WHAT'S ON

Click in the image above for a full screen version

or download a printable version of our 2026/27 talks programme by clicking HERE

Check out our season of evening talks for 2026/27

All talks take place in the Baptist Church Hall, Keynsham BS31 1DS. They commence at 7:30pm, with refreshments available from 7:15pm

Entrance fees: £3.50 for Avon Wildlife Trust members and £5 for non-members, to include the refreshments.

Everyone is welcome to attend with no pre-booking necessary, just turn up and pay on the door with cash or card.

Wildlife cards, second hand books and other items are on sale at our meetings in aid of Avon Wildlife Trust. 

Pond Dipping for the under 7s

Our popular short sessions
for young children at Wellsway School

These two short 1 hour sessions are for younger children accompanied by a responsible adult. Please book the appropriate number of places for both child and adult.

Our events will enable young children to experience the wonders of pond life in a safe environment. The pond at Wellsway has a healthy ecosystem and you can be sure there will be some interesting creatures to find when the pond is netted and it will help to give the children some background as to how this environment works.

Bookings are now open for this popular event: https://ponddipping26.eventbrite.co.uk

This is a free event however donations are always welcome for Avon Wildlife Trust either when booking or on the day.

Saturday 26th September

River Dipping for the over 7s

Our popular short sessions
for older children on the River Chew

This event is for older children, 7 and above, accompanied by a responsible adult. Please book the appropriate number of places for both child and adult.

These two short 1 hour sessions will enable children to experience the wonders of river life and the aim is to check the health of the River Chew. You can be sure there will be some interesting creatures to find when the river is netted and it will help to give the children some background as to how this environment works.

Children must be accompanied by an adult who can assist their child/children in the river. Wellies are essential for all participants.

Bookings are now open for this popular event: https://riverdipping26.eventbrite.co.uk

This is a free event however donations are always welcome for Avon Wildlife Trust either when booking or on the day.

Sunday 27th September

It's Time to Talk Eels

An evening with the Somerset Eel Recovery Project (SERP)

Once so abundant that Somerset tenants paid their rent in eels, the European eel has suffered great losses over the last 40 years. Join us for a fascinating evening with Vanessa Becker-Hughes, co-founder of the Somerset Eel Recovery Project (SERP) - a newly incorporated not-for-profit organisation and proud CPRE award winners.

Hear how SERP is combining cutting-edge eDNA science, community citizen science, and centuries-old folklore to help bring a focus onto this critically endangered species - and why a creature that travels 3,000 miles to breed might just need your help.

Friday October 9th

with Vanessa Becker-Hughes

Join Charlie Tallis from BS3 Moth Club on a journey into the strange and surreal world of the moths living in your garden and beyond!

Through stunning photography and surprising science, this talk will overturn everything you thought you knew about these nocturnal neighbours - from their astonishing diversity and ingenious survival tricks to their pivotal role in our ecosystems.

Whether you're a curious beginner, a passionate gardener, or simply someone who's wondered what's fluttering around the porch light after dark, this talk will leave you seeing the night in a completely new way.

Charlie is a Bristol-based wildlife communicator and moth enthusiast who has run BS3 Moth Club with her 10-year old daughter, Willow, for the past three years, helping people fall in love with moths through moth mornings, talks, workshops, and social media.

The Weird & Wonderful World of Moths

Bristol & Beyond!

Friday November 13th

with Charlie Tallis

Yuletide & the Wild Side

Short talks and festive refreshments

Our members evening this year comprises two short talks from our committee alongside festive refreshments and a wildlife quiz. Come along and join in the fun. 
The evening is not restricted to members, and is open to all.

Friday December 11th

The Secret Lives of Somerset Birds

Friday January 8th

From Harriers to Hobbies and Warblers to Wagtails, join us for this light-hearted and educational talk on the varied and vibrant birdlife to be found across Somerset and beyond.

Across Avon and Somerset and the Mendip hills, a huge array of unique and special habitats are home to some amazing bird species, all times of year.

Nick, a lifelong Birdwatcher, and former Nature reserve Warden, has devoted his life to shouting about how amazing our native biodiversity is and just why we should care for it.

During this talk, Nick will detail some of his favourites through engaging photographs, alongside some of the best places to see birds in Somerset, and some of the more unusual species found here.

with Nick Patel

Sea & Sky:

Wildlife Stories from the South West

Friday February 12th

Henry is a wildlife cinematographer based in Bristol, who has recently been filming wildlife sequences for both the BBC and Channel 4. Alongside his broadcast work, he also researches, shoots, and produces his own independent films, focusing on wildlife across the South West of England, with a particular interest in marine life.

In recent years, he has been documenting the remarkable return of Atlantic bluefin tuna to UK waters, spending extended periods observing and studying their behaviour and migratory patterns. Alongside this, he also regularly films peregrine falcons and other raptors in the region. In this talk, he will share some of those stories and behind the scenes photos & videos explaining how the films were put together.

with Henry Kirkwood

Life Below the Surface

Exploring the relationship between river water quality and wildlife behaviour

Aleks is a International League of Conservation Photographers filmmaker and natural history cinematographer with a PhD in animal cognition and a special interest in how the environment shapes animal behaviour. He specialises in uncovering stories about unexpected interactions and overlooked creatures. Past projects include My Elephant Odyssey (coming soon), Searching For Snowhares (Ecoflix), Bristol's Hidden River, BBC Hidden Planet and BBC Green Planet 2.

Through photography and film, Aleks will explore the connections between water quality, landscapes and animal behaviour. His talk will take us behind the scenes to reveal how complex animal behaviour sequences can be captured without interference - from the smallest to the largest subjects.

Friday March 12th

with Aleksanda Domanski

Patagonia: Ice, Peaks & Predators

Kathy travels worldwide with her husband Martin seeking out unusual wildlife for their photography. Their trip to southern Chile in 2026 was a highlight, getting close to pumas and experiencing the peaks of Torres del Paine, as well as exploring the island of Chiloe and the fjords of Patagonia. The tale of their trip combined with amazing photos and video will transport you down to colder climes and this amazing landscape and wildlife.

Friday April 9th

with Kathy Farrell