Each year we try to schedule a range of field trips during the Spring to Autumn period. During the winter we then aim to offer occasional walks. Details of scheduled walks and trips will be shown below. If nothing is showing immediately, please check in a week or two because you may have hit on a time when the next series of events is being planned.
All trips and walks are open to members (free of charge) and to visitors (£2 donation). Children under 16 must be accompanied by a responsible adult. We do not allow dogs because often trips are to environmentally sensitive areas and/or to places where we have access only due to the permission of landowners.
If you are thinking of coming on a walk or field trip you are requested to read our Risk Assessment checklist which can be accessed from this site by clicking on the link below.
If the weather looks bad and you want to check if a walk is going ahead, please work on the assumption that things have to be pretty awful for us to cancel, but if necessary ring Richard on 01665 578346 before 8.30 on the day.
Here are the walks for the rest of this summer season. All details are included in each walk description.
If the weather looks bad and you want to check if a walk is going ahead, please work on the assumption that things have to be pretty awful for us to cancel, but if necessary ring Richard on 01665 578346 before 8.30 on the day.
This is the next few of our winter walks schedule. All details are included in each walk description. If the weather looks bad and you want to check if a walk is going ahead, please work on the assumption that things have to be pretty awful for us to cancel, but if necessary ring Richard on 01665 578346 or Stewart on 07944 072423 before 8.30 on the day.
Saturday 24th February Cheswick/Cocklawburn dunes and shore George Dodds
Meet at 10:30 am. at Cheswick in the parking area just to the east of the railway bridge. Walking boots and warm clothing will be required. Depending on the weather, we can walk north along the cycle track to the top end of Cocklawburn and return via the beach. There is one section on the beach where a detour may be required depending on the tide. If it is windy from the west we can walk south towards Goswick through the dunes and back up the beach. Binoculars will be useful.
Park at Grid Ref NU 0396 4698 OS Landranger 75 Explorer 340
Saturday 23rd March Branton Ponds Keith & Ian Davison
Keith and Ian have led a number of walks at Branton over the years, but this is one of those places that one can never really tire of and there is always interesting wildlife to see. In March this will particularly be the birdlife on and around the ponds. Distance minimal – perhaps a couple of miles at most. The route is flat but can often be muddy in places, so choose appropriate footwear. Binoculars almost a necessity and if you have a ‘scope then do bring it.
Meet at 10.00 am in the small unmarked car park off the Powburn to Branton road at NU 0493 1654. Timing 10.00 to 12.30 ish. OS Landranger 81 Explorer 332
Sunday 21st April Seaweed Survey (place to be announced) Denise Metcalf & Richard Poppleton
Before Christmas we had a seaweed session at Beadnell to practise our ability to identify the main seaweeds on the London Natural History Museum’s (NHM) list of target species for their surveys. This time we want to carry out a survey for real, using the NHM methodology. Full details and timings will be announced in the February newsletter.