Here (as promised in the spring edition of our News & Prayer Letter) is an update on forthcoming events.
We are looking forward to holding some real live events at the Meadows and seeing as many as possible there.
There is an element of provisionality to everything we have been planning. Please look out for more info to come and feel free to contact Reserve Manager, Mark or myself to check on dates and details.
We will for a while be needing to maintain Covid safety measures and booking will be essential at most of the events planned. But don't let that put you off! We hope that the reserve will be a place of refreshment and inspiration for you.
Andy Jowitt Volunteer Community Engagement Officer
First Swallows of 2021 (Photo taken by Albert Butcher on 5 April)
SUPPORTERS’ DAY ZOOM FOR A ROCHA UK RESERVES:
Saturday 22 May from 11.30 am – 1.00 pm
A great opportunity to hear about the work at Foxearth Meadows and Wolf Fields in Southall, led by Reserve Managers Mark Prina and Kailean Khongsai. These two reserves are in very different settings (one rural and one in urban, multi-cultural west London) but they are both important practical expressions of A Rocha UK’s mission and values. Register to attend via Eventbrite here.
WILD IN THE STOUR VALLEY:
Saturday 29 May - Saturday 5 June
This is an event geared towards children and families (and normally a one-day event at Mill Acre, Sudbury). This year it is dispersed, over a week and at different venues.
At Foxearth Meadows we invite families to visit and take themselves on a guided tour. We are preparing a quiz trail which will be available online at: arocha.org.uk/our-activities/practical-conservation/foxearth-meadows/. A hard copy will also be available on site, as families enter the reserve from the car park.
"The Gardener": OPEN AIR SERVICE for Environment Sunday
Sunday 6 June at 3.00 pm
Please bring your own seating and refreshments. We enjoy welcoming people from different places and different churches. All welcome, but this year we are requesting people to book a place. Please contact Andy on 01787 464010 or e-mail jowitts@btinternet.com
CHURCHES COUNT ON NATURE
It’s not too late to take part in the Churches Count on Nature project, run by Caring for God’s Acre (CfGA) in partnership with A Rocha UK. Choose any day between 5 - 13 June, record what you find in your churchyard, burial ground or any church-owned land, and send details to CfGA for submission to a national database. Register your interest to take parthere.
The extended week could include outreach events such as a community picnic or conservation task. Caring for God’s Acre produce an excellent Starter Guide to Burial Ground Heritage and Wildlife. Five free copies per church of this can be ordered from CfGA (Tel. 01585 673041 or e-mail info@cfga.org.uk)
NATIONAL MEADOWS DAY: Saturday 3 July
Come and enjoy the beauty of Foxearth Meadows.
Details to be confirmed, but we expect the day to include a celebration through science and art of the flora and fauna of our wetland meadows.
GREEN FAIR at The Apex, Bury St Edmunds: Sunday 4 July
We will be there with a stall for Foxearth Meadows and will be delighted to see some friendly faces!
Please be in touch with us if you'd like more details, or might even like to help staff the stall.
Bullfinch (Photo taken by Albert Butcher on 3 May)
NATIONAL MOTH NIGHT: Friday 8 July (evening) - setting the traps - and Saturday 9 July (morning) - checking the catch
Mark will be organising studies of moths of wetlands and reed beds. Please contact him direct if you are interested in participating.
CHURCHES DEMONSTRATION DAY: Saturday 10 July
This is an important day in our year, when we will be offering practical ideas and inspiration for churches wanting to look after their land in a more nature-friendly way, and engage more people in doing this. There will be a series of talks and workshops on site. The ideal is for 2 or 3 people (whether ordained and lay) to attend from each church.
BBQ for Volunteers and Friends of the reserve at
12 Fields View, Sudbury CO10 1BJ: Friday 16 July from 6.00 pm
Andy & Jane invite fellow volunteers and friends of the reserve to an informal BBQ evening. Family members are invited too, and if you’d like to become a volunteer or friend, please come!
RSVP to Andy & Jane please.
(01787 464010 or e-mail jowitts@btinternet.com)
National Dragonfly Week – Dragonfly ID Walks:
Saturday 17 July, 10.30 am and 1.30 pm
Led by wildlife guide and author David Chandler. Booking will be essential. More details to follow.
Brown Hawker (Photo: David Chandler)
OPEN AIR SERVICE
Sunday 19 September at 3.00 pm
This will be our second open air service of the year and is time to celebrate the ‘Season of Creation’. It will also be an opportunity to pray for good outcomes at COP26. More details to follow.
Bat Walk: Monday 27 September
This will be an end of season treat, and this year will have an added purpose, as we commemorate local bat expert and canoeist Sarah White. Sarah is remembered with great affection for her generous sharing of knowledge and enthusiasm.
More details to follow. Booking will be essential for this event.
BIRDS AND DRAGONFLIES: Foxearth Meadows cards for sale
BIRDS (4 designs, 2 of each) and DRAGONFLIES (4 designs, 2 of each) £4.00 per pack of 8 (envelopes included).
All funds will go to support A Rocha UK. Cheques payable to 'A Rocha UK'. Please add postage and packing if necessary as follows:
1-2 packs £2.00; 3-4 packs £2.50; 5-20 packs: £4.50; 21-40 packs: £10.00 *
Orders to: Andy & Jane Jowitt, 12 Fields Views, SUDBURY, Suffolk CO10 1BJ
(Tel. 01787 464010 / 07584 751093 or e-mail jowitts@btinternet.com) * We will endeavour to deliver for free to those within walking distance in the Sudbury area *
