Events in
Rockingham Forest
Butterfly Conservation local gtoup on a field trip in Fineshade
Tour of a re-wiggled brook
Between King's Cliffe and Blatherwycke, details on booking
Friday 4 April, 2025. 2:00pm
Natural England's Dave Pritchard will explain the work carried out to slow the flow of water in Willow Brook.
Postponed - new date coming soon
Blatherwycke Estate, the Environment Agency and Natural England worked together on this major wetland habitat creation, with the work carried out last autumn. Early booking recommended for what will be a fascinating afternoon.
Introduction to hoverflies
with John Showers
Ring Haw Field Centre,
off Old Sulehay Road, Yarwell PE8 6PA
Saturday 12 April, 10:00 - 16:00
A workshop to help people with no prior experience to recognise adult hoverflies.
A practical workshop using pinned specimens, microscopes and identification keys. See John's page on the Flies of Rockingham Forest here . More details and buy tickets on the Wildlife Trust website.
Visit to site where willow is grown for basket-making
North of King's Cliffe village
Friday 2 May 2025, 2:00-4:00pm
Sue and Kirk invite you to see where and how the willow for their basket-making is grown. This is the site described in Kirk's blog article
We'll see where willow is grown, harvested and graded, and wander through the young scrubby woodland and meadow. Tea brewed on an open fire and an option to visit the studio in Kings Cliffe afterwards. Book by email for this free unusual event.
Identifying Ancient Woodland
from physical features
Short and Southwick Wood
Glapthorn Road near Oundle PE8 5BD
Saturday 3 May, 10:00 - 16:00
Workshop in the woods with Andy Lear,
learning about this irreplaceable habitat
Ancient woodland and how to identify it through physical features, signs of former management and indicator species. See Andy's page on Ancient Woodland here . Buy tickets on the Wildlife Trust website.
Introduction to bumblebees
with Andy Benson
Ring Haw Field Centre,
off Old Sulehay Road, Yarwell PE8 6PA
Sunday 4 May, 10:00 - 16:00
Learn to identify the UK's most common bumblebees
A morning in the classroom will provide an overview of bumblebees and equip you with the skills you need . Then an afternoon starting to identifying them in the field. Details and buy tickets on the WT website.
Introduction to wildflowers
with Matt Jackson
Ring Haw Field Centre,
off Old Sulehay Road, Yarwell PE8 6PA
Saturday 24 May, 10:00 - 16:00
Learn how to use identification keys rather than fieldguides to identify wildflowers
Most wildlife surveys start with the flowering plants, the most conspicuous species in the countryside, and are among the very best ‘indicators’ of habitat quality. Buy tickets etc. on the WT website
Walk on Bulwick Estates' land
Meet on the Laxton-Harringworth Road SP930965 (- to be confirmed)
Wednesday 28th May 2025. 10:00 - 12:30
See the environmental improvements already under way - regenerating quarries, highland cattle, rich wildflower meadows, wood pasture - and a spectacular view!
Guided by Graham Garratt we will walk around the Spanhoe quarry and airfield area, a distance of 3 miles, mainly on grassy paths. Early booking recommended for this free walk with limited availability. See the Bulwick Estates website for more about their project.
Woodland Plants and
Plant Communities
Ring Haw Field Centre,
off Old Sulehay Road, Yarwell PE8 6PA
Saturday 31 May, 10:00 - 16:00
Learn identification features of woodland plant species with Lewis Saunders
A workshop covering ancient woodland in the landscape and how to identify it - physical features, signs of former management and indicator species. Details and buy tickets on the WT website
Beginner's introduction to grasses with Brian Eversham
Sunday 8 June, 10:00 - 16:00
Learn how to identify common grasses using a hand lens in the field
Ring Haw Field Centre,
off Old Sulehay Road, Yarwell PE8 6PA
Brian will explain the structure of grasses,. and provide a short guide to recognising the most distinctive species. Keys to flowering and vegetative features will also be used. Buy tickets on the Wildlife Trust website
A summery stroll around traditional coppiced woodland
Rawhaw Wood, Pipewell, NN14 1QZ
Saturday 19 July, 2025, 10:00-12:00ish
Visit the woodland where Hugh and Carolyn live and make a living by coppicing hazel
Bring the family for a leisurely close-up look at the flowers and insects that are found in this unique habitat in mid summer. Have a look at Carolyn's picture diary and then please book your place by email. Places limited at this popular location
Discovering August's flowers in a National Nature Reserve
Easton Hornstocks, north of King's Cliffe
Saturday 16 August 2025, 10:00-12:00ish
Led by Brian Laney the expertly enthusiastic Northants county recorder
An rare chance to visit this reserve which is usually closed to the public, combined with the opportunity to share Brian's amazing floral knowledge and keen eye will make this a memorable morning. Book early for this one!
Species and habitat classification with Brian Eversham
Sunday 7 September, 10:00 - 16:00
Ring Haw Field Centre,
off Old Sulehay Road, Yarwell PE8 6PA
An introduction to basic ecology, species and habitat classification (BES1)
Introduction to the basic ecology of species and their populations, with a description and classification of the main habitats in the area.
What have you missed?
There are complete lists of all events during 2023-24 here and in 2025 here.
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If you are organising a forest-related event and would like us to advertise it on this page, please contact us. (It's free!)​​