Mary Gillham to be featured in Botanic Gardens exhibition

At the Christmas event we had in celebration of Mary's 90th Birthday I was asked for copies of pictures of Mary for an exhibition in the Botanic Gardens of Wales

Those there will note that none of the awful pictures I took were suitable and I made arrangements to get a better picture of her. For those who were there I think you will agree this is much better

This one has been chosen and will be in the exhibition, but we thought you may like to know more about the event

Here is what we know so far

Hi Andy,

We are in the process of writing the official introduction for our exhibition, but I can give you some advance info. We have a working title now, 'Inspirational Botanists - Women in Wales', the exhibition will be held in the Gallery at the Botanic Gardens (opposite the gift shop) for the month of March with the official opening on March 8th to co-incide with International Womens' Day. We will focus on 11 women:

1. Lady Caroline Wilkinson 1822 - 1881 Amateur botanist and artist from Gower

2. Eleanor Vachell 1879 - 1948 Amateur botanist from Glamorgan

3. Mary  A.E. Richards 1885 - 1977 botanist, Merionethshire

4. Elsie Wakefield 1886 - 1972 mycologist, Swansea and Gower

5. Irene Vaughan 1889 - 1993 field botanist and County recorder Carmarthenshire

6. Prof Lily Newton 1893 - 1977 phycologist, prof of botany Aberystwyth

7. Janet Macnair 1903 - 1975 amateur botanist Monygomeryshire

8. Ann Connolly 1917 - 2010 professional botanist, Lleyn and Bardsey

9. Dr Mary E. Gillham 1921 -  botanist, naturalist and writer, Welsh Islands

10. Dr Helgi Opik 1936 - plant cell biologist and senior lecturer Swansea

11. Dr Dianne Edwards Palaeobotanist, Cardiff

12. Dr Lynne Boddy Mycologist, Cardiff

13. Dr Natasha de Vere Plant researcher, NBGW

Yes, I know I said 11, two have been removed from the list as there was insufficient information available to include them, and as neither of them were 'mine', I can't recall who they were. 

Sorry Andy, I will find out!

If that's whetted your appetite look in here at the blog a little closer to the date and we should have more information

Bute Park Goings on

Here are two photos from Bute Park from one of our members (Jane Williams)

The first is an excellent picture of Autumn cobwebs in Pontcanna Fields

The next an intriguing Wooden Woodpecker in Bute Park.itself

It can be found in the "wild" part of the woodland on the river side of the field adjoining the ambulance station... just up from Blackweir, but you'll need to look carefully

Some recent bnews from the park is that the dippers are busy around Blackweir - previously they nested in the banks of the feeder canal but last year they settled inside the fish pass where they produced young. Jane comments "Luckily we didn't have any heavy rain and floods to flush them out - but I hope they don't do it again this year, they might not be so lucky"

Something for your diary. The Friends of Bute Park are running events in the Education Centre in Bute Park on Saturday 28 January - Big Garden Bird Watch Day. There will be bird spotting forays, quizzes and the RSPB will be there setting out their stall, and making bird boxes and fat feeders.

Buterflies and Underwater Exotics

Cate Barrow entertained us royally last night with three talks, one about Butterflies and two about underwater exotics all supported by her excellent photography

She described herself as not being a Butterfly expert, but though leveraging the expertise of others including our very own Jeff Curtis and by spending a lot of hours in the field she has already done very well on reaching her goal of photographing all the UK butterflies

After that insect fest she showed us some of the underwater work she's being doing in various parts of the world including New Zealand, Australia and the Maldives.  Fantastic pictures of sharks, loads of smaller fish and many of the varieties of underwater invertebrates such as crabs, corals and polyps or many kind. She also shared come of the complexities of taking pictures in the underwater environment

Some more of Cate's picture can be seen on the Bristol Underwater Photography Group website

For anyone who loves looking at really well executed pictures of wildlife she's already offered to entertain us again next year so we're already looking forwards

Danau Girang Field Centre

Benoit Goossens gave us a fascinating insight into how a new field centre can be a centre for some fascinating scientific work.

He came across the Danau Girang Field Centre as an empty building which had been developed with grant aid, but no longer term plan for its use had been put into place (how often do you hear such tales!)

He developed a collaborative plan for Cardiff University to get involved with the Sabah Wildlife Department and through seeking external sponsorship from other organizations and has developed the centre into a thriving centre for ecological studies

The centre opened in 2008 and has gone from strength to strength, and we were treated to a number of insights that have been gained by using state of he art camera systems that capture images day or night when there is movement

You can read more about the field centre on the Cardiff University Danau Girang Field Centre page

For those who are on facebook you can join their group

Fancy a trip to Bhutan?

Joan Andrews clearly did, and that is why we are able to let you know that we have added an extra indoor meeting to the 2011 programme and we will hear from Joan about her adventures on the 12th of December 2011 in the usual place at the usual time (see the programme page)

Regards
Andy

The Valleys from Green to Black and Back

Dr. David Llewellyn gave us an excellent talk tonight about the history and environmental work going on in the Valleys Regional Park which can be see in great detail on their website http://www.thevalleys.org.uk/

David is a captivating speaker and clearly passionate about the work he is doing in the projects initiative to co-ordinate, drive and promote activities related to the environment and heritage and associated tourism activities across the valleys of south Wales, working in conjunction with the Welsh Assembly Government’s Heads of the Valleys and Western Valleys Regeneration Programmes, with marketing through the Valleys ‘Heart & Soul’ campaign, to change the reality and perceptions of the Valleys as a highly-desirable place to live, work and visit.

He also showed us many of the wonderful places you can visit as it says on the official Valleys tourism website  http://www.thevalleys.co.uk/ "The world is just waking up to the fact that The Valleys are home to a captivating choice of attractions and places to visit"

Invitation so see some excellent pictures

We received this recently from Andy Rouse who many of you may know now lives in the Cardiff Area

Greetings All

To celebrate my 9th BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year award in 7 years and RSPB Cymru's Centenary, I have pleasure in inviting you to my first major exhibition in Cardiff. 50% of the proceeds will be used by the RSPB for conservation in Wales.

The exhibition will run at the art deco Washington Gallery in Penarth from October 3rd until the 16th.

We have arranged a special Family Preview Day on Sunday 9th October between 12 noon and 4pm. I will be giving a 20 minute talk on my award winning work at 1pm and will be there all afternoon to give an insight into the pictures shown at the exhibition. 

I guarantee that the images in the exhibition will be stunning and will inspire you no matter what your interest in wildlife or photography. There will be something for all tastes, I promise you that! It's a beautiful venue and I will hang some of my most famous and award winning work on its beautifully lit walls. 

Full details of the exhibition, location and a sneak preview of some of the images I will show can be found on my website page here - http://www.andyrouse.co.uk/index.php?page_id=147

I hope that you will be able to attend the preview on the 9th October, please feel free to bring friends and family and there is no need to get any special tickets. 

I look forward to inspiring you on the 9th October!

Best wishes 

Andy Rouse

Wildlife Photographer

Photo used with kind permission of Andy