Join Nature Recovery Network’s Basic Bird Identification walk with experienced local birder, Allen Stevens. The walk will be the sixth in a series of bird surveying opportunities for NRN birding beginners. Walks start at 9.00am at the Fishponds Car Park and finish by 11.00am. Anyone who can only do an hour can finish at the half-way stop. Please bring binoculars if you have them.
These walks take place at the change of seasons with NRN's local birding experts. They are at a relaxed pace with regular stops, so are suitable for all ages. The main aim is to help anyone who is interested in getting a bit more familiar with basic bird recognition, song/calls and the best places to spot them.
Those of you who are not already members of NRN, we'd love you to join (£10 per year) in order to enjoy this workshop and many others for free. If you'd rather not join just yet, we ask you to pay £5 for this Bird Walk. This is partly because, although we all give our services for free, NRN has significant costs to do what it is doing for our local nature. Also, these workshops are usually oversubscribed and we have found that people sign up and then don't turn up, depriving someone else of the opportunity (to join NRN see below).
We look forward to sharing some time with you in the Great Outdoors!
Please click here and give our local wildlife a present by becoming an NRN member! Not only will you be supporting compost/tool purchase etc. but you will get free access to all our survey workshops and discounted rates for workshops that we charge for.
Photo: Barn owl box installation in St Leonards Churchyard
The Art of Seeing
Come and see Alice Walker's art at the Mill Street Gallery.
Learning to be an artist is as much about learning to ‘see’ as it is about learning drawing skills, colour theory and use of various tools and media. I often hear new students of art comment on this with surprise and delight "I am looking at the world differently; I am seeing it in a whole new way!’’ This form of deeper, richer, closer attention and observation is also a feature of scientific study and connects the two fields offering exciting collaborative potential.
Since its beginnings the Nature Recovery Network has seen the value and potential of the creative arts and artist to its vision; supporting and developing opportunities for projects, workshops and events that connect specialists and learners; cross-pollinating artistic and scientific knowledge and skill. Better ‘seeing’ and understanding is already leading to more and more opportunities to protect and restore our precious ecosystem -this organic, grass roots network of experts, volunteers, landowners, and community groups is already seeing positive results.
Most of my recent art has been directly inspired by the incredibly rich and beautiful wildlife and spaces in and around Eynsham, and my daily observation of trees, birds, insects, meadows and more. Each artwork teaches me something new, about the natural world, myself and the craft of making art.
If you are interested in seeing some of my nature themed art please do come and see my Artweeks exhibition at Mill Street Arts, OX29 4JU this May (4/5/6 & 11/12, open 11.00am - 4.00pm).
More details: millstreetarts.co.uk
Alice Walker