www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

Just sounding this one out...
If there is potential for a west country version of the butterfly workshop in 2009, Willsbridge Mill, an Avon Wildlife Trust reserve and venue lets out the 'barn' for £135 per day. I'm not sure of the space for potential number of attendees, and I'll check with the relevant people, but I would imagine 50 shouldn't be too much of a problem. I'm a member of AWT and a regular volunteer at Willsbridge so can probably scrounge projection gear for a laptop. Kitchen facilities are available with microwave oven. There are picnic tables outside if the weather is good.
Details on the reserve are here:
http://www.avonwildlifetrust.org.uk/lev ... bridge.htm

Thanks for looking into that Mike. We definitely want a place where we can easily get into some surroundings to see/photograph things. (FYI: The hall we used this year in Alice Holt Forest only cost us £50 - but I'm not sure if we could get it next year).

So perhaps we should start looking into this - and I'd like to start by getting members to respond to this thread giving their thoughts. My only input is that (unless anyone disagrees!) the location should be somewhere that allows for the least travel for most of those coming. A location that is butterfly-rich would also be nice!

Cheers,

- Pete

Count me in.

Tony Moore.

A location that is butterfly-rich would also be nice!

That's where Willsbridge falls down a little as there is nothing that is particularly rare there. It's a local nature reserve near a suburban housing estate and the butterflies that get there are the common species found everywhere in southern counties. At the various emergence times there are brimstone, orange tip, speckled wood, peacock, comma, ringlet, gatekeeper, meadow brown, holly blue, ringlet, large, small and GV white, and about a 20 minute walk away is a small site for small and large skipper, common blue and marbled white. There are three ponds which support dragonflies and damselflies.
It's about 20 minutes from the M4 junction 19.

Thanks Mike. I don't think we need rare species as such - just an opportunity to take photos.

Cheers,

- Pete

I've asked for an estimate of numbers that can be accommodated, and for a 'theatre' style seating arrangement, 50 is ok with 60 at a push.

Count me in if I can get there (non driver)!
Emily

The Hampshire BC, AGM is at Littleton hall near Winchester, this year, I hear its cheap and must be of a good size for our AGM, Winchester is certainly central for southern England. Hampshire, not too bad for butterflies.

Gruditch

Hi

I am very much in favour of another workshop.

The last one was really memorable, and I learned a lot.

Personally I don't mind where it is, but I understand trying to be inclusive.
I would hope some of our Yorkshire contingent (Chris and Paul) aren’t put off by any distances involved.

The timing is going to be tricky - obviously a time when a butterfly or two is on the wing will be good, but I can imagine many people not wanting to be away from their own local hot-spots during May for example.
Perhaps Late April would be good.

I also think a two day affair would be good. I know I can cope with this easier than most in having a camper van, but good deals may be sought from local B&B etc..
Whilst the formality of presentations and programmed activities is excellent, would also relish the chance to enjoy the less formal evening period and a chat over a beer and a meal?

Some ideas I have include -

1/ Anonymous competition - anyone wanting to enter the competition brings along an A4 sized (un-named) print in an envelope, and they are all displayed during the day and voted for.

2/ The "Open Critique" session last year was brilliant, and too short, and not well enough attended as we didn't really know what to expect. Anyone wanting a group critique of some photos should bring them, either as a print, or on some memory media, for comments from all the audience. For those that didn't attend the last workshop - it is really useful exercise.

3/ An "On the Day" competition for the best photo taken on the day(s) - selected by a panel of judges - perhaps with the "deliberations" made as one of the presentations - could be really informative.

4/ Kit & Technique talks by assorted photographers.

5/ Perhaps Nikon, Canon UK, Sigma, Sony, Olympus or similar may be approached for sponsorship/prizes etc?

6/ I would also like to see name badges with avatars on being worn. I learned, weeks after the event that I had stood right next to someone I really wanted to have a chat with!

