March 2021 Newsletter
Author: Roger Francis (Chairman (SWC)
Dear all,
Next Meeting Sometime in the future?
Severn Wildlife Carvers: Well here we are again time for a newsletter and very little to report. I have spoken to a number of members and it was strange to hear everyone say that they are finding it difficult to motivate themselves to complete carvings that they have started during lockdown.
Slimbridge remains closed to all visitors and according to its website the earliest that it will open is the 12th of April and presumably that will be under the same restrictions as when they opened up after the last closure. The Bewick swans have already departed and there has been evidence of Spring Migration ongoing. As I said in the last newsletter it is a shame that the trust has stopped doing a daily report and only give a weekly update of what is around the grounds. One of the recent reports mention that there were up to 6 pairs of cranes prospecting nesting sites, up to 80 Avocets have been counted and the first Sand Martins have already been seen, I have half expected a White Stork to put in an appearance as one has been floating around our area over the last week or so.
One can still only guess at when the trust might reopen fully to the public, but listening to the news today I cannot imagine it will be much before the end of May so it’s still a case of watch this space. I cannot imagine us meeting before June.
The Bird Fair at Rutland normally in August has been cancelled, my understanding is that Frampton One Day Country Fair will decided the end of this month whether it will go ahead or not.
BDWCA Bakewell National Carving Championship is still on at the moment but no definite statement has been made about it.
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 entries 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.