Welcome to Bakewell Bird Study Group, please use the links above to navigate the site. If you would like to get in touch or find out more please use the contact details for the relevant person on our committee page. A selection of local sightings and what we have recently been up to can be found by clicking here and a full history of the group can be found at the bottom of this page.
Our next indoor meeting is:
- John Beatty – ‘Adventures in the wild – continued’ on 11th Nov 2024 7:30:pm, at
We are delighted to welcome John back for a return visit for yet more captivating tales from this inspirational speaker who has adventured across 38 countries experiencing a world few have encountered. Accompanied by his superb photography; his respect for nature, its creatures, plant kingdoms, indigenous peoples and remnants of extraordinary civilizations will infuse us with wonder as he draws us into a closer connection to the wild places of the earth. - Member’s Christmas Party on 9th Dec 2024 7:30:pm, at
Photographic competition, Quiz and Buffet Supper.
Our next field trip is:
- BURTON MERE on 14th Nov 2024
RSPB reserve on the Wirral easily accessed from the M56. Fantastic for waders, avocets, godwits and much more. This our first visit in Autumn for some time. Visitor centre with shop, café etc.
History of the group
Bakewell Bird Study Group was first formed because in the early 1980’s, the University of Sheffield ran several Adult Education courses in Bakewell, Derbyshire. One of these was a very successful course in Ornithology. After about five years the course finished and courses on other aspects of natural history took its place.
The Ornithology class members were keen to continue and decided that one way of doing this was to form a local independent group. After much persuasion from former class members, in particular Margaret Warren and the late Joan Challinor, an informal meeting was held in July 1987 with the above two ladies and the class tutor – Alan Gladwin, to look at the possibility of forming such a group.
We had no membership and no organisation so we appointed ourselves as committee members and along with other ‘volunteers’ formed a one year steering committee.
An indoor and an outdoor meetings programme was put together with the first indoor meeting taking place in early September 1987 Over 70 people came to the first meeting. During the first year the steering committee met on a monthly basis and the Group logo (the Dipper) was chosen and a constitution written.
The Group aim was to promote an interest in wild birds, their habitats and conservation with particular reference to the Bakewell area (the four 1km squares SK16, SK17, SK26, & SK27) by means of lectures, discussions, field trips and ‘other appropriate activities‘. The aims of the Group remains the same today and ‘other appropriate activities‘ include a call-over at the indoor meetings, the collation of local bird records, a Group newsletter, a library, local nest box schemes, and a now bi-annual all day watch.
Two ten year reports have been produced, summarising the status of the local bird population. The Group maintains an interest in the development of the lagoons at Middleton Moor.