Bird Watching

Discover tango in a truly magical setting at St Matthew’s Church. An open-level class where music, movement and connection meet. No partner needed — just curiosity and a desire to dance. Come explore tango beyond steps, in a warm, welcoming space where the embrace leads the way.

Join me for an exploration of the countryside of.... Chessington, Oxshott, & Ashtead, Surrey We'll gather from 10.45am to 11ish, outside Farringdon train station, then head to platform 3, & aim to get the 11.17am train to Wimbledon & switch trains there to Chessington South If joining us along the way, we will wait outside Chessington South station for about 10 minutes We'll picnic in the woods, so bring, or buy enroute, vegan picnic stuff, & later, if we fancy dinner, looks like a decent Vegan friendly menu at The Woodman pub, near Ashtead station. We'll get the train back from Ashtead, changing at Mitcham Eastfields See you there

Join me for an exploration of the countryside of.... Chessington, Oxshott, & Ashtead, Surrey We'll gather from 10.45am to 11ish, outside Farringdon train station, then head to platform 3, & aim to get the 11.17am train to Wimbledon & switch trains there to Chessington South If joining us along the way, we will wait outside Chessington South station for about 10 minutes We'll picnic in the woods, so bring, or buy enroute, vegan picnic stuff, & later, if we fancy dinner, looks like a decent Vegan friendly menu at The Woodman pub, near Ashtead station. We'll get the train back from Ashtead, changing at Mitcham Eastfields See you there

Scarecrow in a Garden of Cucumbers is a musical comedy that follows aspiring actress Eve Harrington, as she moves from Kansas to the big city of New York, embarks on a series of misadventures and meets a collective of crazy local characters. Oh, and she happens to be played by a trans actress, a pretty big deal then as it still seems to be now. It stars Warhol acolyte Holly Woodlawn\* and features guest spots from Bette Midler, Lily Tomlin and David Marguiles (the mayor in Ghostbusters). The easy comparison would be John Waters, but to my eyes this looks like it has more in common with the kind of subversive, chaotic early 70's urban comedies made by Milos Forman (Taking Off) and Brian de Palma (Hi, Mom!). It's a rare screening of an obscure cult movie which looks like a hoot IMO, and besides, it was either this or Swingers at the PCC. Anyway, this is a Bar Trash movie, which means a 20 minute-plus intro, an intermission, spot quizzes and an air of outrageous campness throughout. It's not for everyone, but I really appreciate the unusual film choices and passion that goes into this (not to mention the opportunity to watch a movie in a bar). And it's only a fiver including booking fee! Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5oZwy-Dc7Hk Tickets: https://www.genesiscinema.co.uk/event/106842 The event kicks off at 8.45pm but we can meet a little earlier, say 8.15pm, in the bar to grab a drink and get a decent seat. \*Immortalised in the first line of Walk on the Wild Side

Join me for an exploration of the countryside of.... Chessington, Oxshott, & Ashtead, Surrey We'll gather from 10.45am to 11ish, outside Farringdon train station, then head to platform 3, & aim to get the 11.17am train to Wimbledon & switch trains there to Chessington South If joining hs along the way, we will wait outside Chessington South station for about 10 minutes We'll picnic in the woods, so bring, or buy enroute, vegan picnic stuff, & later, if we fancy dinner, looks like a decent Vegan friendly menu at The Woodman pub, near Ashtead station. We'll get the train back from Ashtead, changing at Mitcham Eastfields See you there

Please, make sure to watch the film ***before*** the meet-up :) **Agenda**: * 6:30-6:45 pm: Introduction and housekeeping * 6:45 pm - 7:30 pm: Film discussion * 7:30 pm: Break * 7:45-8:15 pm: Cont. film discussion * 8:15-8:30 pm: Next films

**Metropolitan Walkers is part of the Ramblers, Britain's walking charity. All welcome for 3 'taster' walks, after which please join the Ramblers - info on the [Met Walkers website](https://www.metropolitan-walkers.org.uk/how-to-join/)** A tour of a few of SE London's small 'fields' - parks with some wilder features or good views over the city lights. Terrain: Pavements, paths. Short sections may be poorly surfaced or poorly lit so please wear sensible shoes (and bring a torch if this makes you more comfortable). Optional pub at the end, often with a decent beer selection. ***PLEASE NOTE THE EARLIER THAN USUAL START TIME.*** Mainline and overground routes to this station are available but not as frequent as to other midweek start points, so plan ahead. The finishing point has somewhat more frequent connections. Finish time given is approximate. **Easy \| 3\.6 miles / 5\.8 km** **Start: Brockley station (zone 2). (Meet outside the station, to the east of the railway line, at the BOTTOM of the steps/ramp.) @ 06:45 pm** Postcode: SE4 2EX **End: Catford and Catford Bridge stations (zone 3) - they are right next to each other.** Postcode: SE6 4RE

