Summer Walks Programme 2010 will be available in Spring.

Walks are normally of a short distance (2 to 5 miles), and require a packed lunch! Although the distance may be short, if the area is botanically interesting, it can take a considerable time to investigate each square yard. Walks normally take 3 to 5 hours.

Outdoor meetings explore the Greater Manchester area: river valleys, canals, old industrial sites, parks. Leaders are well informed in various branches of natural history - flowers, mosses. fungi, birds, insects especially of the locality.

Details of public transport are given where possible. Members are quite willing to give lifts.

Everyone is welcome to participate and learn how to tell apart different species or come along just to enjoy the walk and company.

Saturday 10th April: Pennington Flash. Meet 10.30 at main car park near Visitor Centre. Leader Penelope Law (737 3754, mobile 07766 965 192).

Saturday 1st May: Styal Woods. Meet 11.00 at small car park to left off Altrincham Road, Styal village, just past Ship Inn. Leader Ann Ramsay (980 4459).

Saturday 8th May: Piethorn Valley, Newhey, near Milnrow. Meet 11.30 at small car park, map SD 952122. Leave M62 at J21, turn right underneath motorway, then left after quarter of a mile on A640. Fork left after three-quarters of a mile. Leaders Christine and Roger (740 7670).

Saturday 15th May: Reddish Vale Country Park. Meet 11.00 at Visitor Centre Car Park (free) at bottom of Reddish Vale Road, Tiviot Dale (off Tiviot Way A626 adjacent to M60 junction 27). Leaders Margaret McCormick (941 2728) and Maurice Lees.

Saturday 29th May: Rixton Claypits, near Warrington. Meet 10.30 at entrance to Rixton Claypits Nature Reserve on Moat Lane, off A57, map SJ 682899. Leader Priscilla Tolfree (881 8480).

Saturday 12th June: Miller's Dale, Derbyshire. Meet 11.00 at Miller's Dale Station Car Park (charge). Walk along railway then back along river, so not much in way of climbing. Leaders Alan Hill (445 1535, mobile 07719 659 689) and Linda Otten.

Saturday 26th June: Sutton Manor Reserve, near St Helens. Meet 10.30 at the Smithy Manor pub on B5419 Jubits Lane (off A57 near M62 Junction 7). Leader John Somerville (973 8610, mobile 07709 795 382).

Saturday 10th July: Barrow Bridge and Walker Fold, Bolton. Meet 11.00 at car park on minor road 0.3km NW of Moss Bank Park, map SD 687118. Leader John Lowell (485 6892).

Saturday 24th July: Mytholmroyd, West Yorks. Meet 11.00 at Mytholmroyd Station. Park at Station if room, or in car park of Russell Dean Furniture shop in village (3 mins walk to Station). Leader Audrey Locksley (01422 882 049, mobile 07779 451 342).

Saturday 7th August: Wythenshawe Park. Meet 11.00 at main car park, Wythenshawe Park. Leader Dave Bishop (881 6276).

Saturday 21st August: Anglezarke, near Adlington. Meet 11.00 at East side of reservoir at picnic site and start of Anglezarke trail, map SD 621164. Leaders Tom and Barbara Waghorn (766 7304).

Saturday 4th September: Gall Gala, Lathkill Dale. Meet 11.00 at Over Haddon Car Park (charge), map SK 203660. Leader Norman Bamforth (336 3914). Joint meeting with British Plant Gall Society.

Saturday 16th October: Jodrell Bank Arboretum. Meet 11.00 in main car park, map SJ 643991, on Bomish Lane, off A535. Entrance £2 per person. Leaders Linda Otten and Alan Hill (445 1535, mobile 07719 659 689).

Additional Walks:

Friday 18th June: Gall meeting, Cressbrook Dale and Ricklow Dale. Meet 11.00 at Cressbrook on double bend just outside village, map SK 172732. Joint meeting of Sheffield Naturalists Society and British Plant Gall Society; Field Club members are welcome. Hope to find gall of insect new to science! Leader Norman Bamforth (336 3914).

Sunday 4th July: Moore Nature Reserve. Wildflower walk led by John Somerville (973 8610) for Nature Reserve Rangers and general public; Field Club members are very welcome. Meet 10.00 at new car park; normal finish is 1.00pm but walk could be extended to far end of reserve (different habitat) for those interested.