Author Archives: friendsofjuniperhall

Dr Lewis Campbell held the large Friends of Juniper Hall audience in fascination in March, talking about the River Mole, its many environmental pressures and challenges and the inspiring work the South East Rivers Trust is doing to help restore it to health. Impassable weirs are being replaced with rock ramps or baffles, allowing fishContinue reading “Restoring the River Mole”

Published in the latest newsletter from the Friends’ chairman, Mavis Peart, is a programme of fascinating talks planned for the year. New for this year is a Juniper Hall wildlife ‘bioblitz’ – on Saturday 20th July. Included in the day will be opportunities to search for and record a whole range of different types of speciesContinue reading “Bioblitz as part of the 2024 programme”

Friends of Juniper Hall’s long-standing Chair, Mavis, welcomed the assembled members to the Christmas lunch, a veritable feast with all the trappings and symbolising a traditional start to the festive season. After the wine and over coffee, mince pies, stollen, iced biscuits and chocolates in the beautiful Templeton Room, Centre Manager, Maddy, regaled us withContinue reading “Christmas Cheer”

Butterfly Conservation’s Bill Downey engaged the Friends of Juniper Hall with a feast of photos of these beautiful creatures of the summer – a welcome diversion on a damp November day. Evolving alongside flowering plants over the past 150 million years, their existence remains sensitive to changing conditions due to their short life cycles. TheyContinue reading “Butterflies and why they matter!”

The Friends of Juniper Hall’s latest talk – on Thursday 12th October – delved into the fascinating secret life of seals! As always, the talk was followed by a hearty lunch of soup, sandwiches and dessert and a chance for a good natter. One of Juniper Hall’s Tutors, Stephen Savage, fondly recollects the young rescuedContinue reading “Secret Life of Seals”

The Friends of Juniper Hall members gathered for dinner overlooking the front lawn which was full of excited student activity in the summer evening sunshine – so good to see Juniper Hall delivering its core function of getting people out enjoying the natural environment. Before the wine and wonderful food was our AGM where ourContinue reading “Mid-summer evening dinner & AGM”

The attentive May talk audience relaxed as one of our members, Peter Almond, described how gardening for wildlife is as much about what you don’t do as what you do do. Peter gave us an entertaining insight into the gradual development of his garden into a wildlife haven, creatively providing food, water, shelter and breedingContinue reading “Gardening for Wildlife”

Having marvelled at the water boatmen, caddis fly larvae, pond snails, water fleas and other exciting inhabitants of the new pond, a small band of new volunteers joined Juniper Hall’s Grounds and Estates Officer, Jeremy, clear the raised beds and herb garden and plant some bulbs and wonderfully scented herbs. The single April shower ofContinue reading “Pond dipping and tending the raised beds”

Thursday 13th April 2023 – 10am to 2pm – a great chance to come to Juniper Hall with your family to do some pond dipping and help with some groundswork. Bring a picnic lunch, and be ready for a day outdoors! For more information, contact: j.breeveld@field-studies-council.org.

Friends of Juniper Hall’s March meeting – a fascinating exploration of the long-understood role played by mangrove forests in stabilising coastlines and providing nursery areas, and the role for which they are becoming increasingly important – that of storing carbon. Our speaker, FSC’s Simon Waller, related case studies from around the tropical world, documenting theContinue reading “Blue Carbon and the Magic of Mangroves”