RETURN TO . . . Emsworth Wildlife - Homepage HAVANT WILDLIFE STUDY GROUP Saturday Walks Programme Saturday walks - reports Photo Gallery from HWG Walks   History of the Havant Wildlife Group  The Havant Wildlife Study Group began under the tutelage of Ralph Hollins, the well-known local naturalist, in 1995 with regular weekly meetings on Monday evenings and nature walks on Saturday mornings. When Ralph retired in Dec 1997 the group decided to keep the meetings and walks going on a cooperative, self-taught, basis. Although none of us are professionals, or in any way experts, we all had a burning interest in learning more about our local environment and wildlife. Many of the group subsequently developed special knowledge and interests which they were able to share with others, e.g., in birds, plants, fungi and trees. In December 2005 it was decided to stop the weekly Monday meetings and to have monthly meetings, mainly to discuss news and arrange the programme for the Saturday walks. However, the ever popular Saturday morning wildlife walks continued as before. We are always appreciative of Ralph's constant support (and occasional admonishment when we get something wrong).  Ralph Hollins explaining some plants to Ros and Caroline in Bridge Road car park, Emsworth - 25.06.07   The walks take place every Saturday morning from 9.00 to 12.00 throughout the year and visit a variety of sites, generally within a ten mile radius of Havant. Attendance is usually around 10, with a range from 5 to 15. The emphasis is more on wildlife and less on walking. Progress tends to be fairly slow with lots of stops to study birds, flowers, insects, fungi, etc. Birds are of interest all year round, but in summer interest is mainly on flowers, grasses, sedges and insects. In autumn attention also turns to fungi. We are particularly fortunate in the Havant area in having a number of excellent wildlife sites, which we visit regularly. All assembled in Bridge Road car park for the Emsworth walk - 26.01.08   Sites visted on a regular basis include South Moors, Hayling Oyersterbeds, The Kench, Farlington Marshes, Hilsea Lines, Milton Common, Emsworth Harbour, Brook Meadow, Hollybank Woods, Thorney Island, Nutbourne Marshes, Chidham and Cobnor penisula, Fishbourne Channel, Chichester Gravel Pits, Pagham Nature Reserve, Stansted Forest, Havant Thicket, Purbrook Heath, Old Winchester Hill, Catherington Down, Kingley Vale, as well as various countryside walks. PHOTOS OF THE GROUP ON WALKS Here we are at the start of a walk from Nore Barn to Warblington on a chilly morning in March 2010   Here is the group looking at the famous Emsworth Spotted Redshank in the Nore Barn stream in March 2010   Examining the plants on the saltmarshes at Fishbourne   Taking a break deep in Hollybank Woods in January 2009   Birdwatching on Emsworth Harbour - 26.01.08   All assembled outside Warblington Church for the annual New Year's Day Birdwatch - 01.01.08   Taking a break in the summer sunshine on the slope beneath Fort Purbrook - 07.07.07    Taking a break at Emsworth Marina - 26.01.08     GWYNNE JOHNSON - a personal appreciation Gwynne Johnson was an important member of the group and an insipiration to us all. Sadly, she died well, before her time, on 12th December, 2004. We all miss her greatly. Here is my personal appreciation of Gwynne with some photos of her in the field. Gwynne examining a Fescue grass on Oxenbourne Down - 6.7.02.   Gwynne Johnson died on Sunday 12th December, 2004. Dear Gwynne had been ill for a long time with cancer. Gwynne was well known as an expert and very enthusiastic amateur naturalist. With her husband, Nigel, she was very active in the Hampshire Wildlife Trust and carried out many botanical surveys. She and Nigel also devoted a great deal of love and attention to creating a wonderful garden at their home in Soberton. I so recall those lovely walks around their garden. But Gwynne was much more than a naturalist, she was also a warm and generous human being and a great friend to many. Gwynne puzzling over a plant during a group walk in Stansted Forest - 31.5.03 I knew Gwynne mainly through the Havant Wildlife Group, when we met on Monday evenings for talks and discussions and on Saturday mornings for walks in the local countryside. We shall all miss her greatly, for her immense kindness and her ever willingness to help on all things to do with nature. But plants were her love and speciality, and not just pretty wild flowers, for Gwynne was also keen for us all to appreciate the less glamorous aspects of the botanical world, namely, grasses, sedges, rushes and even mosses. We all loved her so much. Personally, I have learned more about plants from Gwynne than any other person. Gwynne was a joy to walk with and, I must admit, I frequently hogged her attention when out on walks, though I am sure I am not the only one to do this. Gwynne and Nigel with other members of the group at Northney, Hayling Island - 24.5.03   Gwynne came over to Brook Meadow on several occasions to help find and identify difficult plants. She made a number of contributions to our plant list including Whorl-grass, Green-ribbed Sedge and Marsh and Sea Arrowgrass, which continue to escape me on Brook Meadow. But I know they are there because Gwynne found them. Goodbye, Gwynne. Thank you for everything.   Gwynne examining a rayed form of Groundsel at Warblington - 27.9.03     Gwynne looking closely at Wild Tyme on Oxenbourne Down - 6.7.02 Tree plantation in memory of Gwynne On Thursday 9th May 2005, 20 Rowan saplings were planted on Brook Meadow, Emsworth. This Rowan plantation was donated by the Havant Wildlife Group in memory of Gwynne Johnson, who was very good friend to the Brook Meadow Conservation Group. We originally bought and planted 15 trees, but they were immediately nibbled off by Deer - Gwynne would have been amused. So we decided to replace them with some new trees, this time all suitably protected with tubes and stakes. The trees should not only enhance the beauty of Brook Meadow, but also provide food and habitat for birds and other wildlife. You never know they might even attract some Waxwings (but not in my lifetime!). OTHER APPRECIATIONS From Sally Wood Whether I'm watching the waving fronds of Oatgrass, contemplating the hairy armpits of Male Fern, enjoying a meadow full of wild flowers or just contemplating the wayside flowers whilst stuck in a traffic jam, I shall always think of Gwynne and her boundless enthusiasm. The Saturday walks may move at a faster pace now but you will be sorely missed Gwynne. Thank you for all the interest you have given me and the thirst for further knowledge. I hope to pass on some of your legacy to the children that I care for, during our country walks. It is a great privilege to have known you. From Helen and Guy Bradbury We are fairly new to the Saturday walks, but right from the first one we have been made to feel most welcome. We love sharing the knowledge and experience of the people we have met there. In particular, Gwynne never failed to carry us away with her enthusiasm. She was a lady who loved life and the life around her, her good humour and generosity of spirit made her a fun companion even in the mud and the rain.