We are an urban society, with around 90% of us now living in towns and cities. Our societies' relationship with nature is threatened by urbanisation, and our gardens provide a vital link between people and wildlife. In this talk, Prof Mark Fellows will explore his group's very recent research on unexpected consequences of supplementary feeding, nest boxes and parasites, urban red kites, and predation by domestic cats. Each story has unexpected twists, and each tells us something about how we can protect the species that share our personal patches of green.

  The meet-up time for this walk is 10:00hrs in the car park near to the visitor centre.  The last time we visited this site was in October 2013, when we notched up 57 species.  It will be interesting to see if we can match that total.  This nature reserve comprises former gravel pits and is surrounded by grassland and willow, birch and alder woodland.  The visitor centre is found on Ellingham Drove, Ellingham, Ringwood BH24 3PJ.  The reserve is found a couple of miles north of Ringwood just to the east of the A338 (the Ringwood to Salisbury Road).  Turn east off this road into Ellingham Drove and you will see the car park fairly shortly to your right.  Hope to see you there.