Beverley will be appearing at Wingfield Barns on Friday March 16. Buy tickets at www.wingfieldbarns.com or call the Box Office on (01379) 384505.

Other acts confirmed for 2012 are as follows, with more to be announced shortly:

March 16 Beverley Craven
May 6 Kathryn Roberts & Sean Lakeman
June 6 An Evening with Danny & Ben from Thunder
June 23 Strangeworld
July 28 Richard Digance
August 22 Lucy Ward
November 24 Megson

Erica Howe, Eastern Region Communications Officer said: “If you’ve got nest boxes gathering dust in your shed, or have thought about making or buying one, then now’s the time to do something about it.

“Ideally nest boxes should go up in autumn for winter shelter followed by breeding, but you may just be lucky if you don’t delay. It may be cold outside but if you can do one thing outdoors this weekend, make it that.”

Nest boxes are excellent substitutes for holes in old trees. Just like we put out supplementary food in gardens to help our birds we can also create extra homes for them.

Tits will not seriously start to investigate nesting sites until February or March and spotted flycatchers won’t be arriving in the UK until April or May. Some birds have multiple broods and robins and wrens may use a nest box that has recently been put up for later broods.

Over 60 bird species are known to have used nest boxes, but the most regular residents who are most likely to move in are blue tits and nuthatches, as well as house sparrows and starlings, which are both declining.

The species that use your nest box will depend on the type of box, where it is located and its surroundings.

Boxes for blue tits, sparrows or starlings should be fixed two to four metres up a tree, wall or the side of your house. Face the box between north and east away from strong sunlight and the wettest winds. These birds need clear flight paths without clutter in front of the entrance.

House sparrows and starlings will readily use next boxes placed high under eaves and two or three can be spaced out on the same side of the house.

Swifts nest on buildings and virtually nowhere else so they really need our help with nest sites. Position special swift boxes under the eaves of your house, away from any windows and out of the direct sun, wind and rain. The birds will start to arrive from their wintering grounds in Africa in May.

Robins and wrens need open fronted boxes placed low down, well hidden in vegetation.

Woodpecker boxes need to be three to five metres high on a tree trunk with a clear flight path and away from disturbance.

Until 21st February 2012, the RSPB is offering 10% off nest boxes*. For details, visit our online shop (www.rspbshop.co.uk), call our order line on 0845 1 200 501 or visit one of our retail shops. *Terms and conditions apply.

To find out more about gardening for wildlife visit www.rspb.org.uk/hfw.

One of the key guitar bands of the past decade, Razorlight has shifted over 4 million albums, sold out arena tours, headlined numerous festivals and appeared on the cover of magazines from NME to Vogue. Currently working on their fourth album, the previous three; ‘Up All Night’, ‘Razorlight’ and ‘Slipway Fires’ generated hits like ‘Golden Touch’, ‘Rip It Up’, ‘Somewhere Else’, ‘In The Morning’, ‘Wire to Wire’ and the chart-topping ‘America’.

Forestry Commission Live Music concerts are renowned for their safe and relaxed atmosphere in fantastic forest settings. Income generated from Forestry Commission Live Music ticket sales is spent on improving the local forest for both people and wildlife.

Commenting on the announcement, Razorlight frontman Johnny Borrell said, ‘We are very pleased to be doing a gig in Thetford Forest. We like the ethos behind these shows and it will be great to perform our hits alongside new material’

Razorlight plus guests will be performing:

Thursday 14th June Thetford Forest, nr Brandon, Suffolk.

Tickets £29.50 (subject to booking fee) go on sale at 9.00am Friday 10th February from the Forestry Commission box office tel 03000 680400 or buy online

BUY TICKETS FROM FRIDAY 10th FEBRUARY AT TICKETMASTER»

The Suffolk Owl Sanctuary is offering a free children’s workshop making lollipop flowers and a free ticket to our Grand Prize Draw for all adult visitors. There will be face painting, the SOS Safari Trail and a Love Owls Quiz for the kids to enjoy, as well as a special Valentine’s Day flying display, with the chance to see some of the world’s most stunning birds of prey show off their incredible aerial skills.

For more information and to download a FREE VIP PASS for Juniors, please visit the website www.owl-help.org or call the Sanctuary on 08456 807897.

Sam Carter is a quality musician who is set to be a big name within the folk scene, and we are delighted he is opening the season with this exclusive free show on Friday February 17th.

Since winning Best Newcomer at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards in 2010, midlands-born singer, guitarist and songwriter Sam Carter has been more in demand than ever. From performances at the Royal Festival Hall for Richard Thompson’s Meltdown, to sharing the stage with the great Nic Jones alongside Chris Wood, Martin Simpson and Jon Boden at Sidmouth Folk Week, Sam continues to impress audiences and fellow artists alike. Sam also recently took part in a guitar masterclass as part of the BBC Introducing Musicians’ Masterclass series with Jo Whiley.

Sam is an independent artist and has two releases to date, both self-released under ‘Captain Records’ – Here In The Ground EP (2008) and Keepsakes (2009), which have both received critical acclaim.”

Sam Carter is the Opening Concert at Wingfield and admission is FREE. Friday 17th February, doors open 6.30pm, concert starts 7.30pm – limited availability call now to reserve your ticket.

