Talks are free for members of the RSPB Richmond & Twickenham Local Group. Non-members are welcome to attend on payment of an entrance fee of £5.
All talks on Tuesdays except for the first one, which is on THURSDAY 4th September
Our in person talks will take place at our usual venue, the Hyde Room, York House, York Street, Twickenham, TW1 3BZ EXCEPT for the afternoon talk on 11th November, which will be held in St Mary’s Church St, Twickenham TW1 3DT
Please also note:
- Tea/coffee and biscuits will be available during the interval (cost £1, exact money please). Please bring your own cup if possible!
- You MUST NOT attend a talk if you have Covid-19 symptoms, have tested positive for Covid or have been in contact with someone who has Covid-19.
The Zoom link will be sent out the day before and a recording made available to members after the talk. Any non-members wishing to attend an online talk should email claremillion@gmail.com for information on how to join.
THURSDAY 4th September, 7.30pm York House, Hyde Room PLEASE NOTE DATE!
Andre Farrar – ‘Kent is the only place for happiness’
Jane Austen was a regular visitor to Godmersham Park in Kent which is featured in the background of her portrait on the back of the £10 note. In 2025 we’ve been celebrating the 250th anniversary of her birth. She loved Kent and found happiness there. Sadly, Jane didn’t have much of an eye for the natural world – but her nephew Charles Knight was an accomplished naturalist and through his journal we have a description of the landscape and wildlife from two centuries ago. In this talk Andre will chart the changes and natural history of the North Downs and find the stories that link our times with a landscape that would still be familiar to Jane and her family.
Dr Andre Farrar is chair of Kent Ornithological Society. Before retirement he held many roles within the RSPB including conservation delivery, planning and policy, as well as campaigning, communications and public affairs.
Tuesday 9th September, 2pm – York House, Hyde Room
Richard Baines – New Book ‘The Rarity Garden’
Flamborough Head on the Yorkshire Coast is one of Britain’s birding hotspots and a migrant magnet. Richard lived in a coastguard cottage perched on the chalk cliffs at the end of Flamborough Headland.
His new book is a beautifully illustrated account of a decade spent observing the remarkable wildlife that visited his garden and the wider headland. One day he flushed a Long-eared Owl from his front garden and on another he found a Western Bonelli’s Warbler while munching toast in the kitchen! Richard kept detailed journals, and his book brings those records to life, charting a seasonal journey through the birds, butterflies, and moths of “The Great White Cape.”
Richard is a professional ecologist and conservationist with a deep knowledge of birds and ecosystems. He also co-founded the nature tour company Yorkshire Coast Nature.
Tuesday 7th October, 7.30pm – York House, Hyde Room
Denis Bohm – Herzegovina
Denis was born and brought up in Mostar and regularly leads trips there with his company Wild Herzegovina. He will talk about the wonderful birds and other wildlife in the region. “Imagine birdwatching surrounded by breathtaking and diverse scenery that ranges from wetlands, alpine meadows, deep canyons and crystal-clear rivers to an infinite variety of karst landscapes…and not another birdwatcher in sight!”
Tuesday 14th October, 7.30pm – ONLINE (Zoom)
Jacob New – The Wildlife of the Scottish Highlands
Jacob is a Senior Ranger at the wonderful Aigas Field Centre and will talk about some of the most interesting species that the UK has to offer. This talk will consider the historical and current significance of land use in the Highlands and how this has impacted its wildlife, whilst also looking at current ongoing projects and the status of various species that specialise in the Scottish wilderness.
Tuesday 4th November, 7.30pm – ONLINE (Zoom)
Brittany Maxted – Birds of Poole Harbour
Birds of Poole Harbour is dedicated to boosting the profile of bird conservation, observation and education in and around Poole Harbour. Brittany is their Species Recovery Coordinator but if you’ve been on one of their boat trips you’ll know that she is an excellent guide as well.
Brittany’s talk will update us on the many re-introduction and conservation projects that BPH is involved in – Ospreys, White-tailed Eagles and now two pairs of wild Beavers making a new home unrestricted by fences or enclosures. The work includes a huge conservation project adapting 150 hectares of the Moors at Arne into a diverse wetland habitat. With sea levels rising, pressing against fixed sea defences and causing a loss of intertidal habitat, a multi-agency team is working to protect the diverse wildlife of Poole Harbour from these effects. Our group have seen the work in progress from the BPH boat trips and Brittany will tell us more about it.
Tuesday 11th November, 2pm – St Mary’s Church, Twickenham PLEASE NOTE VENUE!
David Wilding – Voices in the Mist: A Curlew Recovery Tale from Otmoor
David is the RSPB Site Manager for Oxon and Bucks. His talk will look at work done in the Upper Thames Tributaries to save the Curlew, with a particular focus on the RSPB’s work in the Otmoor Basin, where almost 500 hectares of agricultural land has been restored to its former habitat of wet meadows, wetland and reedbeds, providing a haven for waders and other birds.
Tuesday 2nd December, 7.30pm – York House, Hyde Room SHORT TALK + FESTIVE SOCIAL
Rebecca Harvey – The Rich Wildlife of Costa Rica
Costa Rica is renowned for its diverse flora and fauna and has invested heavily in ecotourism. Rebecca, a trustee of the Friends of Bushy and Home Parks undertook a two-week guided trip to see and photograph some of its wildlife. Her tour took her to 7 different locations, across a wide range of habitats including coasts, swamps, volcanoes and the rain and cloud forests. She saw a huge variety of invertebrates, reptiles, mammals and birds, including the elusive Resplendent Quetzal. She will share some of her highlights, along with advice on travelling to Costa Rica.
Tuesday 9th December, 7.30pm – ONLINE (Zoom)
Oliver Smart – A Voyage to the South Atlantic
Wildlife photographer Oliver Smart and the man who showed us the breath of a Capercaillie in the snow returns to share another talk, this time to the other pole. There are few wild destinations left in the world but heading to the southernmost place on Earth, Antarctica still feels remote, barren and untouched. This talk covers Oliver’s month-long voyage to the Falkland Islands, South Georgia and the Antarctic Peninsula. From tales of gigantic penguin colonies to swimming in a freezing volcanic caldera, Oliver will whet your appetite for this remarkable destination.