November
Saturday 1 November
Wildlife survey
10 am – 12 noon
Check dormouse and bird boxes. Watch red squirrels and look for dreys. Booking advised. Wear boots.
Leader Helen Butler Wight Squirrel Project
Tel 611003
Meet Freshwater Fruit Farm GR 357870
Cost £2; half price for members of Friends of the Red Squirrel

Tuesday 4 November
Wildlife Warriors
10 am – 1 pm
Scrub clearance at Shide Quarry Local Nature Reserve
Leader IWC Countryside Rangers
Tel 823893
Meet Shide Quarry Local Nature Reserve GR 506882

Sunday 9 November
Watching Winter Birds
9.30 am
Discover the birds that can be seen in the Western Yar area walking at a very gentle pace. About 2 hours. Suitable for all the family; children accompanied by an adult are very welcome. No dogs please.
Leader IWNHAS
Tel 612677
Meet River Road car park Yarmouth GR 354895

Sunday 23 November
Wight Lore: the St Helens Walk
10.30 am
Discover the origins of St Helens and its dramatic religious past. Hear of the legends, ghostly tales and superstitions associated with the old Duver church and the incredible story of the notorious Sophie Dawes. A 6.5 mile/5 hour coastal and country ramble. Pub lunch
Leader Adrian Searle
Tel 615636
Meet Vine Inn, St Helens

Sunday 30 November
Outside art
10.30 am
Join us for a winter stroll round the Gift to Nature wetland walk, collecting items to bring back to the orchard where we’ll make all sorts of natural decorations for a winter tree-dressing. Leader Ian Boyd
Tel 298098
Meet outside the water works on Longwood Lane, Sandown
Cost Donation to Gift to Nature £2 suggested

December
Tuesday 2 December
Wildlife Warriors
10 am – 1 pm
Woodland management work at Mill Copse, near Yarmouth on behalf of Wight Nature Fund.
Leader IWC Countryside Rangers
Tel 823893
Meet Entrance to Mill Copse GR 358890

Wednesday 3 December
Rocks from Rails: lumpy landscapes
10 am
A walk of contrasts to view landscapes formed over millions of years, climbing classic chalk hills to Bembridge Down viewpoint, descending along the Red Cliff coastal path and returning by the River Yar.
Leader Helen Parry Medina Valley Centre
Tel 522195
Meet Brading Railway station
Cost Donations appreciated

Thursday 4 to Sunday 7 December
Brighstone Christmas Tree Festival
10am – 5.30 pm
Come and see more than 100 Christmas Trees decorated by various individuals and organisations. Runs until Sunday 7th.
Details from Chris Goodman 741166 or Sheila Collinge 740689
Meet Brighstone churches, Wilberforce Hall and Mottistone church
Cost Donations appreciated

Sunday 7 and 14 December
Brighstone Shop - Mince pies and mulled wine
12 noon – 3 pm
Festive Christmas shopping with mince pies and mulled wine
Leader National Trust
Tel 740689
Meet National Trust Shop Brighstone

Thursday 18 December
Shorwell Slopes
10 am
A hilly walk in the downs around Shorwell. Bring a picnic lunch. 3.5 hours/7 miles
Leader Howard Duffus tel 755469
Tel 761252
Meet Shorwell Village Hall Car Park GR 457828

Saturday 20 December
Appetiser for Christmas lunch
9.30 am
A few hills, or perhaps more than a few? For experienced walkers 12 miles/5.5 hours. Bring a picnic lunch
Leader Mike Marchant
Tel 761252
Meet Wroxall car park GR 522798

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January
Tuesday 6 January
Wildlife Warriors
10 am – 1 pm
Downland management on Rew Down, just off the road to Ventnor Golf course.
Leader IWC Countryside Rangers
Tel 823893
Meet Steephill Down Road Ventnor GR 555777

Saturday 10 January
Winter wildlife walk
11 am
Join a walk to see flocks of waders and wildfowl and birds of prey. About 2.5 hours Please wear stout footwear and suitable clothing. Sorry no dogs.
Leader RSPB
Tel 873681
Meet Brading Railway Station GR 609 868
Cost RSPB members £3. non RSPB members £6. Children half price

Sunday 18 January
Sandman Snowman
11.00
The third annual Sandman Snowman event, and if by some miracle it’s snowing we can make Snowmen Sandmen too. Bring buckets, spades and whatever else you think might help. We’ll supply carrots, coal and hot chocolate.
Leader Ian Boyd
Tel 298098
Meet Hope Beach Shanklin GR 588 819
Cost Donation to Gift to Nature £2 suggested

Sunday 25 January
Wight Lore: The Pine Raft walk
10.30 am
Travel back in time to deepest pre-history on this short (2.5 mile) walk in the Back of the Wight. Combines spectacular cliff-top walking above Brook Bay with a rural ramble and features the Island's primeval fossilised forest at Hanover Point.
Leader Adrian Searle
Tel 615636
Meet Brook chine car park/bus stop

