Science and Natural History Group Meetings are held on the
1st Monday of each month in the Scout Hall
at the corner of
Jubilee Way & Sandy Lane, Caldicot

10am to 12 noon

 

Atomic Energy

*please click the images below to access larger photographs

Richard Blount, a member of our U3A, gave a very interesting talk on atomic energy at our science and natural history class.

He first showed a short film entitled "Our friend the atom" which is a Walt Disney production and first shown in 1957 but is still very relevant.

It described how an atom is split and how we can harness the power from it.

He then went on to describe with the aid of a slide presentation how we use the heat energy from a reactor to generate electricity;

Showing how the electricity is distributed to our homes and he explained the energy needs for our country.

The National Grid

Afterwards he ended with a questions and answers session.
Thank you Richard, we found your presentation most enlightening.

Ron (Editor)

 

Provisional programme 2007 - 2008

14th May 2007 - Slimbridge.
A trip to Slimbridge during the breeding season.

Coach leaves Mill Lane 9.30 a.m. - Leaves Slimbridge 3.30 p.m. - Cost £12.50

WWT Slimbridge is a wetland reserve managed by the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (a UK charity) at Slimbridge, Gloucestershire. Slimbridge is halfway between Bristol and Gloucester on the estuary of the river Severn. The reserve was the first WWT centre to be opened, on the 10th November 1946, thanks to the vision of artist and naturalist Sir Peter Scott. The United Kingdom now has eight other WWT sites.

The reserve exists to care for and study ducks and geese of the world. To cater for bird and duck watchers, sixteen hides overlook the fields, streams and lakes bordering the River Severn and the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal. The Sloane Observation Tower gives far-reaching views to the Cotswold escarpment in the east and the River Severn and Forest of Dean in the West. Slimbridge has a visitors' centre and shop, restaurant, art gallery and Tropical House.

*please click the image above to access a photo slideshow of our groups visit to Slimbridge

The site has 3 square kilometres of reserve, of which 500,000 square metres is landscaped and can be visited by the public.

The number of ducks, geese and swans is greatest in winter, with large flocks of White-fronted Geese, sometimes with a rare Lesser White-fronted Goose amongst them. Bewick's Swans are a feature of Slimbridge in winter, arriving from northern Russia to enjoy the milder climate of southern England. Their behaviour has been studied intensely at Slimbridge. The pattern on each bird's beak is unique and is recorded in small paintings from front and side views (rather like "mug shots") to aid recognition. Birds are also given names (for example, Maud, The Major, Ethel, Rudy and Aristole).

Other winter visitors are birds of prey such as Peregrine and Merlin, as well as wading birds and songbirds. Princess Elizabeth arranged for the first Whooper Swans to be sent to Slimbridge during a visit to Canada, at the personal request of Peter Scott during a visit by the Queen to Slimbridge in 1952. They became known as the Queen's Swans.

An early success story in the 1950s was the saving of the Nene goose (or Hawaiian Goose) from extinction. Breeding at Slimbridge was successful and there are still Nene geese at Slimbridge today. However, initial reintroduction into the wild in Hawaii was unsuccessful since the Nene's natural environment was not protected from predators introduced by man. Once the Nene's habitat was protected, reintroduction became successful.

Website link: www.wwt.org.uk/centre/122/visit/slimbridge/.html

4th June 2007 - Butterfly Farm and Maze near Symonds Yat.
Learn why ancient mazes baffled modern mathematicians; and enjoy a keepers tour of the Butterfly Farm.

Coach leaves Mill Lane 9.30 a.m.- Leaves Symond's Yat 3.30 p.m.- Cost £10.50

*please click the image above to access a photo slideshow of our group visit to the Butterfly Farm and Maze near Symonds Yat

Symonds Yat is a village within the Forest of Dean and a popular tourist destination straddling the River Wye on the county border of Herefordshire and Gloucestershire.

Symonds Yat West is on the Herefordshire side of the river and Symonds Yat East is on the Gloucestershire side. The only connection between the two banks is by two ancient hand ("pull") ferries by which for a small fee the ferryman pulls people across the river using an overhead rope. The only connection by road is upstream over Huntsham bridge; this is a five mile trip.

Symonds Yat Rock is a scenic viewpoint towering 120 metres (394 feet) above the river on the Gloucestershire side. From this viewpoint it is possible, between April and August, to witness peregrine falcons nesting on the cliff side. Volunteers from the RSPB help visitors to use telescopes provided in a joint project with Forest Enterprise, owners of the site. Yat Rock is a popular location for climbers.
Website link: www.royalforestofdean.info/attractions/index.shtml

2nd July 2007 - Bourton-on-the-Water.
A tour of the Cotswold Perfumery to learn about the importance of our sense of smell and see how perfumes are made.

The Cotswolds have always been looked upon as the Heart of England. It is one of the few regions with an architectural style all of its own and the steeply pitched roofs, stone mullions and dormer windows are typical. Built almost exclusively in warm yellow Cotswold stone, this delightful village has such a unique appeal to visitors and residents alike.

Regularly voted one of the prettiest villages in England, Bourton-on-the-Water has more than its share of Cotswold houses and cottages, many of them three hundred years old, some dating back to Elizabethan times four hundred years ago.

