Herts Christmas Bird Count 2025
The annual Herts Christmas Bird Count will be taking place this year as usual.
A 'team effort' to submit as many counts of as many species in Hertfordshire as we can between 25 and 31 December.
Counts of all species are welcome, even the most common, and provide valuable data for the bird club.
Please submit all records to Herts Bird Club | Submit a record
Happy festive birding!
Broadwater Lake SSSI Under Threat
Broadwater Lake, Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) is under threat again by Hillingdon Council's Watersports Development.
Find out more here >> Broadwater Lake
Submit objections and comments by Friday 9th January 2026 here >> Planning Application Hillingdon
Winter Bird Survey WINBS
The BTO is running a Winter Bird Survey aimed at collecting important information on the numbers and distribution of the UK’s wintering birds, information which will help to inform land management approaches so they better benefit birds.
Though the dates for the first site visit are past, there is still an opportunity to take part in December through February.
Interested?
Contact martinketcher@gmail.com or sign up directly with BTO here > Winter Bird Survey | BTO
For more information on this survey plus others you can get involved in go to Herts Bird Club | Surveys and Projects
What to look for in......NOVEMBER
Embankment strengthening works at Wilstone Reservoir
A 15 month program to strengthen the embankment at Wilstone Reservoir is underway. Further details can be found in the links below but key impacts are:
- no access around the bank; pedestrians will be diverted through the field next to the reservoir
- car park is fully closed for several months from September
- the road alongside the car park (B489) is closed for several weeks from September between the junctions for Drayton Beauchamp and Wilstone.
- the hide remains fully open
Alternative parking options are limited but include the Mead's Farmhouse during business hours, or Startop's End Reservoir and walking along the dry canal.
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HNHS News
Visit our North Herts exhibition, starting 16 December in Hitchin
We are near the end of the Society's 150th anniversary year, but exiting in style with an exhibition at North Hertfordshire Museum (Broad Street, Hitchin SG5 1JE) from 16 December to 15 February.
'Wildlife – for the record' focuses on habitats, flora and fauna that are special to the north of our county, including chalk grassland, streams, and species such as White Helleborine orchids and Chalkhill Blue butterflies.
Christmas Book Offer - Land Beneath the Waves
Hertfordshire Guardian Country Diarist and HNHS member, Nic Wilson, is offering discounted, signed copies of her nature memoir, Land Beneath the Waves, to HNHS supporters this Christmas, sent by post to the address of your choice for £15 (RRP £18.99) + P&P.
Natural history experts honoured at 150th anniversary meeting
A leading geologist and a bird identification expert were honoured at the HNHS Autumn Meeting on Saturday 18 October as the Society continued celebrations marking its 150th anniversary.
Haydon Bailey, a national authority on chalk strata and fossils, received the Trevor James Award for an outstanding Hertfordshire natural historian. Haydon is Chair of Hertfordshire Geological Society which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.
Photo of Dr Bailey receiving his award from the High Sheriff, Nicholas Buxton (© David Utting)