Lectures:

Wednesday 20 May 8.00 pm The Maya of Mesoamerica Jean Collins

The Maya of Mesoamerica Jean will introduce us to the Ancient Maya whose civilisation thrived across a vast area of central America until its destruction by the Spanish in the 16th & 17th centuries. Its rediscovery began in the 19th c and continues today.

Wednesday 17 June 8.00 pm Elms, the position after 60 years of Dutch Elm Disease Simon Humphreys

When Dutch Elm Disease struck in the 1960s, many thought Elms would completely disappear from our landscape. So what's the position today? Simon has been conducting a study of Elms on Surrey Wildlife Trust's Dawcombe and Fraser Down Nature Reserves since 2016. He will outline the history of Dutch Elm Disease and give an overview of the current state of Elms on the reserves, in Surrey and Great Britain.

Wednesday 15 July 8.00 pm Geological protection against poisons Chris Duffin

All manner of poisons were used in the past to dispatch one’s enemies – Henbane, Aconite, Hemlock, Wolfsbane and a range of zootoxins from poisonous animals, together with mineral toxins such as arsenic, mercury and antimony were all quite popular. Geological materials offered a surprisingly wide range of potential prophylactics and seeming antidotes for use from classical times through to the mid-eighteenth century. This lecture considers ancient opinions about the use of such wide-ranging specimens as earths (terra sigillata), fossils (e.g. fish teeth, mammoth tusks) and minerals (e.g. sapphire, amber, nephrite) as prospective protective agents against poisons.Rewilding is a conservation approach focused on large-scale ecosystem restoration, aiming to let nature take over by reducing human management, restoring natural processes, and sometimes reintroducing key species.

Excursions:

Excursions will be announced at meetings, on this website and in the Bulletin throughout the year

Saturday 27 June 2.00 pm Founders' Day walk: Dawcombe Nature Reserve Led by Simon Humphreys

Following Simon Humphreys' talk about Elms on 17th June, he will lead a guided walk around parts of Dawcombe Nature Reserve to look at some of the Elms and other flora. Dawcombe is not open to the public and is particularly known for its orchids, so this is a rare opportunity to see many of the species on site. Note the ground is steep and uneven in places, wear suitable footwear. Meet at 13.50 in the car park for Finbar House in Pebble Close, off Headley Common Road, Walton on the Hill, KT20 7PA, What3Words moss.insect.grant, ready for departure to the reserve at 14.00.

Lecture nights

On lecture nights members are welcome to display any exhibits or report any interesting observations before the lecture starts. This does not need to be related to the subject of the talk.

Members are also invited to stay for tea or coffee and biscuits after the lecture.

More detailed information on the lectures and other Club activities is published in the HNHC Bulletin.