Warwickshire RINGs (Research, Recording and Recreation in Nature Groups) is an informal network of existing groups, organisations and individuals with an interest in the natural history of the Warwickshire, Coventry and Solihull sub-region. RINGs was initiated in 1995, to encourage greater collaboration between the more active naturalists within the area.
The RINGs remit has now been broadened, to assist all local nature enthusiasts, of any age, group or location within the sub-region, in enjoying and studying local wildlife. The RINGs newsletter is published three times a year (January, May and September). It is a unique directory, listing hundreds of local events and enclosing details of over 50 local natural history groups to join. Contact details for many groups and experts are furnished, as well as a variety of other information sources including a bibliography of local publications and a list of web sites.
Click below for the latest RINGS Newsletter.
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Wildlife News - May 2009
Wildlife News - January 2009
Wildlife news - Sept 2008
Join Warwickshire, Coventry and Solihull's Big Tree Hunt
Wildflower checklist 2008 |
How to join Warwickshire RINGs
As an Individual – If you would like a printed copy of the newsletter sent to you, simply contact :
RINGs,
Warwickshire Museum,
Market Place,
Warwick
CV34 4SA.
Alternatively you can telephone the Senior Keeper of Natural History on 01926 412481, or email museum@warwickshire.gov.uk.
Newsletters are normally only posted to residents of Warwickshire, Coventry and Solihull.
As a Group – Details of your group and events can be listed in the RINGs newsletter, which includes a calendar and a section furnishing contact details. This is updated three times a year.
Please ensure that you provide contact details (an individual who will take enquiries, an address, telephone number, location of your indoor meetings, E-mail address and any web site you have). Send details of your events before the press dates of 15th December, 15th April and 15th August, remembering that publication can take another 3-4 weeks. You may be chased for your latest plans if we have not heard from you!
What else does RINGS do?
Field meetings – RINGs tries to organise at least one field event per year, with the intention of producing a long species list for an unusual site that has not received enough recording in the past. Unfortunately, these meetings are not especially geared towards novices or the young, but you will find plenty of walks and work party days listed in the newsletter calendar.
Indoor events – Several RINGs seminars have been held in the past, together with a popular Natural History Fair in 1999. There are no indoor meetings planned for the immediate future, but we will flag any that we are planning in the newsletter.
Promoting national initiatives at a local level - It can be a struggle to publicise national projects at a local level. Yet many of these depend upon volunteers operating at a local level for success. RINGs publicises national initiatives through the newsletter and liaison work with Warwickshire Museum.
Supporting the production of a Local Biodiversity Action Plan - Producing these plans (which set targets for conserving key habitats and species) is very much a partnership-based activity. RINGs is an ideal mechanism for ensuring that local wildlife recorders can stay in touch with progress and make their hard work count. As well as supporting the RINGs initiative, Warwickshire Museum houses the Warwickshire Biological Records Centre, the County Ecologists, the Habitat Biodiversity Audit Team, and the Wildlife Sites project. All of these are intrinsically linked to the action planning process.
Promoting the production of new county atlases for different groups of animals and plants -Warwickshire Museum has a long tradition of publishing atlases and encouraging amateur naturalist to either author these or contribute data. RINGs helps amateur wildlife recorders to stay in touch with one-another, flags the county experts for different subjects, encourages fieldwork and lists all of the published atlases currently available within the newsletter bibliography.
Encouraging and facilitating voluntary work and research in natural history - Natural history is a vast subject that relies heavily upon volunteers for surveying, data management, managing wildlife sites, publishing atlases and so on. RINGs can help you to find information on many subject areas, either through the newsletter itself or by contacting the people listed. This will direct you to surveys and projects that you can contribute to, groups actively involved in field work that you can join, information on how to carry out surveys and research, and opportunities for volunteer work at Warwickshire Museum.
Facilitating environmental education for all age groups - RINGs is committed to promoting environmental education at all levels, and to life-long learning. The RINGs newsletter contains a wealth of information on educational events and venues in the Warwickshire, Coventry and Solihull area.
Natural History Organisations and Activities
Natural History Homepage
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