Events
Please note that the Nature Reserve is only open to the public for these events.
Sorry - there is no parking on the site; please visit us by cycling, walking or using public transport.
No dogs are allowed except guide dogs.
EVENTS TO COME ............
A Bat Walk and Talk, Friday 10 September, arrive at 7.45 for 8 pm
Sorry, but no children under 14 to this session as we shall be out on site in the dark.
Patty Briggs of the Herts & Middlesex Bat Group has enthralled our Watch Club children with her knowledge and now we adults have a chance to learn.
She plans to bring along one or two of her bat friends.
Please bring a torch. Please email info@fobcc.org.uk or ring Sue Bird on 020 8449 0705 to book your place. Places are limited.
The charge for this will be £3 per person as we will be paying Patty for the session.
AND THE EVENTS JUST GONE .....
Members' and Volunteers' Day Picnic, Sunday 1st August, from 12.30 to 3.30
The weather was lovely and so was the company. We all sat out in the picnic area and ate and chatted happily. Four of the children went pond dipping and found frogs, tadpoles, newts, snails and a leech. A little (actually very tall!) fourteen week-old girl cavorted on a rug with mum and other admirers and the afternoon passed all too quickly, as all good things seem to.
AGM 12th July. Chair's Report available on line soon.
Volunteering at Barnet Countryside Centre - an Introduction, Saturday 19th June from 11 am to 1 pm
We were absolutely delighted that nine very keen folk came along and participated so strongly. We look forward to seeing you again soon.
Environment Fair, Sunday 13th June from 2 pm to 5 pm
Just a quick note of appreciation for all those who helped and worked hard to make Sunday such a lovely occasion.
We were lucky that Theresa Villiers MP, The Mayor and Mayoress of Barnet and Cllr David Longstaff all made time to come along - Theresa Villiers and Cllr Longstaff by bicycle too! The Mayor enjoyed the pond dipping and scooped up a little creature we are still trying to identify! Madam Mayoress took a great interest in all that was going on too. As Noah's Ark is one of the Mayor's Charities this year, we were delighted that Lorraine Feldman was able to represent them on Sunday. Thank you to all those who turned up to run their stalls and make the day more interesting for our visitors (c. 300) and sorry that Mick Rand was not with us but hope by now he is on the mend. Congrats to the Greenacre Bike Rally on their perfect timing and for getting so many young people alongside. Thank goodness we had some cake left and apologies for the kitchen queue - hope it was worth it.
All appreciation to Robert Newton whose enthusiasm and support makes us all give a little bit extra. Thanks to Harry who donated a wonderful Carrot & Walnut Cake for the Guess the Weight competition. Thanks to Cottage Nursery Arkley for their generous donation of plants - do get along to their lovely plant nursery on Barnet Road in Arkley, just before the TVR garage.
And last, but not least, thanks to FoBCC volunteers - those that helped make the nature reserve look so wonderful, cake makers, setter uppers, those manning the kitchen, those manning the stalls, those supervising the pond dipping, plant growers, stewards and then the packer uppers. We took £106 on the plant stall and £236.70 on refreshments and Guess the Weight of the Cake.
If you want to see what our MP, Theresa Villiers, made of the afternoon including the Greenacre Bike Rally in which she took part, click on Theresa Villiers. It really is a very nice article - thanks Theresa.
Art and Craft Activities for Children
Between eight and twelve little children enjoyed themselves making arty crafty things under the brilliant tuteilage of graphic designer Mayur Mistry. Thanks Mayur - they loved it!
The Dawn Chorus Walk
Bob Husband from the RSPB NW London group expertly led twenty-three of us around the nature reserve starting at 6 am on a bright, cold morning. We were lucky also to have many of his knowledgeable colleagues along and some very sharp-eyed people! Altogether we noted thirty-two bird species, including a willow warbler en route from warmer climes.
