Do you want to find out what runs about in our hedgerows especially at night? Come and join us on Sunday morning October 18th when John Buckley will lead us in identifying what small mammals have been temporarily caught in humane traps that were set earlier by kind permission of  Mill Farm, Isington.

Children especially find it exciting, firstly to find out if anything has gone into the trap to find food and shelter, then to find out and identify the species, will it be a type of mouse or a vole? So children, get your parents to come along! For an ID guide click on link to download pdf.

There are a limited number of spaces available so if you are interested in joining us, we will meet at 8.45am on Sunday 18th October at the Village Hall to travel to the location. It is vital that you contact us by Tuesday October 13th so we know what resources will be needed.

Update 18th Oct: A count of 50 small mammals (bank vole, field vole, wood mouse, common shrew and water shrew) were seen at four locations. Adults and children all enjoyed close up views before they were released again.

Two Mills walk Saturday 30th May 2015

Join us for leisurely 2.5 mile stroll following footpaths and quiet lanes taking in Isington and Froyle Mills.  We will be and looking to see what’s flowering and flying on the way with refreshments to follow at Mill Farm Organics Shop (to be paid for individually).  Afterwards there is the option of a further 1.3 mile round walk on footpaths through the farm, south of the railway line, then back to the shop.

Meet at Froyle Village hall for a prompt 9 am start. The going is mostly flat with the odd gentle incline -there are some styles.  We will be taking the underpass so we don’t have to dodge the A31 traffic!  Allow about 3 hours plus an extra 1 hour if you wish to extend the walk as above.

Please let us know  beforehand if you would like to come. Mill Farm needs to organise enough tables and cakes and we need to organise transport back to the hall.

On Tuesday May 12th 2015 (postponed from 5th) there will be a bat walk led by our speaker last November, Nik Knight from the Hampshire Bat group. We shall start at the Village Hall car park at 8.30pm, taking a circular walk, finishing at the Village Hall. Nik is bringing bat detectors so that we can hopefully be able to identify some of the species of bats that are around Froyle. Click on link to hear samples of bat echolocation calls.

Leader Keith Betton, Hampshire Bird Recorder

Interested to learn more about the birds to be found in our parish?  Then you could do no better than joining Keith (who gave the great talk in the village hall last autumn) on a 5 mile round walk from the village hall to see what’s flying and singing.

Please meet at the hall for a prompt 9am start. Should anyone prefer a shorter walk of 3.75 miles ending at the church in Upper Froyle, then do please let us know so that transport can be arranged to and fro.

Allow 2 ½ – 3 ½ hours and bring a snack and drink if you wish plus binoculars if you have them and would suggest walking boots or wellies as parts of Saintbury hill track can be very muddy.