################# **This trip is now FULL. If you missed out – we're running it one final time on Saturday, 21 March and Sunday, 22 March. Sign up via the links:** **Saturday, March 21** [https://www.meetup.com/londonsocialhiking/events/313487353/](https://www.meetup.com/londonsocialhiking/events/313487353/) **Sunday, March 22** [https://www.meetup.com/londonsocialhiking/events/313487451/](https://www.meetup.com/londonsocialhiking/events/313487451/) **We’ve created a list of [FAQs](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1e4VGmwhurmCng2cY3ZJHOS4j9ZlWKaX1/view?usp=sharing) to help answer your questions.** ################# We’re off to Norfolk! The seals in Norfolk are truly one of Britain's most special sights. Without any doubt, they're an incredible WOW factor and one that you must see! On this day hike, we'll walk along the top of the sand dunes and enjoy stunning panoramic views across the North Sea. On our way, we'll pass the much-loved grey seal colony at Horsey Beach, which draws thousands of visitors each year, **particularly between November and March**, when the seals come ashore to breed. There are literally hundreds and hundreds of seals and their pups stretching for as far as the eye can see! The whole walk is in the Broads National Park – one of fifteen national parks in the UK. You'll discover its iconic windmills, navigable waterways and broads (man-made, shallow lakes). With over 125 miles of lock-free waterways, the Norfolk Broads have more miles of waterway than Venice or Amsterdam, and are an extremely popular boating holiday destination! Locals like to call the Broads “the Venice of the East”. This walk is **suitable for all abilities** – it is almost entirely flat and done at a very gentle pace to allow us enjoy the nature and take plenty of pictures. **HIKE HIGHLIGHTS** * Watch seals and their young from a close distance at Horsey Gap, home to one of the biggest colonies of grey seals in Britain. * Take a gentle stroll over the vast open expanse of the golden sand dunes of Winterton Beach – a Nature Reserve and Site of Special Scientific Interest. The area is a veritable haven for birds and all kinds of wildlife and is widely regarded as having the best sand dunes in Norfolk. * See the spectacular Horsey Windpump – the youngest and largest windpump in the Norfolk Broads. It was built in 1912 to pump water out from the surrounding land so that it could be used for farming. * Discover Horsey Mere, often regarded as one of the most beautiful of the northern broads and famous for its internationally important wildlife. * Walk the newly opened stretch of the England Coast Path – a new National Trail around all of England's coast, which once completed will be the longest coastal walking route in the world (4,500 kilometres in length!). **DISTANCE & DIFFICULTY** Distance: 6 miles (10km). Ascent: 50m. Difficulty: [Easy](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1BMjvqhAAdSeCdyzLPHs0z04_e2TiKdci/view). **ITINERARY** **07:45** Meet outside ibis London City – Shoreditch Hotel, 5 Commercial St, E1 6BF (near Aldgate East Station) **08:00** Sharp departure **11:15** Horsey Windpump to Hemsby hike via Winterton-on-Sea for a lunch stop **16:30** Departure **19:30** London, we'll drop you off next to Bow Road Underground Station **TRANSPORT** As on most of our trips, we'll travel in a comfortable 16-seater minibus. **SAFETY** This hike is led by an experienced, Outdoor First Aid qualified hike leader. **BOOKING** To keep ticket prices down and avoid PayPal/Meetup fees (£7 extra per ticket), we kindly ask for payment by bank transfer. Please include your Meetup name and the trip as the payment reference (e.g. John Seals). As places are limited, we can hold your place for 24 hours. Business Account Name: London Social Hiking Limited Sort Code: 20-17-20 Account Number: 63116514 We'll let you know by changing your status to “Paid” as soon as the payment is cleared. You can check your status next to your name in the [attendees list](https://www.meetup.com/londonsocialhiking/events/313185480/attendees) of the event. You don’t need a paid Meetup subscription to do this – just close any pop-up windows and continue. **THE PRICE OF £78 INCLUDES** * Transport throughout the trip * Experienced, professional PSV minibus driver * Guiding on all hiking routes by an experienced and qualified Mountain Leader * Professional event organisation * Group first aid kit with qualified first aiders * Admin fee * 20% VAT **THE PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE** * Personal insurance (for cancellation, accident, health, emergency evacuation and loss, theft of or damage to baggage and personal effects, and personal trekking insurance) **HOW TO CONTACT US** For all enquiries, please PM Anna (the main organiser) via Meetup. Alternatively, you can email us at info@lshiking.co.uk We'll usually get back to you within 4 hours. Your guide will be Milena (07869815577, only for use during the hike). Please get in touch if you have any difficulty locating the meeting point or need help during the trip. **WHAT TO BRING** * Suitable hiking shoes with ankle support * Waterproof and windproof jacket and trousers or a poncho (if there is a chance of rain) * Gloves/hat/cap * Water (min 1L) * Packed lunch **REVIEWS ⭐** We have hosted over 600 events on Meetup and received an incredible number of positive reviews from our community. We’re proud to have achieved an **average event rating of 4.8 out of 5**. Please keep sharing your feedback – it helps us continue to improve and make every trip even better! **JOIN US ON SOCIAL MEDIA** This is where we share pictures from our events. Feel free to use for inspiration on where to go next! [Facebook group link](https://www.facebook.com/groups/220802492121957) and [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/london_social_hiking/) **REFUND POLICY** You can check our refund policy [here](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Ny-b2NmMzBlpCiKjzkqC2vJEisxlORpn/view?usp=drive_link).

