All events are held, or start, at Paxton Pits Nature Reserve Visitors' Centre unless otherwise stated.

Where no cost is indicated, the event is free. A charge may be made for refreshments.

Events are open to all unless otherwise stated.

Please phone if you have any special needs, in particular, regarding the use of wheelchairs and pushchairs.
(Visitors' Centre: 01480 406795 or Trevor Gunton 01480 473562)

Visitors are advised to wear suitable clothing for outdoor events with strong boots or shoes and to remember hats in the summer sun.

Paxton Pits Nature Reserve Visitors' Centre is at the end of the High Street in Little Paxton. Enter PE19 6ET on Google maps, or your SatNav.

(From October to March, the Friends and the RSPB organise conservation working parties to further improve the Pits for wildlife.)

FEBRUARY

Thursday 16th February, 10.30am to 12.30pm - Third Thursday Guided Walk
With local experts. There will be early signs of spring with both grey herons and cormorants showing signs of breeding. We should also see wildfowl displaying in their courtship rituals.
£2 per person, pay on the day.

MARCH

Thursday 15th March, 10.30am to 12.30pm - Third Thursday Guided Walk
With local experts. Today we will seek out early flowers and search the scrub for breeding species of birds. With little leaf growth this is a good time to 'spot' the more elusive ones.
£2 per person, pay on the day.

Friday 16th March, 7:30pm at Little Paxton Village Hall - The Friends AGM followed by 'Bird Migration', an illustrated talk by Ian Newton, FRS, OBE.
The short AGM will include a Reserve update, and will be swiftly followed by:
Professor Ian Newton will review our current understanding of the mystery of bird migration, its evolution, and how it is changing under the influence of climate change. His presentation will include the major challenges that birds face on their travels, and the remarkable adaptations that enable them to take such demanding journeys.
Professor Newton is one of the world's leading ornithologists and is currently chairman of the Bristish Trust for Ornithology.

17th and 24th March, 2pm in the Environmental Education Centre - Get to know your camera, Parts 1 and 2
John McDonough leads this two part course which aims to explain how cameras work. The first session covers the different parts of a camera and what they contribute to the final picture. The second session will the knowledge gained in the first part tp discover how to take better photographs, particularly of 'nature'.
Technical terms and expressions will be kept to the minimum, and plain language used throughout.
£10 for the two sessions, limited to the first 15 applicants. Please book and pay in advance on 01480 351823 or at the Visitors' Centre.
PS don't forget to bring your camera!

APRIL

Thursday 19th April, 10.30am to 12.30pm - Third Thursday Guided Walk
With local experts. Come and celebrate spring with a guided walk around some special places for our migrant wildlife - will we see a nightingale?
£2 per person, pay on the day.

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The Friends of Paxton Pits' Traditional Nightingale Festival

Thursday 26th April, 7:30pm - Paxton Pits' Nightingales
An illustrated talk by Ray Matthews (this talk is for 'Friends' members only)
Paxton Pits is Cambridgeshire's premier site for Nightingales. Get yourself ready for their return as Ray's presentation unravels some of the mysteries of this secretive species. Why do they keep coming back? Why such a complex song?
No need to book; donations invited.

Sunday 29th April, 10:30am - 3:30pm - Plant Sale
In aid of habitat management for nightingales at Paxton Pits. Choose from a wide variety of plants for your garden at very agreeable prices. Plants for colour, structure, butterflies and bees and for that special wild patch - they will all be here!

MAY

Monday 7th May, 5:30am - Dawn Chorus and Breakfast
The walk will start at the Visitors' Centre at 5:30am and return later for breakfast.
The walk is free (donations invited), but the breakfast is £4, payable on the day. Please book breakfast in advance on 07801 063245

Thursday 10th May from 7:30pm - Nightingale Evensong
Our ever-popular public guided walks for all-comers are led by our team of expert local volunteers. We counted 30 singing males last year - how many will return this year?
No need to book; donations invited.

Saturday 12th May, 6:30pm - 8:30pm - Children's Nightingale Fun Evening
A special evening of fun and games for children aged 7 - 11 and accompanying adults.
Limited to the first 20 children.
Please book in advance - children £5 each, accompanying adults free. Book through the Visitors' Centre (01480 406795) or by e-mail on paxtonpits@btconnect.com
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JUNE

Sunday 10th June, 10.30am - The Meadow in June (guided walk)
A guided walk on the Reserve's best established meadow to enjoy the glorious wildflowers that 20 years of traditional 'hay meadow' management have produced. Local botanists will be joining us to help with identification and to give the background to some of our special flowers.
No need to book; donations invited.

Coming in the Autumn programme (provisional):
- an August BBQ in conjunction with the Wildlife Trust.
- a selection of interesting events including talks and guided walks of the Reserve.
All will be revealed in the next edition of our Events Programme, due out in early June 2012.