Area Society: Warwickshire

'Local groups usually meet once a month, slowing down in the alpine off-season at the height of summer. So if you’re a gardener of a different stripe, alpines are a fun way to extend your gardening season! Group meetings often involve a talk from a plant expert, a raffle and a plant sale. Groups also arrange trips out to gardens and places of interest throughout the year.'

'Committed to the conservation of native amphibians and reptiles and their natural environment by supporting the development of a network of independent volunteer amphibian and reptile groups ... Each Group works with the species in its locality, and these provide the "grass roots" of native herpetofauna conservation in the UK; undertaking survey and monitoring, practical conservation tasks, public events and outreach and liaising with stakeholders including local planning authorities, land owners, other conservation bodies, and the wider public.'

'Exists to promote and enhance the welfare, conservation and protection of badgers, their setts, and their habitats. We are the leading voice for badgers in England and Wales, with a network of around 60 local voluntary badger groups, and supported by thousands of supporters and followers ... They are a great way to get involved, meet other badger enthusiasts and make a difference to your local badgers.'

'Supports local bat groups across the UK and over 6000 members. We work with volunteers, scientists, industry and government both locally and nationally on a range of projects ... Whether you are a bat-beginner or an expert you are sure to find an event to interest you ... Year round the Bat Conservation Trust, local bat groups as well as conservation and community organisations arrange bat events across the UK from training courses to bat walks for families.'

'Butterflies and moths are a vital part of our wildlife heritage and are valuable as sensitive indicators of the health of our environment. The stark fact is that butterflies and moths continue to decline at an alarming rate, despite Butterfly Conservation's best efforts over the last 40 years ... Butterfly Conservation's strength derives from its Branches and the 40,000 members they embrace ... Branch members are some of Britain’s most enthusiastic volunteer conservationists. Public events are held all year round, including butterfly walks, moth events and countless conservation days.'

'The Society was founded in 1982 when cottage garden plants were becoming "unfashionable". Those starting the Society wanted to protect this vanishing planting style. They were concerned that, in the move to easily maintained gardens, hard landscaping was becoming more important than the plants ... The Society has around 35 regional groups, some with as few as seven members and some with over 200. Most groups meet monthly and have talks in winter and visits to gardens and plant sales in spring and summer.'

'GeoConservationUK has a membership of over 50 Local Geoconservation Groups, previously known as RIGS Groups (Regionally Important Geological and geomorphological Sites) across the British Isles. GeoConservationUK exists to promote local geological/geomorphological sites for education and public benefit and works towards a British Isles perspective, focusing on the common purposes and issues of local interest to Groups.'

'A multi-regional umbrella organisation established to support county-based geoconservation groups across England.'

ALERT The Website does not seem to have been updated for several years - and its Content has in many respects been superceded by that on the GeoConservation UK Site.

'We are the charity that campaigns to protect and restore the country's 7,000 miles of inland waterways ... We campaign locally and nationally for the waterways – supporting restorations, lobbying parliament, championing regeneration and raising waterways users concerns ... Our members and volunteers are waterways-lovers from all walks of life who want to preserve and improve the network for future generations.'

'A major UK engineering institution whose activities encompass the whole materials cycle, from exploration and extraction, through characterisation, processing, forming, finishing and application, to product recycling and land reuse. It exists to promote and develop all aspects of materials science and engineering, geology, mining and associated technologies, mineral and petroleum engineering and extraction metallurgy, as a leading authority in the worldwide materials and mining community ... IOM3 organises a range of events that are ideal opportunities for networking as well as finding out the latest state of the art, updating your technical knowledge, or broadening your materials interests.  Most of our events offer discounts for IOM3 members ... Programmes of events and evening lectures are also organised by our Affiliated Local Societies.'

'We are the IET and we inspire, inform and influence the global engineering community to engineer a better world. As a diverse home across engineering and technology, we share knowledge that helps make better sense of the world in order to solve the challenges that matter. It’s why we are uniquely placed to champion engineering ... Local Networks are groups of members that come together to deliver a series of activities designed to promote the importance of science, engineering and technology to the general public, encourage young people to enter the profession and provide opportunities for engineers to share and develop knowledge and network with each other.''

'One in four of our native mammals is threatened with extinction, and many others are in decline. With Britain now recognised as one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world, urgent action is needed. We are working to give our wildlife a better future ... Local mammal Groups bring together people with a shared enthusiasm for the local environment and the mammals within it. They work to share knowledge and raise awareness, survey and monitor local mammals, provide local expertise and training in field skills, hold talks and events, and support the work of the Mammal Society.'

'We are the only national charity to ensure the cultivated plants we grow now will be available to future generations for cultural, medical, culinary and aesthetic use. We do this through the National Plant Collection scheme, our Plant Guardians and our local group network ... Plant Heritage has Local Groups who run activities and events for members across the country.'

'The Wildlife Trusts is a grassroots movement of people from a wide range of backgrounds and all walks of life, on a mission to restore a third of the UK's land and seas for nature by 2030. We believe everyone, everywhere, should have access to nature and the joy and health benefits it brings. No matter where you are in the UK, there is a Wildlife Trust inspiring people about nature and standing up for wildlife and wild places. Each Wildlife Trust is an independent charity formed by people getting together to make a positive difference to wildlife, climate and future generations. Together we have more than 850,000 members, over 42,500 volunteers, 2,000 staff and 600 trustees.'

'Warwickshire has eight Branch Associations, each with a programme of activities throughout the year. Honey bees are only active during the spring and summer, so the summer programme focuses on the apiary and the practical aspects of managing honey bees through the season. During the winter months each Branch arranges a programme of talks and demonstrations.'

'Formed in 1980 to maintain interest in the period 1914-1918, to perpetuate the memory, courage and comradeship of those on all sides who served their countries in France and Flanders and their own countries during the Great War. It does not seek to glorify war and is non-political ... Belonging to The Western Front Association provides you with the opportunity of meeting like-minded people to learn, share, explore and exchange information and knowledge in a friendly and welcoming atmosphere.'