NEWSLETTER JULY, AUGUST, SEPTEMBER 2008

Outdoor Meetings: Strong footwear and waterproof clothing is essential on all walks. Please notify the leaders if you intend to go.

Indoor Meetings are held at Wolverhampton Cricket Club, Danescourt Road, Tettenhall, Wolverhampton, WV6 9BJ, on alternate Mondays from January to March and September to November, at 7.30 pm. A small charge of £1 is made on entry towards the Society's funds, including the cost of speakers.

Sunday, 6 July - Hanbury, Droitwich - Leader: Brenda Jones (Tel No 01902 763251 Mobile 07984189040)

Start time: 10.30 am. Meeting place: Car park at Piper's Hill Nature Reserve off B4091. OS Explorer Map 204 Worcester. Directions: (Allow at least one hour). A449 towards Stourbridge. At Hagley turn right on to A456 (briefly), then left on to A491 to Lydiate Ash Island - J4 of M5. At island take A38 south towards Bromsgrove. Stay on A38 for a few miles. Turn left at Stoke Heath towards Hanbury on B4091. After a few miles Pipers Hill CP is on right before a sharpish bend (difficult to see until past it!). Look out for Country Girl Pub and be alert after that. Distance of walk: About 5 miles. Terrain: Undulating on field and woodland paths and quiet lanes. Opportunity to see ancient trees and woodland birds in nature reserve. Good views from church. Refreshments: Bring a drink and snack. Opportunity to visit Hanbury Hall (NT), Country Girl Pub or nearby Jinny Ring Craft Centre AFTER walk. Finishing time: of walk 1.30 pm ish.

Saturday, 12 July - Weston Park - Leaders: Margaret Harper and Brian Jones (Tel Nos 01902 332590 and 01902 850347

Start time: 11.30 am. Meeting place: Parking area inside park, grassy field. Directions: Take A41 to A5, turn right and drive about a mile to the entrance. Shortly after that pay at kiosk. £4.50 for senior citizens. Distance of walk: Field trip/short walk around the grounds. About 2 1/2 miles. Terrain: Gentle walk on flat paths with trees, wild flowers and if sunny, plenty of butterflies and damsel and dragonflies, also birds. Refreshments: Bring a packed lunch which will be carried. Tea etc available at café until 5 pm. Finishing time: 3.30 - 4 pm. (Grounds close 6.30 pm).

Saturday, 26 July - Bewdley - Leaders: Wenda Janes and Josette Pearn (Tel Nos 01299 402406 and 01299 403596

Start time: 10 am. Meeting place: Wenda's home. Directions: GR 785752. Drive over bridge, up the main street, round to the back of the church,turn left up Park Lane, first left up Park Close to No 4 across the top. Distance of walk: 4 1/2 miles. Terrain: One difficult gate to climb over, otherwise fairly easy walking through woodland, over farmland and alongside the river.Refreshments: Bring a packed lunch to have at Wenda's/Josette's house - drinks provided. Finishing time: 2.30 pm.

Sunday, 3 August - Much Wenlock - Leaders: Ken and Marj Horton (Tel No 01952 727439 Mobile 07940245631)

Start time: 10.30 am. Meeting place: Rossmore, 2 Kingswood Close, Much Wenlock. (Parking is limited at Rossmore, but cars can be parked in Queen Street. Directions: Leave Bridgnorth on A458. At the Gaskell Arms take 2nd right turn - A4169 to Telford. After 200 yds (opposite Travis Perkins) turn right into Queen Street. Kingswood Close is the first left turn. Distance of walk: 4/5 miles. Terrain: Fairly flat with good views. Can be muddy. Refreshments: Bring a packed lunch. Everyone welcome afterwards at Rossmore for tea and coffee. Finishing time: 3 pm.

Wednesday, 6 August - The Batch and Gogbatch - Leaders: Vivien and Eric Garner (Tel No 01694 724026)

Start time: 11 am. Meeting place: NT car park, The Batch, All Stretton. Directions: At Church Stretton proceed up main road (Sandford Avenue). At the top of the road (HSBC Bank opposite) turn right along Shrewsbury Road. After sign for All Stretton on the right continue along the road until on the left a small brown sign is visible on the wall marked YHA and also a sign on the left indicating Village Hall. Turn left along the narrow lane and continue to the end and over a cattle grid. Parking is then on the left. Do not go past the Yew Tree Pub as the turning is just before it. Distance of walk: 4 miles. Terrain: A beautiful walk beside a stream through Batch Valley, then a slow climb with lovely views. After leaving the valley there is a wonderful view of the whole of North Shropshire with Caer Caradoc, the Lawley and the Wrekin in a line on the right, where we will have lunch. Refreshments: Bring a packed lunch to be eaten around noon. Tea, coffee and cakes afterwards at Wood Hill. Finishing time: 2.30 pm approx.

