All are welcome to join the meetings listed below.
For outdoor meetings wear stout footwear, suitable weather wear, and as appropriate, insect repellent and sunscreen. For day meetings bring a drink and a packed lunch. Mothing sessions – usually arranged at short notice – bring a torch, hot drink and warm clothes. Other field visits may be arranged, depending on the weather. Detailed information about excursions will be sent by email a few days before the event.
Please let Margaret know if you will be coming to an excursion, so that the leader knows how many will attend and any changes or cancellations can be notified. Attendance is at your own risk. Children under 16 should be accompanied by an adult.
Doncaster Naturalists’ events are in bold.
Note : Mothing at Austerfield, Potteric Carr, Lindholme etc. possible on suitable evenings.
Please let us know if you would be interested as sessions will be arranged at very short notice.
| Date | Meeting Details |
|---|---|
| March | |
| Tue 14 | Park Wood, Rossington for Wild Daffodils and early spring flowers. Leader : Hilary Hilton. Meet at 10:30 am at Atterby Close, Rossington. (bring lunch). |
| Wed 22 | Hellebore Hunt in Don Gorge, Sprotborough. Leader : Colin Howes. Meet 1 pm on Archers Lane [formerly Butt Holes Lane] (SK/524988) off the A630 Doncaster/Conisbrough Road nr. Pelican crossing. ROUTE: We will cross to the north side of the A630 via the pelican crossing to enter Nearcliff Wood, passing along the tarmacked haul road as far as the disused worked out lime quarry (looking like a set for a ‘Spaghetti Western’) to the east of Conisbrough viaduct, below Butterbusk Green and the white water tower. We will pass the celebrated Nearcliff Pipe Tunnel (of hibernating bats fame), the spectacular Conisbrough Viaduct (now a public walk/cycle way) and the legendary Dragon Cave which ‘steams’ in either very hot or very cold weather. TERRAIN: The population of Stinking Hellebore, Spurge-laurel and associated limestone plants are in a precipitous and precarious fragment of woodland miraculously missed by the quarrying. Terrain is Slippery and Steep. Stout footwear, gloves and probably a walking stick, essential. DISTANCE: (there & back) 1½ miles. MAPS: OS Landranger 111 Sheffield & Doncaster or South Yorkshire A-Z Map page 80, cells C3, D3 & D2. |
| April | |
| Sat 1 | Wood Anemone walk. Cancelled Leader : Joyce Simmons. Meet at Wentbridge bridge SE488173 at 10:30 am. A walk of 1 mile, bring lunch for a 3 mile walk. |
| Wed 5 | Evening meeting at Parklands Club. Meet 7 pm at Parklands Sports & Social Club, Wheatley Hall Road, DN2 4LT Colin Howes will explain the findings from the Denaby Ings project. |
| Tue 11 | Thorpe Marsh YWT Reserve Leader : Mick Townsend. Evening walk looking for Great Crested Newts. Meet at 7 pm at the level crossing on Applehurst Lane SK539912 |
| Sun 16 | Fritillaries in Owston Meadows. Leader : Colin Howes. Meet at 2 pm at SE554113. |
| Tues 25 | Bluebells and Pond Dipping Leader : John Scott. Meet 1 pm at Ash Hill Farm SE605134. |
| May | |
| Fri 5 | Search for the Mire Pill Beetle Leader : Louise Hill. Meet at 10:30 am at Lindholme Bank Road, Hatfield, Doncaster DN7 6DT. (Gomde UK, Buddist retreat centre) |
| Sat 13 | YNU Botanical Section meeting at Seckar Wood, Wakefield. Leader Louise Hill & Tim Kohler. Meet at 10.30 am at Seckar Wood, Wakefield SE327139 |
| Sat 20 | Sykehouse Meadows. Leaders : John Scott and Colin Howes. Meet at 10:30 am in the second fisherman’s car park at SE645177. Looking for Forester Moths, other insects, birds, plants etc. |
| Wed 24 | Idle Valley Bird Watch (Amended) Leader : Jim Burnett. Meet 2 pm on Chainbridge Lane, Lound (SK69598594). A walk down Neatholme Lane, along River Idle back up Chainbridge Lane, birdwatching along the way. There are no facilities on the site. |
| Sun 28 | Visit to Chambers Farm Wood to see Marsh Fritillary. Leaders : Joyce & Paul Simmons. Meet (?) |
