The hardy team who were spotting the birds within the woodland on 28th January, 2017

Montefiore Woodland’s Big Garden Bird Watch results + Pub Quiz generous donation

Seven hardy members met for the RSPB’s largest national survey in the world, the Big Garden Bird Watch on Saturday 28th January. During which the sunshine emerged shining welcomed winter warmth on members and new buds and catkins are appearing. We suitably placed ourselves in the four corners and clearing for the bird count, following which we re-convened to collate the following results: 38 birds of 14 Species: 5 Ring necked Parakeets, 2 Starlings, 2 Blackbirds, 3 Bluetit, 1 Great-tit, 2 Collared Dove, 2 Robin, 1 Long-tailed tit, 8 Feral Pigeon, 1 Woodpigeon, 2 Wren, 1 Jay, 2 Magpies + 6 Goldfinch. Plus: 3 squirrel.

An interesting find of another tarmac path was discovered under some of the undergrowth near where we hope to create a Chris Packham wildlife washing up bowl pond! We will investigate this further during our future work parties.

Our next work parties are on Saturday 4th March + Saturday 1st April 10am – 12 noon (weather permitting). We meet in the Clearing in Montefiore Woodland and proposed tasks will be clearing and creating the washing-up bowl pond area, revealing the hidden path removing unwanted Alexander not to mention on-going ivy /side shoots from trees and litter collection.

Recently, we received a surprise email inviting members to attend a Quiz at the Elephant + Castle Public House as we had been nominated to receive the funds raised that evening as the chosen community group for that night. Six members of the Woodland Committee formed our team and we all remarked on the friendly and welcoming atmosphere we were given by the organisers. Despite not coming high on the scoreboard at the end of the evening, we still left feeling winners, thanks to the generous donation we were presented by the organisers at the end of the evening. We understand this group have a Pub Quiz every first Wednesday of the month and many regular quiz followers support them and they meet at various hostelries in the locality. All funds raised from the evening are donated to a nominated community group and they have been active for nigh on 20 years! They must have been quietly raising a lot of money for community groups in that time! Not to mention the time and effort that must have gone into the planning of these!

Their next Quiz Night is on 1st March, 2017 at the Royal Navy Club if you wish to attend.

Contact Mary: mary.rubie@sky.com for more details.

For more information on our activities at Montefiore Woodland in general visit our website http://montefiorewoodland.org.uk/

Finally, if you haven’t visited the woodland for a while, may I suggest you do so and enjoy the peace and tranquillity of this little oasis.