Pirbright 2005

Pirbright 2006
Excursion to the Basingstoke Canal, north of Pirbright - Saturday June 3rd
This year a group of Queketts met at a new venue - the Brookwood Halls, Brookwood, for the annual visit to the SSSI at lock 15/16 on the Basingstoke Canal at Pirbright. Although the venue was new the weather was, once again, perfect - with wall to wall sunshine and even less cloud than in previous years. This type of weather makes an outside excursion even more pleasurable and this year lived up to expectations - it couldn't have been better.
A view along the Canal to the West

Pirbright 2006

Excursion to the Basingstoke Canal, north of Pirbright - Saturday June 3rd

This year a group of Queketts met at a new venue - the Brookwood Halls, Brookwood, for the annual visit to the SSSI at lock 15/16 on the Basingstoke Canal at Pirbright.

Although the venue was new the weather was, once again, perfect - with wall to wall sunshine and even less cloud than in previous years. This type of weather makes an outside excursion even more pleasurable and this year lived up to expectations - it couldn't have been better.

A view along the Canal to the West

	And the view across the old 'Turning area' on the canal, opposite the Warden's house.

Along the bank of the canal at this point there is a bed of very fine yellow iris and amongst these there was a nesting MoorHen with chicks - so we had to extra careful this year. Also found here are a anumber of dragonfly species, several of which are quite uncommon.

	Some members already at work collecting near the lock gates.

Nice to see Bryan Tabor back at an excursion. First time he had been to the canal and he soon put his net to good use. This has one of the longest poles we had seen for some time - adapted from a 'fruit tree' picker! Enabled some quite deep trawling from the bank.

	You may wonder what these members had found deep in the undergrowth?

This is what they were heading for - one of two small shallow ponds, constructed by the warden - Peter Bickford - for the study of flora and fauna outside the canal itself. He already reported several interesting species.

This is what they were heading for - one of two small shallow ponds, constructed by the warden - Peter Bickford - for the study of flora and fauna outside the canal itself.

He already reported several interesting species.

	Dealing with a problem......Step 1 Once back at the hall, members prepared to study the specimens brought back from the canal (and small ponds), but we soon found an unexpected problem. We had all brought microscopes with inclined tubes - so that the stages could be kept horizontal - essential when you have a petri dish full of canal water! Unfortunately Mr Rotifer (Eric Hollowday) brought his trusty and venerable Watson scope - which has a vertical tube. He found that the height of the chairs in the hall didn't allow him sufficient height to view down the tube. Someone soon found a wooden 'plinth' (normally used on the hall stage) and this was tried under the chair. result - excellent height - but now Eric couldn't get his legs under the table!!

Dealing with a problem......Step 1

Once back at the hall, members prepared to study the specimens brought back from the canal (and small ponds), but we soon found an unexpected problem.

We had all brought microscopes with inclined tubes - so that the stages could be kept horizontal - essential when you have a petri dish full of canal water!

Unfortunately Mr Rotifer (Eric Hollowday) brought his trusty and venerable Watson scope - which has a vertical tube. He found that the height of the chairs in the hall didn't allow him sufficient height to view down the tube.

Someone soon found a wooden 'plinth' (normally used on the hall stage) and this was tried under the chair. result - excellent height - but now Eric couldn't get his legs under the table!!

Dealing with a problem......Step 2 James Rider kindly lent his aluminum microscope case - that looked about the right height. But no - still no leg room.

	Dealing with a problem......Step 3 Success at last - Maurice Moss searched around and noticed that there was a piano on the stage. Where there is a piano, there should be a piano stool and this proved to be the case. Perfect height - problem solved. Eric managed to identify 13 Rotifer specimens - more than he has found at this site before. So after the earlier problems, he had a very successful day.

Dealing with a problem......Step 3

Success at last - Maurice Moss searched around and noticed that there was a piano on the stage. Where there is a piano, there should be a piano stool and this proved to be the case.

Perfect height - problem solved.

Eric managed to identify 13 Rotifer specimens - more than he has found at this site before. So after the earlier problems, he had a very successful day.

One view of the members at work.

	And another - some very serious study going on.

The review of the meeting wouldn't be complete without a photo of this beautiful Nikon inverted microscope, with phase contrast and which produced some really excellent images of Rotifers etc. The instrument, which now belongs to Sam Christofi, has quite a history behind it. Once the property of Surrey University, it was rescued just when it was about to be thrown into a skip! Apparently it was surplus to requirements and needed some repair, so wasn't thought worthy of keeping. Only the prompt intervention of Prof. Maurice Moss saved it from the scrap yard. Some remedial work by Sam has now brought the instrument into full working order again. Really nice to know that this sort of instrument can be saved and given a new lease of life. Sam hopes that he will be able to pass it on to another member of the Quekett when he has no further use for it. However, don't hold your breath - that wont be for a long long time yet!

The review of the meeting wouldn't be complete without a photo of this beautiful Nikon inverted microscope, with phase contrast and which produced some really excellent images of Rotifers etc.

The instrument, which now belongs to Sam Christofi, has quite a history behind it. Once the property of Surrey University, it was rescued just when it was about to be thrown into a skip! Apparently it was surplus to requirements and needed some repair, so wasn't thought worthy of keeping. Only the prompt intervention of Prof. Maurice Moss saved it from the scrap yard. Some remedial work by Sam has now brought the instrument into full working order again. Really nice to know that this sort of instrument can be saved and given a new lease of life.

Sam hopes that he will be able to pass it on to another member of the Quekett when he has no further use for it. However, don't hold your breath - that wont be for a long long time yet!

Our thanks go once again to Ken Jones for carrying out the arrangements for the day, Bette Jones for keeping us supplied with refreshments and Peter Bickford the Warden, for allowing access to this special site. A truly excellent day.

Tony Jarratt