CHAIRMAN'S COLUMN

We have been enjoying some excellent indoor meetings recently including joint ventures with Kinross Camera Club and the Green Gang at Inverkeithing. Shared meetings like these benefit both organisations and provide a good interchange of ideas. If you are involved with any group in Fife and Kinross and would like to hold a joint meeting next winter do contact our programme organiser, Sue Armstrong, to discuss.

I am sorry to report that Carolyne Nurse and Elspeth Christie have resigned from their respective positions as Members Centre secretary and Bankhead Moss Reserve convener due to pressure of other commitments. I should like to thank them for all their support and am very pleased that Alister Jones, a Members Centre committee member, has agreed to take on the convenership of Bankhead Moss. I look forward to working with him in this role.

We are however looking for a new Members Centre secretary. The main part of the task is to deal with papers for committee meetings, four a year, and our AGM. No specialised knowledge of wildlife is needed but you would need basic word-processing skills. If you are interested, please telephone (01334 475763) to discuss.

I was 'hissed' at yesterday! No, not by a snake nor a disgruntled SWT member, but by a Peacock Butterfly. I found it on our garage floor where it had presumably over-wintered (I am writing this in January) and was transferring it to a safer position, when it flashed it wings open three times and hissed. I had no idea that these butterflies could make such a startling noise. The butterfly is now on a sheltered beam where I hope it will stay until we have warmer weather.

Our summer programme is again very varied and includes guided walks as well as volunteer work-days on our reserves. The work-days have been slow to attract sufficient volunteers and are under review. We hope that this worthwhile initiative will be supported by members this year. Come and enjoy doing some practical work and learning a little more about wildlife in congenial company. I look forward to seeing you on any of the summer activities.

Jean Stewart