Saturday, 16 August - Smestow Valley Nature Reserve (Leader: Mark Game Tel No 01902 552351 Mobile 07717732992)

Start time: 10 am. Meeting place: Tettenhall Ranger Centre in the old railway station in Meadow View off Henwood Road, Tettenhall. Directions: From A41 at the bottom of Tettenhall Rock, take Henwood Road and turn immediately left into Meadow View. The station is straight ahead. Distance of walk: 3 - 4 miles. Terrain: A guided walk including the barley field and woodland to observe the different habitats and wildlife of Smestow Valley. Refreshments: Bring a packed lunch or meals available at The Newbridge. Finishing time: 1 pm.

Saturday, 23 August - Upton Warren (Birds) (Leader: Mary Adams Tel No 019012 754393)

Start time: 10. 30 am. Meeting place: Sailing Club car park. Directions: One hour from Tettenhall along A449. Turn left on A448 (Bromsgrove) along Comberton Road in Kidderminster, under M5. Turn right in Bromsgrove A4091 towards Worcester. Take A38 Upton Warren. Turn left opposite Webbs Garden Centre to Sailing Club car park. Distance of walk: 2 miles. Terrain: This is an exciting bird watching venue. We shall explore Flash Pools and Moors Pool and may see sandpipers, godwit, duck, terns and passage migrants. Refreshments: Take a packed lunch. Toilets at Webbs Garden Centre. Finishing time: 3 pm.

Sunday, 24 August - Kinver (Flowers) - Leader: Paul Newton (Tel No 01902 744923 Mobile 07831857572)

Start time: 10.30 am. Meeting place: GR SO 838828. Directions: Take A449 to Kinver, turning right into the A458 at Stourton, then a mile later turn left at the signpost into Kinver. Go through the town, up the hill past the church. Park at the end of the lane at the T-junction. Distance of walk: 3 miles. Terrain: Around Kinver Edge in the morning and then drive down to the canal in the afternoon. Refreshments: Bring a packed lunch. Finishing time: 3.30 pm.

Monday, 15 September - Keas and Kiwis (Speakers: Gareth Phillips and Andrew Milligan)

In January/February 2007 Gareth, Andrew and Brenda visited New Zealand as part of a group with Ramblers Holidays. It proved to be a fascinating trip and this talk shows the diversity of the country through Gareth's usual superb slides and commentary by Andrew.

Saturday, 20 September - Annual Luncheon at Worfield Golf Club

This is always a very enjoyable occasion when we enjoy a delicious lunch in the delightful surroundings of Worfield Golf Club. It is an opportunity to meet and socialise with friends, some of whom we may not have seen for some time. There will be the usual unique menu cards (with a special theme this year) and a raffle (organized by Margaret Harper) with a super prize of lunch for 2 at the Golf Club. Blank menu cards can be obtained by Andrew Milligan if you would like to design one. The price of the SSNS luncheon, with a wide range of choices, is only £17.50 thanks to negotiations between Brian Jones and Worfield Golf Club. Margaret Harper, our President, and the Social Committee hope that as many members as possible will be able to attend and we look forward to meeting you, at what is our main social occasion of the year.

Wednesday, 24 September - Leintwardine (fruit picking) - Leader: Paul Hand (Tel No 015747 540374). If going please ring Brian Jones (Tel No 01902 850347, Mobile 078902754556)

Start time: 11.30 am. Meeting place: Whitton Cottage. Directions: Allow 1 1/2 hours. Car sharing recommended. From Bridgnorth proceed towards Morville. In Morville, bear left on the B4368. Just past Diddlebury bear left again on B4365 and cross Ludlow racecourse to the A49. Turn right then left on A4113 to Leintwardine. In Leintwardine proceed down High Street till just before the river, then turn left up Rosemary Lane and left again into Park Lane. Whitton Cottage is a further 300 yds from there. Distance of walk: Around orchards. Terrain: Orchard. (Paul, son of the late Harold and Madge Hand and a highly entertaining person known to many Nats, will give a tour of his orchards which contain many rare species. We shall be allowed to taste and pick whatever fruit is ripe. After an introductory briefing over tea or coffee, we can roam the 2 acre site.) Refreshments: If members wish (let Brian Jones know) Paul will serve us with his own "hovel" soup (which he says is for peasants - small charge) either outdoors or in the Victorian Schoolroom and cow shed, where there are toilets. You may choose also to take a packed lunch. Finishing time: As and when.

Monday, 29 September - Wild about Perton (Speaker: Mark Elder)

Mark is Chair of the Wolverhampton Branch of the Staffordshire Wildlife Trust and has been involved with the flora and fauna of Perton for several years. This should be a fascinating talk from an enthusiast of the area and we may be surprised with the diversity of wildlife to be found in Perton.