| June | |
| 30 May | Visit to Bishop Wood nr. Selby to look for Argent and Sable moth. Revised – Now 30 May Leaders : Joyce & Paul Simmons. Meet at 1:30 pm at the main car park on Scalm Lane SE557336. |
| Sun 4 | Marr Hills and Holes. Leader : Louise Hill Meet 10.30 am in Marr Lodge pub car park |
| Tue 6 | Finningley Wildflowers. Leader : Tricia Haigh Meet at 1.30 pm at the church to visit a meadow and the churchyard. |
| Wed 7 | YNU Entomology Day. Leader : tbc Meet 10 am in Brockadale |
| Sun 11 | The birds of Slayne’s Lane gravel Pits, Hagg Lane, Missen. Leader : Jim Burnett. Meet at 10.30 am on Hagg Lane Flash. The Flash is just South East of Newington. Access to Hagg Lane is off Newington Road about 200yds east of the Ship Inn. Walk to see what birds present. |
| Tue 14 | Shirley Pool near Askern (Addition to programme). Leader : Tim Kohler The plan would be to meet at the carpark behind Askern Town Council (NGR SE 562135), and car share from there. There is parking at the entrance to the site off the A19 (NGR 557123), but it’s limited to about 3-4 cars. Meet at 10.30. |
| Sat 17 | Went Ings SSSI meadows near Sykehouse Leaders : Anna Thirwell and John Scott. Meet at 10:30 am in the second fisherman’s car park at SE645177. Looking for orchids and other wildlife. |
| Wed 21 | Brodsworth Hall Gardens and wild area. Rescheduled Leaders : Tom Higginbottom Meet at 10:30 am in the car park by the Visitors’ entrance |
| July | |
| Sat 8 | Brockadale Butterflies. Leader : Paul & Joyce Simmons. Meet at 1.30 am in car park at SE512174 to see Marbles White, Fritillaries, Skippers etc. |
| Fri 14 | (?) Meadows. Leaders : John Scott & Colin Howes. Meet (?) Details to follow |
| Tues 18 | Thorpe Marsh Purple Hairstreak annual count. Leader : Mick Townsend. Meet at 6 pm at the level crossing on Applehurst Lane SK539912 |
| Fri 21 | Hunt For Sundew Plume, Bog Rosemary and Cranberry on Thorne Moor. Leader : Louise Hill & Helen Kirk Access will be via the Natural England private entrance by Creykes Crossing, then a walk of 3km |
| Lindholme Summer Open Day 10.30am to 4pm CHANGE OF DATE TO AUGUST 10 Rangjung Yeshe Gomde UK Tibetan Buddhist Centre Lindholme Bank Rd, Hatfield, Doncaster DN7 6DT |
|
| August | |
| Sat 5 | Arksey and Bentley Ings, Arksey. Leader : Louise Hill. Meet 10:30 am on the wide verge at Arksey Common Lane just after Hemp Pits Road SE582067. For wetland birds, plants, dragonflies etc. |
| Sat 12 | YNU VC63 meeting at Potteric Carr. Leader : Leader Joyce Simmons. Meet at 10:30 in Visitor Centre. Jim Horsfall of YNT will lead a 3 mile walk through areas normally closed to visitors. Alternate shorter walks are also possible if desired. |
| Fri 18 | Dragonflies and Pond Dipping at Thorpe Marsh. Leader : Mick Townsend. Meet at 1 pm at level crossing on Applehurst Lane SK539912 |
| Dunsville Quarry Walk CANCELLED Leader : Meet at (?) details to follow |
|
| Sat 26 | St. Aidans RSPB Reserve for raptors other birds and insects. Leaders : Paul & Joyce Simmons. Meet in RSPB car park SE399287 at 10:30 am. Bring lunch. |
| September | |
| Wed 6 | Gall meeting at Seckar Wood, Wakefield. Leader : Tom Higginbottom & Ian Farmer Meet 10.30 am at Seckar Wood, Wakefield SE327139 |
| Wed 13 | Gall meeting at Castle Howard Leader : Tom Higginbottom & Ian Farmer Meet (?) to be advised. Note entry fee £11 |
| Sat 16 | Hedgerows in Sykehouse Meadows. Leader : John Scott. Meet 10.30 am in car park SE639 162. Post code DN14 9AL |
| Wed 20 | RSPB Adwick Washlands in the Dearne Valley. Leader : Les Coe Meet 10:30 am at the car park on Furlong Road (SE474022) There are no facilities on the site. |
| Sat 23 | Owston Arboretum MEETING CANCELLED Leader : Margaret Prior Meet at 2 pm in Owston Golf Club car park |
| October | |
| tba | Fungal Foray at Hemsworth Almshouses, Hemsworth. Leader : Francis Hickenbottom. Meet (?) details to follow |
| tba |