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The Spring and Seed Exchange Event It was a fine spring day so people sat out on benches and chairs and enjoyed the sun, even though it was somewhat thin. The feedback from our visitors - 175 adults and 46 children! - was very appreciative of the event. Here are some of their comments:
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The forty six children that attended kept Alison and Gail very busy - and they were both still smiling at the end of that long shift. The individual and collective knowledge of our seed exchange and veg growing advisors sent our visitors confidently back to their gardens and what sterling work the kitchen staff did too. We took in refreshments and donations totalling almost £190 and we now have two new members.
Two birders spotted a firecrest as they walked around and we have an owl nesting on the site! How exciting is that?! The picture on the left is of the firecrest, taken by Liz Barrett.
It was great to have the setting-up team working on Saturday - thank you so much. Our visitors must have noticed the sparkling windows! And thank you for the support of Barnet Cyclists (what a star Keith was with plenty of bikes to keep him hard at work all afternoon), RSPB (with Don and Clare for coming along with their goodies) and Barnet LWT (Clive set up his LWT display the day before and came along again today to collect it all).
It was a really lovely afternoon - thank you all for coming.
The Quiz Night
Thanks to Terry and Jackie we held what was deemed by most to be a very successful evening. "The best Quiz Night I have ever been to." from one who knows about these things! The questions seemed to be pitched just right, although there were a few grumbles from our younger guests: "a lot of general knowledge and things we really ought to have known!". We realise that there were too many of us for the PA but rest assured that will be sorted next time around! We are grateful to all who attended, supported the raffle and helped us to raise almost £1000!! We also thank the following businesses which kindly donated raffle prizes: Em Chai (£30 meal for two), Barnet Odeon (2 guest vouchers), Waterstones (child's book) and Flowerhaven.
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Table Top Sale - Saturday 14th November 2009 We would like to thank all those who supported this event by coming along with their table goods and for those visitors who came along to buy. The weather prevented too much walking around the reserve but the tea and cake proved very popular!
The Big Draw Event for Children - Friday 30th October 2009. This was a very successful event with at least 40 children and their parents joining in the drawing, cutting, sticking and painting. We decorated one of our walls with imaginatively drawn paper "bricks", made zoo pictures and wax resist pictures of pond life. The weather was good and many families enjoyed a walk around the reserve, coming back for cakes and drinks.
Art Day - Saturday 24th October 2009. The weather was pretty awful, but in spite of this a start was made on the mural and those hardy souls who came drew leaves and painted.
Open Day - Sunday 20th September 2009. Many people enjoyed a sunny autumnal visit to the nature reserve. The children had an identification sheet looking for autumnal changes - fungi, conkers, blackberries, blackthorn, changing lerf colours - and then spent happy times colouring it in and folding paper! Tea and cake enjoyed by all!
The AGM - 20th July 2009.
Environment Day - Sunday 7th June 2009. An afternoon for all the family organised jointly with the Barnet Environmental Network as part of the Love London. There were many families amongst our 300 visitors who helped us celebrate this lovely Green Place.
As well as a number of stalls by members of other environmental organisations, including London Wildlife Trust, RSPB and London21, there was a plant sale, nature trails, pond dipping, an EcoThrift Tip Hunt that took place around the reserve and Professor Barrett's "Punch & Judy Show". Mick Rand came along with his collection of renovated gardening implements. He demonstrated green woodworking on his shaving horse.
The organisers were delighted that our MP, Mrs Theresa Villiers was able to come along and also we welcomed Cllr Andrew Harper and Cllr Duncan McDonald, all of whom took time to speak to stall holders and visitors alike. Love London Green Festival Director, Christopher Harris also supported our event.
Free Family Half Term Event - Friday 29th May 2009 from 1 pm to 4 pm.
What a wonderful afternoon this was! Loads of children and parents enjoyed themselves playing outside in the nature reserve and then came inside the Countryside Centre to make kites and flags. Well done folks - they were really lovely!
There was also a fascinating exhibition about the life-cycle of silk worms. These are really caterpillars and were to be found wriggling about on mulberry leaves. Alongside were little eggs which will grow into the caterpillars, the cocoons which they will weave around themselves in a few weeks and the moths which will emerge still later.
