Winter 2023-24

We are hoping to be able to run most, if not all, of these meetings as Hybrid meetings, allowing attendance either in person or online. Details of how to register to attend online will be added to the details of each Hybrid meeting about a month before the meeting date.

Wednesday, October 11th, 7:30-9:00pm
Petrels to Pallas’ How Bird Observatories Shaped my Life – Kate Fox

Kate will tell her story about how, as a young birder, a visit to a Bird Observatory on a rock in the Irish Sea helped her to find her tribe and led her to pursue a career sharing her passion for the natural world with others. She has volunteered as a Youth Representative for the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) helping to break down the barriers and connect young people with nature (and one another!), and now works for the organisation as a Training Officer.

This event was run as a Hybrid meeting. CHOG members can view a recording of the talk on CHOG Online.

Wednesday, 8th November, 7:30-9:00pm
The Insects found in the Christchurch Harbour Area – Robin Harley

Robin, who is the Countryside Officer for Conservation at BCP Council, will talk to us about the abundant insects including Butterflies, Dragonflies and Moths that can be found in and around Christchurch Harbour and Stanpit Marsh. The talk will be illustrated with photographs taken locally by himself and other local photographers.

This event was run as a Hybrid meeting. CHOG members can view a recording of the talk on CHOG Online.

Wednesday, December 13th, 7:30-9:00pm
The Return of Breeding Ospreys to Poole Harbour – Brittany Maxted

The charity, Birds of Poole Harbour, initiated a project with the Roy Dennis Wildlife Foundation to return the osprey to Poole Harbour in 2017. In 2022 a pair raised two chicks for the first time in 180 years. In 2023 three chicks have been raised! Brittany Maxted runs the osprey project for the charity and oversees the reintroduction team. This will be a really exciting talk with lots of recent developments.

This will be run as a Hybrid meeting. There is no need to register to attend in person. To register to attend the meeting remotely by Zoom click here.

Wednesday, 10th January, 7:30-9:00pm
The Birds and Wildlife of the New Forest – Marcus Ward

Marcus, an experienced speaker from Wild New Forest, will give us a fully illustrated talk about the birds and wildlife of the New Forest. The talk will also include an overview of their current projects and topical New Forest conservation issues.

Wednesday, February 14th, 7:30-9:00pm
The Dorset Beaver Projects – Steve Oliver, Dorset Wildlife Trust

Following years of preparation for their arrival, a pair of adult beavers were released into an enclosed site in Dorset in 2021, having been relocated from Scotland under licence from NatureScot. The pair settled well into their new home allowing conservationists to study one of nature’s great engineering species, right here in our county. 

Dorset Wildlife Trust (DWT) recently announced that for the second year running another litter of beaver kits have been born at their enclosed beaver site!

Steve Oliver, Rivers Conservation Officer for Dorset Wildlife Trust, will take us through DWT’s journey of successfully introducing these wonderful additions to Dorset’s wildlife.