Polden

Who are we?
The Polden Area Group is lucky enough to be on the doorstep of the Avalon Marshes, one of the most picturesque and unique habitats in the county. This puts us in a great position to hold events on a wide variety of wildlife, covering the whole spectrum from birds to bats to insects. Anyone is welcome to come along to these events, and people of all ages will find something to enjoy, something to learn, and something to remember by joining us at them.

Events
Our events change with the passing seasons, with guided walks, talks and activities in the summer and indoor talks and activities in the winter. You can find out more about upcoming events that the group has organised by checking the left hand side of this page, or check all the upcoming events in the county on the events listing page.Our indoor talks are usually held, unless otherwise stated in the event description, at Shapwick Village Hall, Station Road, Shapwick, Bridgwater, Somerset, TA7 9NJ. Talks begin at 7:30pm, and have a £2.50 entrance fee for adults. There is no charge for children. Free tea and coffee is provided at these talks, so that’s already an incentive!

In the summer we move outside, exploring both the wonderful and diverse wildlife that this wonderful county has to offer, as well as looking at some of the wider land use and agricultural changes that are working towards ecological sustainability.

Whatever your interest, our events are bound to hold something interesting, so why not come along and see what you can find out!

Getting involved
The Polden group is run by a small committee of dedicated and enthusiastic individuals, who are all keen to spread the word about the wonder of nature and the importance of protecting our natural heritage for the future. We’re always looking for new individuals to help us with new ideas for events, new ways to reach new audiences, and to help us make these a reality. We also always need people to help with publicity, be it producing or distributing posters, writing articles for the local press to raise awareness of what we’re doing, promoting our activity on social media, or even helping with tea and coffee at our talks.

If you’d like to get involved with this rewarding hobby, please get in touch using the form below, and we’ll get back to you with details of how you can help show people how fantastic the natural world really is.

Contacts
If you’d like to book onto any of our events, please get in touch with us using the form below, or contact Phil and Vicki Bruss on 01278 722734 or at poldenbruss@outlook.com.
We look forward to hearing from you!

Contact Phil

Events
- Solitary Bees and Wasps: Garden Pollinators and Predators
  1^st Nov 2017 19:30 - 21:30
- Bryan Pinchen presents a talk about the important role that solitary bees and wasps play in our gardens, including their fascinating life cycles, ecology and provides ways to attract these beautiful insects to your garden.
- Urban Peregrines
  6^th Dec 2017 19:30 - 21:30
- Author and expert, Ed Drewitt, has been following the lives of urban peregrines for almost 20 years. In this talk, Ed gives more details about some of those discoveries and how the future looks for the urban peregrines in Somerset and across the UK.
- Polden Group New Year Social
  10^th Jan 2018 19:30 - 21:30
- A forum for all local SWT members to come along, mingle, have a slice of cake and talk about their wildlife encounters from the past year. Bring along anything you’d like to show or talk about! Slots available for anyone who wants to openly share their experiences with nature, whether through photographs of the local area or stories of their encounters.
- An Introduction to the Moths of Somerset
  7^th Feb 2018 19:30 - 21:30
- Join John Bebbington of the Somerset Moth Group to gain an insight into moths, the invisible part of the lepidoptera family. Find out exactly what is flying through your local area while you sleep.
- Climate Change in Somerset
  7^th Mar 2018 19:30 - 21:30
- Come and hear the latest thinking on climate change, how it is affecting Somerset, its nature and what is being done about it locally with Steve Mewes, SWT Policy and Campaigns Manager. Plenty of time after the talk for lively Q&A and discussion
- Wildlife Gardening: Developing My Patch
  4^th Apr 2018 19:30 - 21:30
- Phil and Vicki Bruss discuss their experiences in developing their tiny Somerset Garden into a miniature wildlife haven, and talk about some of the creatures that have moved in as a result.
- Open Wildlife Garden
  7^th Apr 2018 14:30 - 16:30
- Come along and enjoy a wildlife friendly garden in Buckleigh. See what’s buzzing among the borders, listen out for bird calls and learn how to make your own patch welcoming to wildlife over a cup of tea and a slice of cake.