Dawn Chorus Walk – Sunday 26 April 2009
We were so lucky to have NW London RSPB Group Leader Bob Husband leading our walk again.
Starting at 6 am gave us a wonderful Dawn Chorus experience in the daylight!
The Dawn Chorus Walk in May 2006 recorded 29 species of birds, but this year we noted 30 species if you count the kestrel we saw hovering over South Mymms.
It was a perfect morning for bird watching and listening - windless with a beautiful blue sky. Twenty of us followed Bob around the reserve. Chiff-chaffs, blackbirds, robins, great tits, blue tits and chaffinches were in abundance. We were serenaded by black-caps and teased by a cuckoo whose distinctive call was first heard far away. We listened to him as he moved closer and closer and finally onto the reserve, but then he flew off to his next perch before we could spot him! In spite of the wonderful weather it was very cold that early in the morning, so we were thankful to retreat into the Centre for pots of tea and bacon butties! Our thanks to Bob Husband and his colleague Fay Brown from the NW London RSPB Group for their expert guidance.
Spring Event - Sunday 15th March 2009 We were fortunate to choose this amazing sunny spring afternoon and many came along to enjoy tea and cake and took time to chat with the many experts we had gathered together for the occasion. the Seed Exchange proved very popular and we will endeavour to raise its profile next year! Thank you to all who helped to make this such a successful Breathing Places event.
Quiz Night - Friday 6th March 2009 A very successful fundraising evening - thank you to all who took part. Sadly, this was the swansong for Dave and his team who have put so much time and energy into organising these evenings for us for many years. We are very grateful for all their support.
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Sunday 23rd November 2008 - In Celebration of Trees .. and Hedges. A settling of snow first thing in the morning may have changed some minds but those venturing out were amply rewarded and occupied! Information was available about tree planting and we are grateful to David Spicer of ARKLEY COTTAGE NURSERY for providing useful information about hedge planting - an alternative to high maintenance fencing, why not create a hedge on your boundary with many environmental benefits? David is always happy to help advice if you call in at the Nursery. We were thrilled that the North West London RSPB stall team were not put off by the weather. Visitors were able to create their own bird cakes with guidance from experts. (Did you know that you should not hang fat balls in those little nylon bags as some birds claws can get caught by the nylon?) Our WATCH leaders and volunteers helped our younger visitors in several Tree Dressing activities. The homemade soups proved very popular yet again. A lovely event - do try and come along next year!!!
Monday 27th October 2008 - Art at the Countryside Centre In half term week and as part of the national campaign celebrating drawing - The Big Draw - this afternoon set aside for family participation. A local art teacher is organised an afternoon of drawing activities celebrating nature. Our artists were drawing or colouring in birds and butterflies to display on our mural web. At the other end of the classroom leaves and bugs were created as a frame for our drawing display area. It was lovely to see so many children enjoying their art activities that will be there to see at our next public event.
Sunday 5th October 2008 - Open Afternoon We were delighted that so many people supported this event despite the weather! Many members of London Wildlife Trust visited as well as many from Central Office. Our Watch leaders also helped our younger visitors to plant snowdrop bulbs.
Sunday 20th July 2008 - Butterfly Walk led by Andrew Middleton of Herts & Middlesex Butterfly Conservation.
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We opened during the afternoon for picnics followed by a Butterfly Walk at 3 pm. We got quite close to this beautiful gatekeeper butterfly. Our butterfly count was slightly lower that last year but the weather was not favourable. Gatekeepers were plenty on the knapweed and we observed a Comma at just the same patch of bramble as last year. We also found Meadow Browns, 6 Spot Narrow bordered burnet, Small Skipper, Speckled Wood and Red Admiral. Andrew had set up moth trap the previous evening and we able to see at close quarters (night flying moths are fairly static during the day) Brimstone Moth, Dark Arches Moth, Heart and Dart, Scalloped Oak, Yellow Footman, Plume Moth and Old Lady Moth. We are very grateful to Andrew for his enthusiasm and expertise and advice about management. If you are interested in finding out more about what the group is involved with please have a look at their website by clicking on "Herts & Middlesex Butterfly Conservation Group" above. |
The Environment Fair was held on 8th June 2008, organised by the Barnet Enviromental Network as part of London Sustainability Weeks.
