Durham University Natural History Society

05/12/2024

Hello all! As we wind down to the end of term, we have our final weekly walk of the year. This week, we are joining the wonderful Durham University Birdwatching Society (on Instagram) for their first ever event!! We will be taking a relaxing stroll along the River Wear to hopefully spot some of the local bird life!

As always, this event is free to attend and no membership is required!

Starting location on Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/pPwHrwbbm2vqZTP58

15/11/2024

Hello all! After a week's break, we are back with another weekly walk - in the afternoon this time!

This weekend's event will be a very scenic walk along the River Wear, passing through ancient woodland towards the Belmont Railway Viaduct. This is a great route to find a range of fungi and woodland wildlife. Along the river we have previously had sightings of otters, mandarin ducks and dippers. Come along if you need a break from work!

Starting Location on Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/PLHE45yEzBnhgwgZ9

31/10/2024

Hello all! The first walk this November is going to be at the beautiful Low Burnhall!

Low Burnhall is a fantastic Woodland Trust reserve showcasing woodland and grassland habitats in addition to joining onto the River Wear, where we have seen otters, dippers, and Mandarin ducks previously. This reserve is home to a plethora of wildlife including mammals like stoat, red fox and roe deer, and bird species such as willow tit, barn owl and kingfisher. On our route, we'll pass by the iconic wicker sculptures and be treated to some cracking views. We hope you can come along!

Starting location on Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/VpyFxTfjwE1wDU4T6

26/10/2024

It's time for our weekly walk! This weekend we'll be visiting Brasside Pond (SSSI). On the way there, we'll pass along pretty fields and quiet paths, keeping an eye out for recent autumn arrivals from Scandinavia like redwing and fieldfare. At the ponds, we should see a large number of waterfowl and woodland birds along with fungi like fly agaric.

In recent visits, we have had fantastic sightings including whooper swans, otters and woodcocks! Come along if you fancy a lovely wander around a Site of Special Scientific Interest!

Starting location on Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/2Yuf4qx6VeCoiGWG9

10/10/2024

We have our first weekly nature walk this weekend! Please feel welcome to come along, no matter your level of nature knowledge - we are completely free to join!

Saturday 12th October 10:30 am:
Starting location on Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/gXtJvx3AkwtvzXG96

To start off the year we'll be heading around the Old Durham Gardens area. The walk will begin from the Hild Bede Boat Club. From there, we'll climb up through Pelaw Woods with some scenic views over Durham. We'll then come round past the Old Durham Farmhouse to see the friendly alpacas, pigs (Bertie and Blossom), ducks and horse. The route will then follow onto the nearby fields with chances to see birds like curlew, lapwing or tree sparrow. We'll then come round past maiden castle and along the river back towards our starting point with chances of spotting kingfisher, grey wagtail and grey heron.

20/06/2023

The deadline to order Natural History Soc stash is in 2 days!! (22nd at 5pm)
If you would like to order stash from us then use the link below or click the link on our Instagram story!

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Rjr0jQDxfe-0_u-2YjVvQley6qgFFY1fJvip_ZXLg6c/edit?usp=sharing

15/06/2023

**STASH ORDER**
We now have stash available to order via the spreasheet linked below!
If you would like to order Natural History Soc clothing, please fill out the spreadsheet by 22nd June at 5pm.
The design will be the same for all the items - our logo with the text ‘Durham Natural History Society’ below, with the option to add your initials to the other side if you wish.
If you have any questions or if anything is unclear about the ordering process, please feel free to message us.

Order Sheet Please enter your name and then below each item you would like to order, please enter a size and colour. If you would like your initials on the items, put what initials you would like in the last column (this costs an extra £2 per item). Please find the price and colour options for e...

27/04/2023

WEEKLY WILDLIFE WALK - LOW BURHALL
Join us for our first wildlife walk of term 3!
This week we’ll be heading to Low Burnhall, meeting in the Botanic Garden car park at 10:30.
Spring is finally getting underway so this will be a really nice walk with hopefully some interesting wildlife to see.
See you there!

24/04/2023

Some really exciting news!!!
The Natural History Society has been donated this great equipment by through their equipment donation scheme!!
We’re really grateful to them and all those who have donated to the scheme that means societies like ours can continue to help people access and appreciate the natural world. We can’t wait get out in the field to try out what we’ve been donated, so keep an eye out for our first event of term 3!

22/01/2023

Some photos from last weeks walk to Low Burnhall.
1) Male Kestrel
2) An old twisted Hawthorn
3) Willow Tit
4) Grey Willow catkins

25/12/2022

Merry Christmas from the Natural History Team!