February
Sunday 1 February
Winter wildlife walk
11 am
Join a walk to see flocks of waders and wildfowl and birds of prey. About 2.5 hours. Please wear stout footwear and suitable clothing. Sorry no dogs.
Leader RSPB
Tel 873681 For details of meeting place and cost see 10 January

Tuesday 3 February
Wildlife Warriors
10 am – 1 pm
Woodland and reedbed management at Dickson's Copse
Leader IWC Countryside Rangers
Tel 823893
Meet at the end of Stag Lane GR 504916

Friday 6 February
Winter woods
10 am
A steady walk through Borthwood Copse looking at the plants, wildlife and woodland management. About 2 hours. Sorry no dogs. May be wet and muddy underfoot. Some slopes. Leader National Trust
Tel 741020
Meet Public car park Alverstone Rd Apse Heath GR 566843
Cost Adults (inc. NT members) £2

Wednesday 11 February
Meet the fair maids of February
10.30 am
Find out about the work of Wight Nature Fund in the area around Newchurch and meet the fair maids of February. About 2.5 hours. Easy walk, some stiles. Bring a hot drink.
Leader Dave and Jill Green
Tel 863763
Meet Newchurch car park GR 563856
Cost Donations invited for Wight Nature Fund

Sunday 15 February
Winter wildlife walk
11 am
Join a walk to see flocks of waders and wildfowl and birds of prey. About 2.5 hours Please wear stout footwear and suitable clothing. Sorry no dogs.
Leader RSPB
Tel 873681 For details of meeting place and cost see 10 January

Saturday 21 February
Wight Lore: The Yarmouth Walk
10.30 am
A 2 hour morning stroll exploring the origins, history, traditions and folklore of the Island's best-preserved medieval borough. Includes town, pier, railway and the seafront.
Leader Adrian Searle
Tel 615636
Meet Public car park at the pier gates

Sunday 22 February
Winter birdwatch
10.00 am
A walk along the esplanade looking for winter gulls and waders before turning up into Appley Woods and Park to look for winter thrushes, woodpeckers finches and whatever else the weather brings us.
Leader Ian Boyd
Tel 298098
Meet By swimming pool, Ryde seafront
Cost Donation to Gift to Nature £2 suggested

Saturday 28 February
Annual Isle of Wight Hedgelaying Competition
10 am – 3 pm
Come and watch novices and experts demonstrate this traditional craft. Entry forms for teams and individuals available early in 2009.
Leader IWC Parks and Countryside Section
Tel 823893
Meet Details in press

March
Tuesday 3 March
Wildlife Warriors
10 am – 1 pm
Access work at Fort Victoria Country Park, Yarmouth
Leader IWC Countryside Rangers
Tel 823893
Meet Fort Victoria Country Park car park. GR 339898

Saturday 14 March
Wight Lore: The Cowes Walk
10.30 am
A stroll through the hstory of the twin towns at the mouth of the Medina, from the days of Henry VIII's twin forts -built to 'cow' the enemy - to the eras of Victorian splendour and 20th century industrial might. Includes Northwood Park.
Leader Adrian Searle
Tel 615636
Meet Old Castle Point, East Cowes (far end of the Esplanade)

Thursday 19 March
The Toothwort Walk
9.30 am
A 5.5 mile walk, including some hills, to see this unusual plant. Bring a hot drink. Finish at Sandown railway station by 1pm
Leader Dave and Jill Green
Tel 863763
Meet Brading railway station
Cost Voluntary donation for the Wildlife Trust

Thursday 26March
Mill Copse Management
10 am – 1 pm
A walk from Yarmouth to Mill Copse to view the winter work in the copse for Wight Nature Fund. Some uneven ground.
Leader Bob Edney IWC Countryside Officer
Tel 823893
Meet River Road car park, Yarmouth GR 354895
Cost Donations to Wight Nature Fund

Saturday 28 March
The historic landscape of the Mottistone area
2 pm
A walk through the medieval parishes of Mottistone and Shalfleet, including Mottistone Common and observing hollow ways, archaeological monuments, a parish boundary and a deserted settlement. 3 hours/4.5 miles, some stiles. Stout footwear needed. Booking essential.
Tel: Margaret Rylands on 529589
Leader Vicky Basford
Meet NT car park Mottistone GR 405837
Cost £10.20

Sunday 29 March
Signs of spring in Pelham Woods
10 am
A 2 hour walk through Pelham Woods looking at various habitats and identifying common native trees and shrubs by winter twigs. See plants of local interest such as ivy broomrape and Italian lords and ladies and look at recent management work. Walking boots recommended. Steep and muddy in parts.
Leader Dave Trevan
Tel 853927
Meet Old Rare Breeds Park, opposite St Lawrence Village Hall
Cost Donation for Wight Nature Fund