This autumn we have a very rare chance to attend an enjoyable conference on birds in our own county. There will be a Regional Conference, organised by the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) and the Gloucestershire Ornithological Coordinating Committee (GOCC), on Saturday, 24^th September 2011 at the Crypt School, Podsmead Rd, Gloucester GL2 5AE. The theme of the Conference will be ‘The Atlas – and Beyond’ and will include talks by both Gloucestershire and national speakers.

As many of you will know, a Gloucestershire Bird Atlas will be produced using the same data as that gathered for the national Atlas, but will show and discuss the data on a more detailed scale. This will be by far the most detailed and lavish book ever produced on Gloucestershire’s birds. This conference will describe and celebrate the work and the data gathered for both the national and the Gloucestershire atlas, and also cover other local and national topics. It should be a ‘must’ for all those interested in birds, whether or not they took part in the 2007-2011 Bird Atlas project.

The charge will be £14, to include a buffet lunch and tea/ coffee during breaks. The Conference will start at 9:30 a.m. and close at 5:00 p.m.

Tickets have to be pre-booked from the BTO; all the details are on their website at www.bto.org/news-events/events

Or e-mail or phone Ellen Walford on ellen.walford@bto.org, 01842 750050. It will not be possible to buy tickets at the door on the day.