**Who We Are** Early Bird Speakers is one of London's best public speaking club for beginners and experienced speakers alike. Our fast-paced, engaging meetings help members develop confidence and refine their speaking skills in a supportive environment. **What to Expect** Each meeting follows a structured format with three key segments: * **Prepared Speeches** – Members deliver speeches based on projects that enhance skills like storytelling, persuasion, and vocal variety. * **Impromptu Speaking (Table Topics)** – Participants practice thinking on their feet with 1–2 minute speeches on surprise topics. * **Evaluations** – Constructive feedback is given to foster continuous improvement. **Why Join Us?** * A **diverse and welcoming** community, including professionals, entrepreneurs, artists, and more. * **Energetic and engaging** sessions designed to make learning enjoyable. * A **structured yet fun** experience that builds confidence and skill. * Optional **post-meeting coffee or breakfast** for networking and socialising. * Each meeting is attend by 30-50 people **Whether you’re terrified of public speaking or already confident at the mic,** this club is the place to grow. From first-time speakers to experienced presenters — everyone has something to gain here. **Meeting Details** **Where:** Freemasons' Hall, 60 Great Queen Street, London, WC2B 5AZ **When:** Every Thursday at 7:00AM - 8:45 AM (Please try to be on time as reception downstairs will close shortly after the meeting has started) Join us for free as a guest! Feel free to sign up on Meetup or **simply show up on Thursday.** Whatever your speaking ability, you'll find a warm and supportive atmosphere to grow your skills. **Questions?** Send us a message on meetup, visit [www.earlybirdspeakers.com](http://www.earlybirdspeakers.com/) or e-mail us on membership@earlybirdspeakers.com

**Backabush is heading back to the Canary Islands to visit Tenerife!** Tenerife is the biggest island in the Canaries and has a wealth of amazing hikes to explore. Although the island is more famous for its resort holidays, Tenerife actually has some of the best hikes in the Canary Islands. These islands sit just off the coast of Africa and enjoy mild weather and sunshine throughout the winter months making them ideal for a hiking escape in March. FOR MORE INFO PLEASE VISIT: [https://www.meetup.com/backabush/events/306847359](https://www.meetup.com/backabush/events/306847359)

**Welcome to StitchUp** – a welcoming social group that embraces individuals of all skill levels, providing a shared space for crafting in a social setting. **Bring your current project**, whether it's knitting, quilting, embroidery, or any other textile craft. Work on your project or piece while having a chat with us. Some people knit, some people mend or just join the conversations. If you are starting new, I’m sure we can give you tips, but generally this is not a class or workshop and you will have to bring your own materials. Also keep in mind that we sometimes don't have a table, so something that requires table space might be difficult to do. **Background** – StitchUp began among friends with a shared love for textile crafts, evolving into a thriving group with regular meetups. Unfortunately, the group faced a decline during the COVID-19 pandemic but we would now like to revive these regular meetings in a social, in-person setting. **Tickets** – There is a small ticket price to partially cover the costs for the use of this platform. I do not earn any money from this. Extra money will go back into the group.

Start your weekend by watching the sunrise from one of London's best viewpoints. Meet fellow early birds. Get a big dose of nature: wild sky, abundant green space, and occasional wildlife. And then warm up in a nearby cafe. Conversations fuelled by early morning light and coffee tend to be good ones. On Saturday 28th February, we will: * Meet from: 6:30AM at the top of Primrose Hill * **Sunrise at: 6:48AM** * Take in the view for a little while * Walk to a nearby cafe (Roots on Regent's Park Road) * Warm up with coffee (with 10% off) Become part of our community of regulars, or just drop by for a one off experience. We meet frequently - sometimes weekly, sometimes fortnightly - to create and sustain community. New people are always welcome :-) **[WHATSAPP GROUP](https://chat.whatsapp.com/C2KwIp79riz1A71dNF6pgF)** to keep up to date **[INSTAGRAM](https://www.instagram.com/thesunriseclubetc)** to see what these meetups look like **[SUBSTACK](https://experimentsingroupwisdom.substack.com/)** for the newsletter and occasional extras **[WEBSITE](http://www.alltogether.one/)** for all other groups We are easy to find because we will be at the top of the hill with a big flag that says 'THE SUNRISE CLUB'. These are free meetups, but if you’d like to make a donation in support of my mission - to get people together, to create connections, and have fun - you can donate here: '[buy me a coffee](https://www.buymeacoffee.com/bonnyastor)' ❤️ \*\*You can also join us on [TRIBE](https://tribeirl.com/the-sunrise-club)\*\*

