. Some stiles and steep in places. Migrants. Leader: to be confirmed.

---

AUGUST 2025

Entomology

Saturday 2 August at 13:30 hrs

Afton Marsh. Please meet in Coastguard Lane at the South entrance to the marsh, SZ347859. Section Leader: Selena Bone.

Ornithology

Saturday 16 August at 09:30 hrs

Ventnor Downs. Meet at the car park immediately before Ventnor Radar station, SZ565784. Migrants. Leader: Dave Fairlamb 07470 438815 or email natural.links@outlook.com

Looking at the Countryside

Tuesday 19 August at 10:30 hrs.

Wydcombe, Niton. Park in the farmyard, SZ506785. A walk on and around the Wydcombe estate looking at the natural and designed landscape features and the points of wildlife and historical interest during the walk. 3 to 3½ miles, stout footwear required. Leader: Tony Tutton, Mobile 07999 158353.

Botany

Saturday 23 August at 14:00 hrs

Ventnor east cliffs. These cliffs have a rich flora of both native and naturalised species. Amongst many species, we expect to see Wild Clary in one of its best Island locations and the only known Island site for the fragrant naturalised Clematis, Virgin’s Bower. Meet in the (free) car park at Wheeler’s Bay off Victoria Street, SZ568775 from where we will walk along the revetment into Ventnor, returning via The Cascade along the clifftop. Botany Section Leader.

Entomology

Saturday 30 August at 13:30 hrs

Shide Chalk Pit. Please park in Shide or surrounding area. If travelling by bus, Southern Vectis routes 2 and 3 stop near the junction of Shide Rd and St George’s Way. Please meet at the entrance on Burnt House Lane, SZ506883. Section Leader: Selena Bone.

---

Advance Notice

SEPTEMBER 2025

Looking at the Countryside

Saturday 6 September at 10:00 hrs

Venerable Oaks. Meet at Quarr Abbey car park, SZ560192. A circular walk following the Ryde Histree Trail, created in 2000 to celebrate some of the oldest oaks on the Island. Visit Dame Anthony’s Common, the Millennium Nature Reserve, and take in the views. No stiles but may be muddy. Approx. 5 miles. Quarr Abbey cafe offers a welcome at the end of our walk. Leaders: Michele Van Buren text or phone 07761587391 and Section Leader Mary Edmunds.

General Meeting

Saturday 13 September at 10:30 hrs

Headon Warren, Totland. This gentle stroll is an opportunity to discover what Natural England, together with local landowners, is planning in order to enhance the Headon Warren area for wildlife and visitors. Leader: Mark Larter. More details to follow.

Botany

Sunday 14 September at 14:00 hrs

Mount Joy Cemetery. We will be examining and enjoying the rich chalk grassland flora in this cemetery. Park in the lay-by opposite Carisbrooke Priory, Nunnery Lane, SZ489875. Leader: Botany Section Leader.