Coach leaves Mill Lane 9.30 a.m.- Leaves Bourton 4.00 p.m. -
Cost £8.50 (Tour of Perfumery £5.00 extra)

*please click the image above to access a photo slideshow of our groups visit to Bourton-on-the-Water

Birdland was first established in 1957 and was sited in the centre of Bourton. It moved to its present site, a few hundred metres down the road in 1989. The current location was a trout farm and a Poplar plantation, for match-stick production, owned by Bryant & May. There are still over 150 trees which create a high canopy for the River Windrush and enclosures.

Birdland is set in woodland, river and gardens. this natural setting is inhabited by over 500 birds. Flamingos, pelicans, penguins, cranes, storks, cassowary and waterfowl can be seen on various aspects of the water habitat. Over 50 aviaries of parrots, falcons, pheasants, hornbills, toucans, touracos, pigeons, ibis and many more. The Tropical, Toucan and Desert Houses are home to the more delicate species. link: www.birdland.co.uk

Cotswold Motor Museum Located in the beautiful Cotswold village of Bourton-on-the-Water, the Cotswold Motoring Museum is a fascinating journey through the 20th Century.

Though the main focus is on motoring, the Museum is full of the everyday paraphernalia that made motoring so popular including picnic sets from the 1920s, alongside caravans, radio sets, gramophones and knitted swimsuits.
link: www.cotswold-motor-museum.com

Cotswold Perfumery perfumery exhibition Victoria Street, Bourton on the Water, exhibition includes the origins of the perfume as well as a cinema with "smells".

Website link: www.bourtoninfo.com

10th September 2007 - Weymouth R.S.P.B. Reserve and Beach.

Coach leaves Mill Lane 9.00 a.m. - Leaves Weymouth 4.30 p.m. - Cost £13.00

Website link: www.weymouth.gov.uk/main.asp?svid=380

 

8th October 2007- Talk on Fungi by Sheila Spence

Sheila is an expert on Fungi and a fascinating speaker. In addition to her slide show she plans to bring a number of specimens of interesting species for members to examine.


5th November 2007 - Local Wildlife by Colin Elliot

Colin always delights members of the group with his wonderful photographs and his love of the countryside.


4th February 2008 - Life in churchyards a talk by Colin Titcombe.



3rd March 2008 - Gadgets a talk by Robert Payne

U3A Members go Hi-Tech!

At their March meeting, the Science and Natural History Group of Caldicot and District U3A were given a very informative talk by Dr Robert Payne of the Centre for Lifelong Leaning at the University of Glamorgan.

*please click the image above to access a larger photograph

Dr Payne spoke on the subject “The Technology of Gadgets” and brought along a number of items to show the progress in electronics and computing, especially in way that we communicate with each other.

He was able to demonstrate how many features were now being integrated into one device so that a mobile ‘phone could also act as a camera, diary, GPS, etc..

Members were also shown a radio in the shape of a pig which could be plugged into the USB socket of a computer! This he said was one of the many things that could be powered by the USB socket – he also had a device to keep his coffee warm in his office. The group convenor, Dr Dorothy Witcomb thanked him for giving such an interesting insight into the subject.

Forthcoming Event - A visit to Concorde at Filton.

The West’s world famous visitor attraction stars Concorde 216 – Alpha Foxtrot – which made its spectacular final flight home into Filton on 26 November 2003.

Concorde at Filton is a temporary home for Concorde 216. Local organisations and companies are supporting the creation of a major aviation heritage centre, where Concorde 216 will be under cover as the centre-piece of displays and exhibits that detail the story of the region’s long-standing role in the world of aerospace.

*please click the images below to access a photoslideshow of our visit to Concorde at Filton.

Website link: http://www.concordeatfilton.org.uk/

 

TSUNAMI IN GWENT.

At this meeting members of the Science and Natural History group put together a programme on the Great Flood in 1607. Special thanks to Jim's nephew for the DVD, to Nita and Jim for gathering information and putting together the display, and to Jim for explaining about the Gregorian Calendar and to Ron and Val for fieldwork with the digital camera.

*Click the photograph below to access a slide show of the members of the Science and Natural History group programme on the Great Flood in 1607

Photo's
1607 - 2007 400 years anniversary of the Gwent Great Flood - "Was it a Tsunami ?" Dorothy our Science and Natural History convener is seen with Nita and Valerie reflecting on today's outcome at the end of the class session.

FIELD TRIP TO PORT EYNON

A joint expedition by members of the Science and Digital Imaging groups visited the picturesque village of Port Eynon at the tip of the Gower. We saw the Salt House where for several centuries salt was extracted from seawater, and which may have been a smuggler's headquarters. An oyster shell prompted tales of a once flourishing oyster fishery. Later some members explored the rocky shore, discovering a number of interesting specimens including edible seaweeds, many recently shed crab shells, sea anemones and dog whelks with their cocoons.

*Click the photograph above to access the Caldicot & District U3A Archive Website, within the Science and Nature History section you will find a number of slide shows of our Groups many excellent trips in the United Kingdom and Group meeting.

© Caldicot and District U3A mmviii