LAG CHAIRMAN’S JOTTINGS SEPTEMBER 2018

Our Autumn field trip will be to the LWT Reserve Woodhall Spa Airfield on Sunday 30 September where LWT Warden Kevin James will give us a guided tour. We will meet at 1000hrs at the main gates on the B1192 Tattershall Road through Woodhall Spa town. The nearest post code is LN4 4JT and the OS Map reference is TF 206608.

We shall be on site for about 2 hours, there are no loos once you leave Woodhall Spa. For the most part the going is flat along the old main runway where wheel chairs can have a good run.

There will be lots to see so bring your telescopes and binoculars as well as your fauna and flora ID guides.

Work parties will take place from 0930hrs at Rigsby Wood on 14 October and on 28 October at Swinn Wood.

INFORMATION COFFEE MORNING SATURDAY 10 NOVEMBER

EARLY WARNING AND SEASONAL SCROUNGING

Our annual fund-raising event will take place at the ConocoPhillips Room in Louth between 1000hrs and noon on Saturday 10 November. There will be a chance to buy Wildlife Trust Christmas cards and calendars plus the opportunity to view displays as well as having a coffee and a chat.

We shall have a Raffle! However, we do need prizes. If you are kind enough to donate a prize, please bring it along to the LAG indoor meeting on 26 October or let me know on lag2104rww@aol.com and I will arrange to collect it.

‘THE LOST WORDS’ – A REMINDER

Since 2010 common countryside words like acorn, wren, kingfisher and conker started to disappear from children's books. Earlier in the year the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust set up 'Crowdfunder' campaign to raise £5,000 to help bring these lost words back to life. In fact, you may well have contributed to the campaign. It was intended to buy every primary, junior and special school in Lincolnshire, North Lincolnshire and North-East Lincolnshire a copy of a wonderful book.

The book, 'The Lost Words' written by Robert MacFarlane and illustrated by Jackie Morris, is a joyful celebration of nature words and the natural world they invoke. It is set out in an ideal way to share these words across the generations. LWT will also supply a copy of “An Explorer’s Guide to The Lost Words” to each school to help teachers get the most out of the book.

SUCCESS AND HELP

You may be aware that the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust has been successful in reaching its fundraising target. But, the fundraising target didn't include funds to cover the costs of postage. Now comes the task of delivering the books to the schools!

Members of the Louth Area Group have arranged to deliver books to several schools in the area. However, those listed below still need to be visited. If you have an affinity with any of these schools, you may care to deliver a copy of the book to ‘your school’. Please let me know the name of the school by 25 September on lag2014rww@aol.com and I will let you have more details.

Best wishes

Ray Woodcock                Chairman Louth Area group

Louth Kidgate Primary Academy	North Cockerington Church of England Primary School
Louth Lacey Gardens Junior School	North Somercotes Church of England Primary School
Louth St Bernard's School	North Somercotes, Somercotes Academy
Louth Academy	Fulstow Community Primary School
Louth Cordeaux Academy	Utterby Primary Academy
	Grainthorpe Primary School
Legbourne East Wold Church of England Primary School	Grimoldby Primary School
Donnington-on-Bain School	Scamblesby Church of England Primary School

Report on Watch Group Treasure Hunt in Hubbard's Hills 16-9-18

After a short shower early in the afternoon the day became warm and sunny.

Prior to families arriving, the Treasure Hunt clues were laid as a trail through Hubbard's Hills.

They were discreetly tied to trees, bushes, benches etc

Each family was given a sheet of instructions. They were sent off to find each clue and to answer the natural history question at that site. There were twenty clues to find, spread throughout the Hills. All the questions had multi choice answers and ranged from being very simple to more challenging.

When the families had found and completed the questionnaire, they were able to compare their replies with the answer sheet.

Each child (twenty in all) was then able to chose some 'treasure', an animal eraser pencil or a packet of glittery stickers.

All the families seemed to enjoy the Treasure Hunt.

Thanks  are due to Louise who compiled the clues and questions and also hid them in the Hills.