AGM followed by a talk by Bob Gomes - West Brook to the Swale
Details: Bob Gomes is a local conservationist, and member of the group, now working in the Faversham area. He has worked for over 30 years for the RSPB on a number of reserves throughout the UK including Emley Marsh on the Isle of Sheppey. Now working as an independent ecological surveyor. West Brook is a chalk stream in Faversham (a rarity in the world). A project has been underway to restore this stream using local volunteers. see website https://favershamlife.org/friends-of-the-westbrook-and-stonebridge-pond/
Accessibility: Lift available to the upper floor.
Parking: Central car park charges apply.
Price: no charge for members, non members £5
Talk Kent the only place for happiness by Andre Farrar
Details: A talk about Godmersham. Godmersham is starting to feature on the literary map - it's the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen's birth and she loved Godmersham. As luck would have it, Jane Austen's nephew - Charles Knight - was a country rector and a bit of a naturalist. We have his journal from 1832 so nearly 200 years of records for the village, some of which cover his natural history observations.
Accessibility: Lift available to the upper floor.
Parking: Central car park charges apply.
Price: no charge for members, non members £5
Talk All about Eels
Details: Matthew Hatchwell will be giving the talk, about the natural history of the European Eel, its conservation status, protection, and cultural significance. Matthew has worked on conservation projects worldwide is a former director of Conservation at London Zoo, he is now a Trustee of Jersey Zoo and the Chair of the Trustees at the Durrell Conservation Trust.
Accessibility: Lift available to the upper floor.
Parking: Central car park charges apply.
Price: no charge for members, non members £5
Talk The Reintroduction of the Beavers to the English Countryside by Ben Morris
Details: Ben is the Senior Field Officer for the Beaver Trust. He works in the restoration team on the reintroduction project. see website https://beavertrust.org/restoration-services/
Accessibility: Lift available to the upper floor.
Parking: Central car park charges apply.
Price: no charge for members, non members £5
Outdoor meeting Conyer
Details A walk around Conyer looking for wildflowers and birds. We should be able to hear nightingales. Good views across Coyner Creek and the Swale to look for waterfowl and waders from the sea wall.
Accessibility: Limited hard surfaced paths (these may contain potholes), some unmade paths. Expect some uneven surfaces and maybe wet muddy areas. The sea wall is grass embankment.
Meet along the road near to the entrance
This walk is lead by Trevor Hatton
Price Members free, non members £1
Parking only street parking only
Insight into bats in the UK by Liz Vinson
Details: Liz has been a volunteer with the Kent Bat Group for over 20 years and a bat carer for 10 years, and was also a licenced batworker for several years. Liz illustrates bats and raises funds, surveys hibernating bats in the winter and counting bat roosts in the summer and caring for sick and injured bats in between. She also has her own section in The Young Batworker, a quarterly magazine for the junior wing of the Bat Conservation Trust and was named the Adult Batty Laureate 2024. Last year Liz and her colleague Sean from the Kent Bat Group worked together with the Faversham Town Council in their bat box project, which are now in place in several locations.
The talk will starting at 8pm - 45 minute talk with 15 minute Q&A
Parking: Central car park charges apply.
Price: no charge for members, non members £5