February 2021 Newsletter

Author: Roger Francis (Chairman (SWC)

Dear all,
 
Next  Meeting  Sometime in the future?
 
Severn Wildlife Carvers:  Well last weekend should have been our February meeting and it is a full year since we met, little did I think when I did the Wader festival last February that it would be my last trip to Slimbridge for a year. Here we are and still no sign of when we might meet up again. I have to admit I have not been doing much carving as the temperature in my workshop is too cold by far. I have a whole lot of painting to do but I need to find some motivation (and a heater).
There was much excitement in the Francis household two weeks ago, we got to go out (the first time in months) we had to go and have our first Covid vaccinations which I have to say went very well, the centre we went to was very well organised and neither of us had a problem with the jab, I hope everyone has had the opportunity to have theirs, now sit back and wait for the second one. There was further excitement this week with the arrival of our first grandchild a healthy granddaughter weighing in at 9lb 9ozs.
The whole lockdown is wearing a bit thin now, but at least spring is around the corner, and I have sown my first seeds in anticipation of  being able to get out and do a bit of gardening as and when the weather improves. At least this week there has been some decent sport on the television this week with the six nations, the cricket and the Australian Open providing some entertainment.
Slimbridge: remains closed to all visitors but work continues with the upkeep of the site and a lot of work has been carried out coppicing the trees to improve the habitat for smaller birds and invertebrates  whilst reducing the cover for the birds of prey. The Bewick swans had already started to depart but the weather of the last week caused some of those that had departed and had got as far as the east coast to make a U turn and return to the trust, something that has not been witnessed in over forty years.
Sadly from a birding point of view the trust has stopped doing a daily report and only give a weekly update of what is around the grounds.
One can still only guess at when the trust might reopen to the public, but listening to the news today I cannot imagine it will be much before the end of April so it’s still a case of watch this space.
The BDWCA are hoping to hold Bakewell as usual this year and are also hoping that the Bird Fair at Rutland will go ahead in August, a decision re the Bird Fair will be made towards the end of February, if either go ahead it is highly likely they will have to be “Covid” aware and require facemasks, hand sanitisation etc.
The Ward Museum has already decided that 2021 World Championships will be a virtual Competition my understanding was that it was going to be a “post in” for miniatures and a photographic entry as well, but I can only find restrictive photo enteries i.e. for birds previously entered in the World Championships. They also intend to have various “virtual” events so it is worth keeping an eye on their website
https://www.wardmuseum.org/learn-explore/program-calendar/world-championship/.
 
I hope you all have projects underway and hope to see you all sometime soon.
Stay safe and well.