Just a few ideas to kick about.

Roger Harding

Rogerdodge wrote: I would hope some of our Yorkshire contingent (Chris and Paul) aren’t put off by any distances involved.

I doubt anybody's noticed, but I've been too busy to be involved in the forums for the last two months... however, the upshot is that I've secured myself a tidy little job that will pay for me to travel all over the country, so I'll be attending wherever it is! I like all your suggestions, Roger... looking forward to it already!

Regards, Chris

I missed you Chris

My thoughts,
I liked the fact that the last workshop was held, outside of the butterfly season last time, something to do in the depths of winter and all that.
I think moving it into the butterfly season to do some actual photography, sounds good in theory, but if it buckets down, we could of moved it for nothing. As for doing some practical work, I'm sure fifty of us armed with all the camera gear under the sun, pouring on to the nearest reserve, could possibly be going against our own code of conduct.

I loved the critique, and like Roger I think it should be extended to a hour long session.

I enjoyed the talk by Adrian Riley, and would like a guest speaker, and not necessarily a photographer.

Last time it was a forum event, that was then opened up to the Hampshire branch of the BC, should we now think about running it with a different branch each year.

If we do run it with a branch of the BC, instead of having an on the day comp, could we not have an exhibition to show them what a talented bunch we are, or think we are.

A talk on flash photography would be nice, as I have a lot to learn on that subject.

That's it for the mo, cheers Gruditch

In favour of Willsbridge, it regularly holds various topical family events, e.g. wassailing in January, apple day in Autumn. It also has regular school parties, as many as two per week during the spring/summer term. These cater for larger numbers than our potential intake so there wouldn't be a problem there. The school parties are always during weekdays, and except for the three or four special events which are held on Sundays, most weekends are free.

Willsbridge sounds good For people who will use the train, the station (Kynesham) is close to it. But if you live above London, you have to catch the train to LDN St Pancras INT then the tube on Hammersmith and City line, to Paddington, then the great weston service to Bath, then again to Kynesham. For any of those non drivers out there! (takes about two hours from paddington, add an hour for me travelling to paddington)
Willbridge sounds like a nice place to hold this event, and people suggestions sound wonderful, I am looking forward to this event!
Mouse

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&ie= ... 2&t=h&z=15

While we are still in the proses of knocking ideas about, if you click on the above link you will find a satellite view of Winterslow in Wiltshire. On the map the hall that would cost only £7 an hour, is the big building next to the C in The Common, if you were to walk SE along The Common ( past the pub! ) then turn down Witt Rd you will see it leads it to a wood, this is none other than Bentley Wood, not too bad for butterflies. Also the nature of the wide rides means a large group of photographers would have no impact.

http://www.winterslow.org.uk/VillageGui ... geHall.htm

Gruditch

You can count me in if it is a one day event. I will certainly try to be there.

That's a promising venue Gary. Rail links to Salisbury are good from London. Any other suggestions, anyone, perhaps around Oxford which should be reasonably central to the various parts of the country?

I enjoyed this year's event so much that I would definitely want to come again!

Agree with Gruditch that a talk on flash photography would be good, please.

Susie: maybe we could car share?

Polly

After watching some poor chap struggling his way around Minsmere RSPB reserve in Suffolk a couple of weeks ago with a huge SLR around his neck and a holdall bulging with various other pointless attachments, [ more lenses i expect ], will there be a section on the many advantages of a compact digital over SLR/DSLR cameras. Steve

OOoooh, Steve,

What heresy!! Await the wrath of the 'Canonistas'

Tony - ex-compact, but still hankering a teensy bit, as I'm still having trouble with RAWs and Tiffs - M.

Why wait till the photography workshop, we can cover that subject now.

The advantages of a compact are they will fit in your pocket, and are easier to use, there done.

Now lets get on with some serious photography.

Are there any other subjects that anyone would like to see included.

Gruditch