Sunday June 8th 2008 - Environment Fair - Better Spaces, Better London, Better Planet. An afternoon organised with the Barnet Environmental Network during the LoveLondon Sustainabilities Weeks.
Saturday 10th May 2008 - We welcomed Barnet Society to the Centre.
Sunday 27th April 2008 - Dawn Chorus Walk. Robert Husband (NW London RSPB) led us around the reserve and noted a record 35 different bird songs. We also noted 111 starlings gathered on Christ Church fields.
Sunday 16th March 2008 – Spring Event. Despite the wind and rain we welcomed nearly 100 visitors, keen to exchange surplus seeds, find out about composting and wildlife gardening. The children braved the elements to take part in our Scavenger Hunt, returning with varied "special somethings" that they had found. They also made pots out of newspaper into which they planted seeds. For the less hardy, the Friends had a powerpoint display of archive photos as well as current shots giving a virtual tour of the site on a sunnier day!
Also, we have our Green Man plaque - made by the children who attended our Green Man event in October - on the wall to welcome our visitors! This was his first event!!
Friday 2nd February 2008 Quiz Night
Thank you to all who supported this frustratingly challenging Quiz Night, skilfully devised and run by Dave. Hopefully all enjoyed the evening which looks to have raised about £500 which will support the events for the community and local children that we organise at the Centre.
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Sunday 2nd December 2007 It's all about ...TREES
Our Tree Day was at the end of National Tree Week. We had activities for the old and the young: Information about trees plus "DR TREE" local experts were giving advice on trees, tree planting and tree care. We were selling and making up Bird Box kits made from recycled wood by Michael Rand. The NW London RSPB Group had a"Feed the Birds" stall and were making Bird Cake. Stop Press!!! Find out about LBB's Tree Warden Scheme and get involved! On such a wet and cold day, our homemade soup and bread, hot drinks and mince pies went down a treat! We were delighted on such a frightful day and with the alternative High Street Party in Barnet that we had a steady stream of visitors.
Thank you to The Tree Council, Trees for Cities, BTCV, the Woodland Trust for their help. To local experts - David Spicer (Cottage Garden Nursery, Arkley). David Lee (Landscape Architect) and Sylvia Ong (Garden Designer & Garden Maintenance) - and to the NW London RSPB Group.
Friday 26th October 2007- THE GREEN MAN EVENT - As part of the BBC Breathing Places BBC Breathing Places project - “Get in touch with your wild side!” - Families came along to join in a fun afternoon celebrating the Green Man when children joined in activities about this mysterious mythical figure. This event was free.
Sunday 7th October 2007 - A 'Big Draw' event at BCC. This was part of a national celebration of art and drawing for all. A local art teacher led this very enjoyable morning and afternoon event for all the family and we now have a colourful composite display of the artwork that was created drawing with paint and natural objects. Make sure you come along to our next event to see it!
MOTH NIGHT - postponed until 2008!
AGM Monday 16th July 2007 - 8 for 8.15 at the Barnet Countryside Centre. We promise to make it short and sweet.
JUNE 23rd 2007 - MIDSUMMER PICNIC - unfortunately, rain stopped play!
The Environment Fair was held on 17 June 2007, organised by the Barnet Enviromental Forum and Local Agenda 21 Network as part of London Sustainability Weeks.
Dawn Chorus Walk in May.
The WATCH Club raised over £60 at their May meeting - thank you for supporting this event.
The Bat Walk & Talk on April 19th 2007 was enjoyed by all.
Spring Walk on Sunday 18th March 2007 was a bracing affair, our Nature Quiz proved testing and our teas and cakes tasty! We launched our new Visitors Guide and Map with Plants for Wildlife on the reverse.
The ever popular Environment Centre Quiz Night was held on Friday 2nd February 2007.
