News: Tomorrow's Garden for Local Wildlife 2004 Conference

This is the third in a series of biennial conferences for the conservation of rare and endangered plants, animals and habitats in the Cheshire region. It is testament to the growing importance of the garden 'habitat' that the 2004 conference focuses on 'the importance of gardens and allotments as habitats and havens for wildlife'.

The conference will be held at Chester Racecourse, Chester, Cheshire on Saturday 9th October 2004 from 9.30am to 5pm. Tickets cost £10 per person to include lunch, entry to two workshops and access to trade & local conservation stands. Tickets are limited and you should apply for them before the end of September. Tickets are available from:
Fiona Mahon
Cheshire Wildlife Trust
Grebe House
Reaseheath
Nantwich
CW5 6DG
Tel: 01270 610180

The guest speaker is Bob Flowerdew, the leading organic gardner, TV presenter and regular panellist on Radio 4 Gardeners' Question Time.

Draft Programme

8.00am-9.30am Set up exhibition and trade fair
9.30am-9.45am Arrival of delegates and registration
9.45am-10.00am Welcome to day, Steve McWilliam, Chair of the Cheshire region Biodiversity Partnership
10.00am-10.20am Message from Anne Brenchley, Gardens and Allotments LBAP Action Group
10.20am-11.20am Guest Speaker, Bob Flowerdew presenting 'Get the wildlife to do the gardening for you', with question and answer session
11.20am-11.45am Coffee Break
11.45am-12.30pm Workshop session 1
12.30pm-2.00pm Lunch and opportunity to look round trade and exhibition fair
2.00pm-2.30pm Presentation on Snowdonia Wildlife Gardening Partnership by Anna Williams, Wildlife Gardening Project Officer
2.30pm-3.00pm Coffee Break
3.00pm-3.45pm Workshop session 2
3.45pm-4.25pm 'Gardening for Butterflies', presentation by Jan Miller of Butterfly Conservation
4.25pm-4.30pm Closing remarks by Steve McWilliam
4.30pm-5.00pm Opportunity for final look round trade/exhibition fair plus tree planting ceremony
5.00pm-6.00pm Optional excursion to Moston Community Nature Reserve (places limited to 20 persons who can sign up to the trip on the day of the Conference)

Workshops

'Bugs Galore', looking at ways to attract invertebrates into the garden plus an opportunity to build your own bug box to take home. Facilitated by Sue Tatman, Cheshire Wildlife Trust.
'Mini-orchards for your garden', considering varieties of fruit tree for even the smallest plot. Facilitated by Katie Lowe, Cheshire Landscape Trust.
'A taste of honey', covering bee identification, planting for bees and bee nest box making. Facilitated by Carl Clee and Tony Parker of Liverpool Museum.
'Garden ponds with wildlife in mind', how to design the most wildlife-friendly ponds. Facilitated by David Gledhill, The University of Salford.
'Wildlife watching on your doorstep', encouraging people to record the wildlife in their gardens. Facilitated by Steve McWilliam, Manager of rECOrd (the local biological records centre for Cheshire) and Chair of the Cheshire region Biodiversity Partnership.
'The magic of compost', tips on getting the most out of your compost bin. Facilitated by Margaret Oldman.
'Furry neighbours', making badgers feel at home in your garden. Facilitated by Lesley Brockbank/Mike Taylor, Wirral and Cheshire Badger Groups.
'Garden trees for wildlife' covering tree and shrub identification and varieties which will attract birds and other wildlife. Facilitated by Jack Swan.
'Bat Zone', basic bat ecology and identification and making your home and garden bat-friendly. Facilitated by Ged Ryan of the Cheshire Bat Group.
'Wild about Allotments', how to keep your allotment or vegetable patchinteresting for wildife. Facilitated by Kathy Swindells, Landscape Officer at Macclesfied BC.

News: September 2004

Tomorrow's Garden for Local Wildlife 2004 Conference