CMA Events & Training

Join us for a Study Day looking into management issues and the many recreational opportunities that exist within the beautiful Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire.

10.30 Arrival and refreshments

10.45 Talks
Part 1: The history of the Forest of Dean, its historical and current management. The beginnings of the Dean from the time of the nobles, the verderers and to the Forestry Commission today.
Part 2: The wild boar. An exploration of the wild boar in the Dean: ecology, issues and public perceptions. Brought to you by project leader Dr John Dutton, University of Worcester.

11.45 South West AGM – We plan to get the business out of the way as soon as possible. Will include a brief round up of the year and a chance for all to contribute any suggestions about your CMA.

12.30 Lunch (please bring a packed lunch or there is a café on site)

13.15 Choice of two afternoon sessions

Option one - Cycle ride: A cycle around the Forest of Dean using the old rail and tram lines of the industrial past. This is the family cycle path, mainly flat! Bring your own bike or hire one from the nearby company, Pedalabikeaway.

Option two - Walk: Explore the Deans' famous sculpture trail. This walk is a way-marked trail with 18 sculptures by various artists both local and international.

15.45 Regroup and refreshments

A camping and social event is being planned the night before this study day. Look out for more details to follow.

For further details on this study day or to register you interest in camping please contact Hayley Clayton on h-clayton@hotmail.com

To book a place please contact CMA Administration – 01245 424116 or cma@writtle.ac.uk

This Study Day based around the Cricklade area in Wiltshire will look into the methodology and practical application of restoring neutral grassland hay meadows. Currently in it’s final year of a five year project, Rebuilding Biodiversity North Wiltshire, The Wiltshire Wildlife Trust has been working to improve neutral grassland sites both on their reserves and with private landowners.

The morning session will include an overview of the project, an introduction to grassland restoration, livestock considerations and the machinery required for a successful project.

Site visits in the afternoon will comprise a farm that has been re-seeded under the scheme, and a visit to Clattinger Farm, a Wiltshire Wildlife Trust reserve. Clattinger Farm is considered to be one of the best neutral hay meadow sites in the country and should be exhibiting a spectacular show of wildflowers at the time of the study day.

Arrival from 10.00
Start Time 10.30
Lunch 12.30
Finish Time 15.30/16.00

Free to Members
£35 to Non members (will include free membership)

Please bring a packed lunch and appropriate footwear and clothing as most of this study day is planned to be outside.

For more information contact robertn@wiltshirewildlife.org

To book a place please contact CMA Admin -
01245 424116 or cma@writtle.ac.uk

Olympic Developments in the Lee Valley – Legacy or Lunacy?

Study Day on Wednesday 30th June 2010

The 2012 Olympics White Water Canoe Course (WWCC) is being built in the River Lee Country Park (RLCP) at Waltham Abbey; Essex. The Lee Valley Park Rangers and Conservation team were heavily involved in this development and there have been a number of issues that they have had to overcome including visitor management, biodiversity and planning. The day will start at the Cheshunt Youth Hostel in RLCP with a presentation and a look at the info. room for the WWCC. We will then walk down through RLCP to the site of the development (we won’t have access but can look over the site from a viewpoint). As a part of the planning conditions there are a number of environmental enhancement schemes that we can take a look at. After lunch we will visit Seventy Acres Lake and look at the reedbeds which were planted under a LIFE funded scheme to improve habitat in the hope of encouraging breeding Bitterns.

To book please contact CMA Administration: Writtle College, Lordship Road, Writtle, Chelmsford, Essex, CM1 3RR
Tel: 01245 424116

e-mail: cma@writtle.ac.uk

A review and exploration of the Learning Opportunities offered by this award winning site.
The review will look at Education provision for formal and informal clients and look at some of the approaches used to interpret this heritage site encompassing over 200 ha of mixed woodland, ponds, pasture, formal gardens, Farm, Walled Garden and historic Country House with associated outbuildings. A Green Flag Park, VAQAS approved and the base for the Ranger Interpretation Service (RIS) operations which extend throughout Liverpool City Parks. The visit will look at some of the different approaches used to deliver visits (formal and informal education) at the venue, some of which will be replicated in other parks.

The site accommodates different user groups – from school groups using “The outdoor” classroom of the parkland and gardens, to public heritage tours within the hall, day visitors to the Farm and Gardens, playgroups, societies and walkers, conference delegates. The day will look at how the different demands are managed to generate income streams in order to fully exploit the potential to reach as many people as possible and to meet individual customer requirements and expectations.

Start 10.30 am
Lunch 12.30pm delegates to bring their own packed lunch
Finish 3.15pm

CMA Members £FREE
Non-members £35 (includes free CMA membership)

To book please complete booking from overleaf or contact CMA Administration:
Writtle College, Lordship Road, Writtle, Chelmsford, Essex, CM1 3RR
Tel: 01245 424116
e-mail: cma@writtle.ac.uk

Tuesday 27th April 2010 10am to 3.30pm
Tamar Valley Centre, Drakewalls, Gunnislake, Cornwall. PL18 9FE
5 mins walk from Gunnislake Station, off A390 at petrol station at the top of Gunnislake Hill

The aim of this training day is for participants to gain enough knowledge to return to their sites and set up a basic monitoring scheme which can also be fed into Butterfly Conservations records

9.45 – 10.15 Registration and welcome, tea and coffee available
10.15 – 1pm introduction to butterflies and butterfly monitoring led by Ian Middlebrook of Butterfly Conservation.
1pm – 1.45 Lunch. Please bring packed lunch, there is a shop nearby to buy pasties etc.
1.45 Leave centre for site visit to Greenscoobe Wood where there is an established transect for monitoring heath fritillaries.
3.30pm Finish (in time for the return train to Plymouth)

CMA Members £FREE
Non-members £35 (includes free CMA membership)

To book please contact CMA Administration:
Writtle College, Lordship Road, Writtle, Chelmsford, Essex, CM1 3RR
Tel: 01245 424116
e-mail: cma@writtle.ac.uk