What’s On Summer/Autumn/Winter 2026

2026 Thursday 7^th May 7.30pm – Local Group AGM Tunstall Village Hall  DL10 7QR     Your chance to meet other members and to have your say about our Local RSPB Group. Free refreshments

AGM business will be followed by an RSPB film ‘The Eagle Odyssey’ which tells the story of White Tailed Eagles coming back to UK.

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2026  Tuesday 12^th May 10am WALK Staveley YWT Reserve  HG5 9LQ,

What3words:  https://w3w.co/spoons.dose.bogus

We will meet in the reserve car park at 10.00 am. As the car park is quite small, car sharing would be a good idea.  The walk round the reserve is approximately 2.5 to 3 miles, so the visit will probably last between two and two and a half hours.  If the weather is favourable, we should see small birds, including various warblers, some wildfowl and possibly terns.  There are no facilities on the reserve – there are toilets in Morrisons at Boroughbridge, and there is a farm shop near Minskip for anyone who would like lunch after the visit (Yolk Farm). If you are planning to come, please let us know by the day before. tquinn53@btinternet.com

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2026  June -Tuesday 2nd Greatham Creek and Seaton Carew beach to see Little Terns and Ringed Plover nesting. We will meet at 11 am in the Greatham Creek car park (no charge) which is just off the A178, postcode TS2 1UA.   From the car park, it is a short distance along the creek on a boardwalk to the new screened viewing point, from which seals and waders can be seen. We will then drive to Seaton Carew and park in the main car park on the A178 beside the promenade (pay and display charges).

Little Terns and Ringed Plover nest on the beach, just beyond the promenade and quite close to the carpark.  The nesting site is fenced off and monitored by wardens and volunteers (including the Durham RSPB group) to protect the terns but there is a good view from the promenade. For more information about the site, see Little Terns at Seaton Carew | Tees Valley Wildlife Trust , and for information about the wider area Cleveland’s National Nature Reserves – GOV.UK

There are toilets in Seaton Carew at the southern end of the promenade, and in the bowling alley and arcades. There are several café / fish & chip shops across the road from the carpark and round the corner on Church Street, and some benches on the promenade if the seating in the café is full. Howard has used The Hidden Tap café/bar in the past (THE HIDDEN TAP, Seaton Carew – 2026 Reviews & Information) but there is also The Almighty Cod on the sea front.  There is access to the beach where members can eat a packed lunch if they wish to bring their own food. 

Please let Howard or Teresa know by email before Sunday 31 May if you are planning to join us for this walk

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2026  July – Wednesday 29^th  11am Visit Foxglove Covert Local Nature Reserve Catterick focusing on Moths. Meet at 11am at the new Foxglove carpark.   No ID checks are required via this new entrance.   Foxglove carpark is signposted at GR SE 138975  https://w3w.co.hurtles.still.pave   Take the Richmond to Leyburn BACK road, which crosses Green Bridge over the Swale, passes through the hamlet of Brokes and then heads uphill onto the moor. Foxglove Covert is signposted at GR SE 138975 in the area of Waithwith.  This is a left turn if you’re driving from Richmond, or a right turn if you’re driving from Leyburn. From this junction drive about 2km following signs for Foxglove Covert to the new car park at GR SE 159974.  

Cost £5 per car payable when we get to the Field Centre.

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2026 September – Tuesday 15th – 7.30pm – Talk at Richmond Town Hall by Paul Black of Durham Wildlife Trust will give an illustrated talk on The Great North Fen project which he is working on creating/ restoring wetlands -The Durham Carrs – around the River Skerne catchment in South Durham . They aim to increase the Biodiversity, improve the Natural Flood Management and include the Community.

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2026 October – Sunday 4th – Visit – We are hiring a minibus for a visit to RSPB Leighton Moss – where Alasdair McKee, the North of England RSPB Local Groups officer, will meet us and take us round the reserve. The minibus will leave Richmond Market Place at 09.00 am and return to Richmond for 5.00 pm. It is now fully booked, but members wishing to travel independently and join us at Leighton Moss for the visit are very welcome to do so.  Please let us know if you plan to do this. The visitor’s centre has toilets, a cafe and picnic area.

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TALK IN NORTHALLERTON ON OCTOBER 12th is POSTPONED

2026  October – Monday 12th – 2pm – Talk POSTPONED Roger Foreman of the Glade Trust Nature Reserve in Kirkby Fleetham will speak about – ‘Raptors in the Forest of Bowland’ on another date TBA

inc Refreshments

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2026 November Sunday 1st – A visit to South Gare, near Redcar, where we hope to see a variety of waders and seabirds. We will meet at 10 am approximately 300 metres south of the Fishermen’s Huts, What3words:  https://w3w.co/headers.ferrets.smaller . Look out for Richard’s car. Please let Teresa (tquinn53@btinternet.com) or Richard know by October 31st if you plan to join this visit.

Toilets and refreshments may be available at the Marina café but it would probably be best to bring your own lunch and a drink.

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2026 November – Monday 30^th 2pm – Talk ‘Bringing Them Back’ about working to save native species from extinction in the UK, by Conservationist and Writer Laurence Rose, who previously worked for the RSPB. Chantry Hall, North End, Bedale, DL8 1AA

What3Words  https://w3w.co/ramble.employers.catchers

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2026 December  Saturday 5th-  Walk – 10am – A walk, starting at 10 am from Ellerton Lakeside Café, DL10 6AP to Bolton-on-Swale Lake

Followed by refreshments or lunch at Ellerton Lakeside Cafe and Farm Shop, DL10 6AP, 12.00 noon. What3Words: https://w3w.co/croak.evolving.character   Please let Teresa Quinn (tquinn53@btinternet.com) know if you plan to join us for lunch so seats can be booked.