Malham Tarn Microscopists Weekends - soon to become Preston Montford Weekends!
The main entrance to Tarn House. (Preston Montford photos to follow next year!)
Back in 1994 a group of Microscopists wanting something different from the normal "sales and exchange" type of club meeting, converged for a bank holiday weekend at Malham Tarn in the Yorkshire Dales National Park. This has been an annual event ever since, and new faces are always welcome. However, after 16 years at Malham it has been decided to try a different venue with a different diversity of species. Accordingly the 2010 weekend will take place at the Field Studies Council centre at Preston Montford near Shrewsbury.
People of all levels of experience are welcome, provided they have a microscope. Those attending do not need to be a member of any particular club, since the event is independently organised. The weekend is definitely not a "course", but there are always some experts among those attending who can provide assistance in locating and identifying specimens, or in the use of your microscope generally. A number of partners also come along and there are magnificent walks in the area for those not inclined to spend all day staring down a tube. The weekends start with arrivals on the Friday afternoon, and are very much "free-format". Preston Montford has three ponds for dipping, but there should also be the opportunity to lay pitfall traps for insects and watch and photograph the local flora and fauna.
Sunset over the Tarn with Great Crested Grebe
Most people depart on Monday morning, although it is possible to come for a shorter or indeed sometimes a longer period. People regularly attend from as far afield as Dorset, London and Suffolk, for example. Cooked breakfast and evening meal are provided together with a packed lunch. Accommodation is in single or twin rooms, and there is a bar on the premises. The cost of the weekend is around £150 including accommodation and all food.
The 2010 weekend takes place (at Preston Montford) from the 27th to the 30th of August. Further details may be obtained from:| Mike Woof | Telephone: 01686 640148 | |
| Drych Hafren, | Email: mikewoof@optics.fsnet.co.uk | |
| Fron, | An SAE would be appreciated with postal enquiries. | |
| Montgomery, | ||
| Powys | ||
| SY15 6SB |
Early booking is requested, so that numbers can be assessed in good time for the Centre to make use of any remaining spaces for other activities.
For photos from some previous weekends, and a guided tour of the house and grounds (at Malham), please follow the links at the top left of this page.