BNA Essex stand at Nature Recovery event at Brightlingsea Library, Essex, Saturday 13th November 2025
BNA Essex, the Essex Branch of the British Naturalists’ Association, had a stand at the 3rd Nature Recovery Event at Brightlingsea Library. It was on Saturday 15th November 2025 from 10am to 2pm. The Library is in New Street, just off the High Street/Victoria Place. BNA Essex also had a stand at both the two previous events. Also taking part were a number of other organisations such as Hedgehog Rescue, Brightlingsea Beach School, Essex Bird Aware, Cobnuts Co-operative, EWT, BTC etc. Many interested in wildlife & nature in the area came along despite the wet weather.
The BNA Essex stand was manned by the national BNA President Roger Tabor HonFBNA. The stand featured a new booklet “Brightlingsea Trees” written by Roger & published by BNA Essex.
British Naturalists’ Association Encaenia & “Behind the Scenes” event was at the Natural History Museum, London, Saturday 13th September 2025
A number of BNA Essex members attended this national event in London, including the BNA President Roger Tabor HonFBNA. During the Association’s Encaenia, a member of the Essex Branch, who is an outstanding & very experienced naturalist & author, Dr Chris Gibson HonFBNA was Recognised as an honorary Fellow of the Association at the gowned ceremony by the BNA Chairman Steve Rutherford. This was a well deserved recognition of many achievements as a naturalist.
(Pictures: Chris receiving Honorary Fellowship from BNA Chairman Steve Rutherford, recipients of Grade Recognition & Awards, Chris & Steve with Dr Erica McAlister HonFBNA & Neil Garrick-Maidment HonFBNA, some BNA members pond dipping in NHM garden, Steph Holt FBNA leading ‘behind the scenes’ at NHM, the Encaenia Lectures by Professor Alastair Fitter HonFBNA & Dr Erica McAlister HonFBNA. Erica received the Peter Scott Memorial Award at the Encaenia.
Nature Spotting at the Lozenge Nature Area, Brightlingsea, Essex, for families, 2025 August BH Monday 25th
This event was jointly organised by the British Naturalists’ Association & the Cinque Port Liberty of Brightlingsea. Youngsters accompanied by their families went on “Safari” to be able to identify wildflowers & minibeasts in the the Lozenge Nature Area, on August Bank Holiday. The event was open from 11.30am – 4.00pm at the Lozenge Nature Area, Lower Park Road, Brightlingsea, Essex. This free event was brilliant, and one that we have been running for the community & visitors for many years.
The youngsters were given colour sheets with pictures of plants & minibeasts they searched for in the reserve, plus a map to log their finds. After their search, back at the entrance Gazebo they then had the challenge of identifying from 3 choices, two mystery objects, which were Whelk shells & a Whelk egg mass. The youngsters were remarkably good at identifying the correct answers!
The Lozenge is a little gem owned & managed by Brightlingsea Town Council, only 5 acres in total, but holding a great range of species to spot. Wildlife experts, including BNA President Roger Tabor, with BNA naturalists Sara Biggins & Martin Rapley were on hand to give help if needed. Volunteers from Brightlingsea Cinque Port Liberty issued the maps & colour ID sheets to the families. The event is run as part of the Brightlingsea Town Show. As well as the families, the Town Mayor, plus the Cinque Port Deputy & Lady Deputy visited the event. All the youngsters taking part received a wildlife sticker book.
(Pictures: Volunteer BNA Essex & Cinque Port Liberty volunteers at the BNA Essex gazebo at entrance to Lozenge Nature Area, comma butterfly, Cinque Port Deputy & Lady Deputy Iain Werngren with BNA President Roger Tabor, some of the families taking part in the Nature Spotting event with wildlife spotter sheets & Lozenge maps at the Lozenge).
BNA Symposium at Beth Chatto’s Gardens, Elmstead Market, Nr Colchester, Essex, 16-17th August 2025
This 2 day weekend event was held at the stunning Beth Chatto’s Gardens & utilised the well appointed seminar & teaching building that sits beside one of the lakes that Beth Chatto laid out. Field activities including pond dipping & insect searches for a bioblitz occurred. The event owed much to both Beth Chatto’s & to Dr Chris Gibson FBNA, who acts as the Garden’s resident expert naturalist running frequent walks on site. He is an active local BNA Branch member but could not lead a walk as he was recovering from an operation, but it was great he was able to attend for some of the event. On the Sunday 2 talks were given on Grasshoppers & allies one by Professor Ted Benton HonFBNA & another by Dr Tim Gardiner. The BNA President, Roger Tabor HonFBNA, gave a talk on the great naturalist John Ray, who was born at Black Notley in Essex. The event was attended by many BNA members, including BNA Essex members. A BNA Essex board display was on show on the Sunday.
(Pictures: Beth Chatto’s famed dry garden & lake area, Beth’s blue plaque, pictures at talks building, incl. Dr Tim Gardiner FBNA, Professor Ted Benton HonFBNA in pale blue shirt, trio picture of L to R, Chairman Steve Rutherford FBNA, President Roger Tabor HonFBNA, Dr Tim Gardiner FBNA).
BNA AGM was held on Zoom on Saturday 31 May 2025
Field Trip to South Suffolk 22-30 March 2025
Although over the border near Bury St Edmunds, Bradfield Woods at Bradfield St George according to past BNA Hon Fellow Dr Oliver Rackham is one of the best ancient woods in Britain. He noted it was once part of the Abbey of Bury St Edmund’s woods. Bradfield Woods are SSSI & NNR status, & have been under constant coppice management since at least 1252. Rackham noted at the Abbey’s Dissolution in 1538 it had 13 woods over 100 acres in size, by 1950 6 were intact, but now the only intact survivor is Felshamhall Wood (in Bradfield Woods).
During our early Spring visit the extensive areas of Ramsons (Wild Garlic, alt Wood Garlic, alt Bear’s Garlic) were in good leaf but not yet opened in flower. The ‘Bear’s Garlic’ name is enshrined in their Latin name of Allium ursinium. Some Oxlips were in full flower, mainly those at edges of rides, but more would be following on.
The woods are a noted Nightingale site. Studies at Bradfield Woods at Bradfield Woods found coppice growth of 3-8 years after cutting provided ideal habitat for Nightingales & older coppice less so.
BNA Essex Stand at Eco-Fair at Brightlingsea, Essex, Saturday 15th February 2025
This was held in St James Church in the High Street of Brightlingsea from 10.00am to 3.00pm & attracted a lot of interest with many attending. The BNA Essex Branch Stand was manned by Martin Rapley FBNA, Sara Biggins ABNA & Roger Tabor HonFBNA.
