Explorer’s return

The 2008 Biosearch Expedition team have now returned from their month of exploration of the Nyika National Park and the remote northern marsh of Vwaza, in Malawi, Central Africa.

This is the latest in a series of responsible wildlife research expeditions, supported by the Department of National Parks and Wildlife in Malawi. Volunteers are sought for the next expeditions in July and December 2009.

“The team achieved a great deal for conservation of wildlife and had a lot of fun doing it. People of a wide spread of ages and from different backgrounds gelled well, living and working together in this area of wilderness in central Africa,” Marianne Overton co-ordinates who the science.

Caption: Some of the younger members of the Biosearch 2008 team, enjoying one of the impromptu evening concerts in the bush.

“We are currently sorting through hundreds of photos in preparation for our picture show on 20th September. It is a free event - but you will need to book your place in advance since we have limited space in the barn and we need to know numbers for catering.

Hilltop Farm, Welbourn, Lincs (12 miles east of Newark - map on request)
Saturday 20th September 2008 3.00 pm

The team is writing a book about their experiences and will be meeting to discuss that at 3 pm. Anyone arriving with a team member can enjoy the conservation area adjacent to the barn. At 4 pm. we shall hold the picture show and briefing about the expedition for the benefit of all. At 5 pm. we are cooking out and enjoying an informal gathering until dark.

If you need to camp overnight there is plenty of space for tents or camper vans. Contact us now for your free place.

The 2008 Expedition team is assembling in Lilongwe this week and we shall be leaving for the Nyika National Park on Sunday. We expect to collect yet more excellent photographs of our long-running wildlife research expeditions in cooperation with the Department of National Parks and Wildlife of Malawi.
We hope you will try and join us on Saturday 20th September at 4 p.m. for our illustrated talk and barbecue. It's free but you do need to book; just e-mail for reserved place.

Why not put another date in your diary too.

An Evening at the RGS is scheduled for Tuesday 25 November 2008 when Carl Bruessow, Executive Director of the Mulanje Mountain Conservation Trust and Secretary/trustee of the Malawi Nyika-Vwaza Trust will give a Talk entitled

'Venture to the Interior' - Revisited. The Conservation Challenge on Mount Mulanje and Nyika Plateau 60 years after Laurens van der Post.

Further details will be posted in September.

The office will now be closed until 26th August.

300 people support Biosearch Expedition concert

An astonishing 300 people filled Bottesford Church in Nottinghamshire for a summer evening concert on Saturday. Pippa Stubbs had organised a musical evening, with all the artists being her talented musical friends at Oakham school. She persuaded her parents and friends to invite everyone they knew and they brought their friends along too! The performances were of a superb standard and the crowd was delighted.

The result; Pippa has raised most of her funding requirement for the forthcoming Biosearch Expedition with a single event! A Hog roast and bar added to the evening and one of the other team members drove all the way from Bristol to be there!

Pippa will be the youngest of our 2008 team but she squeaks in with her 18th birthday arriving just before departure. Some of the other team members prefer not to mention their age but our expeditions attract great talent from all quarters, professional and amateur.

The 2009 Expeditions are already building up interest - why not join us?

Biosearch Expedition reunion and party

On a fine June evening we had a good attendance at our FREE cook-out party in our sheltered woodland. We had a good mix of past team members from three years and others who are keen to join us in 2009. Several people put up their tent and stayed overnight. The menu was, of course, traditional vegetable stew and meat stew, ably prepared by our trained chef Ian Pilcher. Banana custard followed. Really just like our African expeditions, except for the fact that the long evening stretched out to sunset at around 9.30 instead of 6.00 pm in the Nyika. There was lots of wildlife to see, with a barn owl floating by mid evening and a noisy dawn chorus for those who had just about got to sleep around 3.30 a.m.

The good news is that if you missed this one you get another chance! Put September 20th in your diary. We shall be viewing some of the photographs from the forthcoming expedition in July and August and this will be followed by another cook out with the option to stay if you wish.

This is open to all on our mailing list so please join us if you can in September.

Woodland party on 14th June gets closer!

At 5 p.m. on Saturday 14th June there will be woodland cook-out for past, present and prospective future members of Biosearch Expedition teams. In fact for anyone who just wants to come and have a lovely evening out. And to make it easier you can bring a tent (or camper van) and sleep over if your prefer!

Can you think of a better way to spend a long summer evening?

Just Contact Us at www.biosearch.org.uk/contact.htm

for your FREE invitation.

Come by car. Come by train to Newark. Come by bicycle. Walk. But whatever you do, don't miss this fun and FREE event.

Trained and ready to go!

A Successful Training Weekend for our 2008 Expedition Team.

On a fine early May weekend our team got together to prepare for their Malawi expedition in July and August. If you would like a flavour of what all this is about why not come along to our next woodland event on 14th June. It is free and open to past present and future expeditioners. Full details on request. www.biosearch.org.uk/contact.htm

Meanwhile here are some hot photos from the past couple of days

Team games

Katie

Kaele determined to succeed!

Marianne in action

Michael crossed the pond in record time

Map reading prior to the hike

Team game - getting the team past an obstacle

Fast food from basic ingredients in camp

Navigation training

Katie lights her fire!

Bridget and Imran successfully lighting a fire

Martin and Sophie looking for tracks in woodland

Philippa, Imran and Gordon with Stock Dove

Ian and Philippa involved with ringing project

Bridget with tamed Great Tit

Bridget crossing the lake. Everyone succeeded but not everyone stayed dry!

Training Weekend Approaching

Would you like to join us for our 48 hour training weekend on 3rd May?
It is over the Bank Holiday. You arrive at 1.00 p.m. on Saturday and leave at 1.00 p.m. on Monday. We can collect you from Newark station. It is not too late to join and it is not only informative but a great camping weekend in the countryside and a chance to meet experienced expeditioners.

Just go to the Training Weekend page and then go through to the Contact Us page. We will call you to confirm availability and give you full details.

Our next Nyika expedition departs on 27 July. We are looking to fill the last place. It could be you. Just contact us now.