Morning All

A great turnout for the first week of our Camera Course and many thanks to all members who helped out and assisted our ‘guests.’ I thought it went really well and there was a great ‘social’ atmosphere, generated by all who were there so thanks! And, the weather held up!
I had a lot of great feedback when they were leaving and had a phone call from one on Thursday morning giving good feedback!
Well, we had 15 in all, but of course, the ‘proof of the pudding’ will be how many return on Wednesday!
If you didn’t manage to get to Wednesday’s meeting/Camera Course, you are very welcome and come and help our guests!
Reminder – we start at the earlier time of 7pm!

Notices:
Events Cup:
Our 4^th destination is to:
RHS Garden Bridgewater, Monday 7th OR Sunday 13^th July and it’s 40 miles and takes about 55 mins.
Price? RHS members go free, otherwise it is £14.50 per person for the day.
Opening hours? 10am – 6pm, Monday and Sunday.
Going by car? RHS Bridgewater is located off Leigh Road (A572), Worsley, Salford and for Sat Nav users the postcode is M28 2LJ. Car parking is free.
I’m going on Sunday so will have 2 seats available; if you are thinking of going on Monday, I would suggest you chat to other similarly minded members on Wednesday to organise car sharing, just a thought!

Summer Outings:
The first 3 summer outings have now finished and we are proposing 3 more later on in the summer, these dates and destinations are:

Wednesday 23^rd July – Brockholes Nature Reserve

Wednesday 30^th July – Morecambe Promenade

5^th August, a Tuesday – Preston Docks. This outing has been cancelled, for several reasons, but we are thinking of re-scheduling it sometime in December, possibly between Christmas and the New Year! It will help walk off all that turkey and mince pies!

Wednesday 6^th August – Brock River. We’ll park at Barton Grange and Stan will guide the group and show them the best places to take photographs.

For all the above 3 outings I’ll put further details in the newsletters nearer the time.

Smardale Gill Nature Reserve:
In case you missed it, Robin, Shelly and I are going to Smardale Gill Nature Reserve tomorrow (Monday) for the day. We are leaving at 8.30am and will be back mid to late afternoon. It’s free but a donation (£5) is recommended!
If you want to join us, PLEASE contact me ASAP or by tea time today, Sunday!
It’s about 50 miles and will take just over an hour to get there and the weather looks great!
About – from the website:
Smardale Nature Reserve comprises three separate nature reserves that collectively occupy a 8km/5mile section of the disused railway line that once ran from Tebay to Darlington.
Stunning scenery provides a backdrop to this wonderfully varied nature reserve that stretches from Newbiggin-on-Lune almost as far as Kirkby Stephen.
The species-rich grassland attracts a variety of pollinating insects and the industrial archaeology of the railway line adds constant interest.
The steep wooded slopes of Smardale Gill and the enclosed cuttings along the Waitby Link and Waitby Greenriggs contrast with the views of open rolling countryside experienced along the route.

Wildlife highlights
Smardale Gill is one of the only two sites in England that’s home to the Scotch argus butterfly. The tiny northern brown argus can also be seen here
Discover a range of unusual plants: bloody crane’s-bill, rock-rose, horseshoe vetch, frog, fragrant and greater butterfly orchid can all be seen in the grassland
Redstart and pied flycatcher can be seen in summer, whilst green woodpecker, treecreeper, raven and sparrowhawk are resident year round
In spring – bluebells, primrose and early purple orchid.
In summer – orchids, bird’s eye primrose, melancholy thistle, bloody cranesbill and butterflies. In summer, bird species include redstart, wood warbler and pied flycatcher whilst buzzard, treecreeper and sparrowhawk may be seen all year round.
In autumn – find fellwort, devil’s bit scabious, scotch argus butterflies. Later in autumn and through the winter flocks of birds such as goldfinch, field fare and redwing feeding on the berries.
At any time look out for red squirrels and roe deer or explore the archaeology and geology.
In spring you will find bluebells, primroses, wild garlic and many fern species on the woodland floor. Many of the trees are multi stemmed, evidence that coppicing has occurred in the past.
Limestone grassland
The grassland, which has colonised the railway cuttings and embankments, is also very rich in species due to the underlying limestone rock. Unusual plants to look for here include bloody cranesbill, fragrant and butterfly orchid.
Smardale Gill is one of only two sites in England where the Scotch argus butterfly can be seen. Other butterflies include dark green fritillary, common blue, northern brown argus and dingy skipper.

Holiday:
I’m away on a short hols from Thursday, 3^rd July and back Tuesday 8^th July. I’ll keep my eye on the emails but contact Freda if anything requires immediate attention – ta!

Up and coming programme of events:

Wednesday July 2^nd – Camera Course, – ‘Your camera, Learn it, Love it’ Our 2^nd week of 4 that we are running.

Monday July 7^th – Events Cup 4^th destination, possible trip to RHS Garden Bridgewater.

Wednesday July 9^th – Camera Course, – ‘Your camera, Learn it, Love it’ Our 3^rd week of 4 that we are running.

Sunday 13^th July – Events Cup 4^th destination, possible trip to RHS Garden Bridgewater.

Wednesday July 16^th – Camera Course, – ‘Your camera, Learn it, Love it’ Our 4^th and final week of 4 that we are running. 

Wednesday 23^rd July – Club outing to Brockholes Nature Reserve.

That’s all folks!

Mike