Further confirmed acts for this year:
March 16 – Beverley Craven
May 6 – Kathryn Roberts and Sean Lakeman
July 28 – Richard Digance
November 24 – Megson
(with more to follow)

More details www.wingfieldbarns.com or call the box office 01379 384505
Wingfield Barns, Wingfield, Suffolk IP21 5RA

____________________________________________________________

Guided walks at Minsmere
(www.rspb.org.uk/minsmere)

Costs : Adults £7, RSPB members £5, children half price, unless otherwise stated
Places limited. Unless stated, booking is essential. Call 01728 648281 or email bookings.Minsmere@rspb.org.uk

Discovering Minsmere
February: Wed 29
Start 9.30 am. (2.5 – 3 hours)
Join us to learn about the reserve’s birds and other wildlife, as well as the habitats we have here and how we manage them. Our guides will show you Minsmere’s varied wildlife, give tips on good fieldcraft, and help you to get the most from your visit to one of Britain’s premier birdwatching spots. Suitable for all abilities.

Weekend wildlife walk
February: Sun 12, Sat 25
Start at 9.30 am (2.5 – 3 hours)
Join us for a seasonal weekend walk to look for wintering ducks and a host of other wildlife highlights that may be present at the time.

Winter wander
February: Wed 1, Fri 10, Thurs 16 & Mon 20
Start at 10 am (1.5 – 2 hours)
Join us for an introduction to Minsmere’s winter wildlife highlights. Enjoy a relaxed walk with a later start, returning to the visitor centre in time to purchase a warming bowl of soup. These shorter walks will take in one or two hides, depending on where the best variety of wildlife can be seen, and are ideal for beginners and improvers. Costs: adult £5, RSPB member £4, children half price.

Winter wildfowl at Minsmere
February: Thurs 2, Wed 15
Start at 9.30 am (2.5 – 3 hours)
Join us on a walk in search of the wetland wonders at Minsmere, from whistling wigeons to secretive snipe. Learn about what makes Minsmere so important for wintering ducks, geese and wading birds.

Special events for families
(www.rspb.org.uk/events)

Make a nestbox day
February half term: venue, dates & times TBC
Celebrate National Nestbox Week by making your own nestbox to take home and put up in your garden. All materials supplied. Cost £8 per child, Wildlife Explorers members £5, accompanying adults free. Booking essential. Look out for quizzes and other family activities throughout half term.

Events at RSPB Snape
(www.rspb.org.uk/snape)

There are no events at Snape this month

Guided walks at RSPB North Warren
(www.rspb.org.uk/northwarren)

Winter wildfowl at North Warren
February: Sat 4, Sat 18
Start at 9.30 am (2.5 – 3 hours)
This is the best time to visit North Warren. We should see wigeons and white-fronted geese on the grazing marshes. Look out for their rarer cousins among the throng, and enjoy the spectacle of flocks of ducks, geese and swans. Wrap up warm. Booking essential on 01728 648281. Meet in pay and display car park on Thorpe Road, Aldeburgh, near Scallop sculpture.

Events at RSPB Havergate Island
(www.rspb.org.uk/havergateisland)

Look out for regular boat trips on the first Saturday of each month, except where these clash with event weekends (advance booking required via Minsmere on 01728 648281). Please note, trips in January and February are cancelled due to major management work (next boat 3 March 2012). Boats depart 10 am. Costs as per events.

There are no events at Havergate this month

Forestry Commission Live Music concerts are renowned for their relaxed atmosphere, and income generated from ticket sales is spent on improving the local forest for both people and wildlife.

Commenting on the shows, Alfie Boe said, “I am delighted to be asked to appear at Westonbirt Arboretum and Thetford Forest as part of Forestry Commission Live Music. It is going to be a real privilege to perform at such prestigious outdoor venues with beautiful trees as backdrops”.

Alfie Boe plus Orchestra and ‘special guest support’ will be performing:
Friday 13th July, Thetford Forest, near Brandon, Suffolk.
Saturday 21st July, Westonbirt Arboretum, near Tetbury, Gloucestershire.

Tickets £35.50 (subject to booking fee) go on sale at 9.00am Friday 20th January from the Forestry
BUY TICKETS FROM FRIDAY 20TH JANUARY AT TICKETMASTER»

Commission box office tel 03000 680400 or buy online at www.forestry.gov.uk/music
Info:
www.alfie-boe.com
www.forestry.gov.uk/music

Both the walks will end up at Arlingtons restaurant in the town for some light refreshments where, as an extra feature, the Guide will read a short selection of readings from Dickens works which particularly relate to Ipswich.

The cost is just £6.00 per walk per person, which includes refreshments and the reading.

Dickens visited Ipswich on a number of occasions as a young reporter and featured the town, and recognisable characters and buildings, in his writings and novels such as “Pickwick Papers” and “David Copperfield”. He also spent a well documented holiday here (arriving via the river on a steamer) and visited the town on his book and reading tours.

Further details about the guided walks, and bookings, are available from Ipswich Tourist Information Centre, telephone 01473, 258070, email tourist@ipswich.gov.uk

Forestry Commission Live Music is an independent programme bringing music to new audiences without commercial branding or sponsorship. Income generated from ticket sales is spent on improving the local forests for both people and wildlife. Thetford Forest hosts up to six concerts each summer with full bar and catering services, ample onsite parking plus a dedicated taxi and private car drop off/pick-up zone.

Commenting on the forest date, Ed Sheeran said, “I am delighted to confirm this gig as my only East Anglian show in 2012. It will be a forest first for me and I can’t wait to get on stage amongst the trees and perform in such a unique place.”

Ed Sheeran plus guests will be performing

Thursday 12th July, Thetford Forest, Nr Brandon, Suffolk

Tickets £24 (subject to booking fee) go on sale at 9.00am Friday 13th January from the Forestry Commission box office tel 03000 680400 or buy online at www.forestry.gov.uk/music
BUY TICKETS FROM TICKETMASTER»
Info: www.forestry.gov.uk/music
www.edsheeran.com & www.facebook.com/EdSheeranMusic