Shaftesbury & Gillingham
University of the Third Age
SGU3A Registered charity No. 1078452
©SGU3A 2010
Updated: 2010-
Natural History & Conservation
What do we do?
One of the group’s major beliefs is that retired amateurs have an important part to play in collecting data to measure UK’s progress in biodiversity and the pace of global warming. Consequently, as far as possible, the group goes outdoors where it is involved each year in collecting data for the Woodland Trust’s Spring and Autumn Watch surveys, Plantlife’s Common Plant Survey, Butterfly Conservation’s Atlas, Dorset Wildlife Trust’s Roadside Verges & in one off annual surveys such as the great Dormouse nut hunt & the Bumblebee nest survey. Visits are organised each year to local conservation sites. Many members of the group collect records for the British Trust for Ornithology’s Garden Bird survey & the Dorset Environmental Record Centre’s Mammal survey. Indoor meetings hope to develop identification skills, widen knowledge about the world of natural history and keep up with the latest news. The group achieve these aims by hearing from local experts, compiling & discussing scrapbooks of key news items, and listening to short talks from members of the group about famous naturalists, recent research or poetry, art and literature associated with wildlife.
What level of knowledge is required?
Only a natural curiosity about wildlife & conservation & a willingness to learn how to identify different species & record them.
What materials are needed.
None though members of the group are asked to share subscriptions to the annual journals of conservation organisations like Plantlife.
How many in the group, and are there any vacancies?
18. No vacancies at present.
Where do the meetings take place?
Alternate Wednesdays in the homes of those members of the group who can accommodate everyone.