You can expect a friendly introduction to the sport, but in all honesty you will dive in at the deep end to learn UWR. Please bring swimwear and an open mind and expectation to have fun. We can lend an UWR hat, snorkle, mask and fins. Although if you have them already it is better to bring your own. Expect to swim, dive to 4m depth, hold your breath longer than you thought you could, be involved in drills and games. It is full contact and you will be wrestling other players to take the ball and pass to your team or score a goal. Please get on touch with questions or intent to attend prior to session so that we can support with kit etc.

**Backabush is heading back to the Canary Islands to visit Tenerife!** Tenerife is the biggest island in the Canaries and has a wealth of amazing hikes to explore. Although the island is more famous for its resort holidays, Tenerife actually has some of the best hikes in the Canary Islands. These islands sit just off the coast of Africa and enjoy mild weather and sunshine throughout the winter months making them ideal for a hiking escape in March. FOR MORE INFO PLEASE VISIT: [https://www.meetup.com/backabush/events/306847359](https://www.meetup.com/backabush/events/306847359)

**Summary** For this event, we will do the [Rhino Barn Tour](https://www.thewilds.org/rhino-barn-tour) at [The Wilds](https://www.thewilds.org/), a ten-thousand acre conservation center in Muskingum County. It is the largest such center in North America and one of the largest in the entire world. During this tour, we'll visit The Wilds' rhino herd in their state-of-the-art heated barns and learn how The Wilds' animal management team takes care of one of the largest herds of rhinos outside of Africa and Asia. **The date and time of this tour** We will be doing the 1:00 p.m. [Rhino Barn Tour](https://www.thewilds.org/rhino-barn-tour) on Saturday, February 28. The tour is scheduled to last 90 minutes. **What you need to do to attend** Signing up here on Meetup will not get you into The Wilds for the tour. You must go out to The Wilds' [website](https://www.thewilds.org/) and [buy a ticket](https://www.thewilds.org/rhino-barn-tour). Please [purchase your ticket](https://www.thewilds.org/rhino-barn-tour), then sign up here on Meetup so I know how many to expect. **Attendance cap** There are only eight total slots/tickets available for this tour. As I obviously have already bought one of the tickets, that leaves seven spaces for everyone else. If you are interested in this event, I urge you to [buy a ticket](https://www.thewilds.org/rhino-barn-tour) at The Wilds' website as soon as possible. Since their website is obviously public, nothing prevents other people having nothing to do with *GOhio!* from buying their own tickets, thereby potentially taking an available slot away from you. **Additional notes on attendance** I have now run several events at The Wilds. While the location of The Wilds and the pricing of the tickets generally leads to small turnouts, the people who have gone have all enjoyed it and were glad they went. If you've never been to The Wilds and you like zoos or animals at all, you are likely to find any tour at The Wilds to be a rewarding experience. **Tickets and pricing** [Tickets](https://www.thewilds.org/rhino-barn-tour) for this tour are $95, or $76 if you're a Wilds' member. I've posted screen shots, below, to help you be sure you're buying tickets for the correct event. Wilds' memberships pay for themselves if you go to The Wilds at least twice a year, and [Columbus Zoo members](https://www.columbuszoo.org/membership) get a discount on memberships to The Wilds. I will always run at least two events a year at The Wilds. Tickets for all Wilds' tours must be purchased at least 24 hours in advance of the actual tour. **Cancellations and refunds** Per The Wilds' [Cancellation Policy](https://www.thewilds.org/policies): *In order to be eligible for refund and accrue no rescheduling fees, cancellations must be made at least 14 days in advance of reservation. Cancellations made within 14 days of reservation will not receive a refund.* You may [contact The Wilds](https://www.thewilds.org/contact) at (740) 638-5030 between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., or you can email them at information@thewilds.org. **Waiver of liability** After you purchase your ticket, you will likely be asked to fill out a waiver of liability. This is a very short document and should take you no more than two minutes to complete. **Where we'll meet** We will meet at The Wilds, whose actual address is [14000 International Rd, Cumberland, OH 43732](https://www.google.com/maps/place/14000+International+Rd,+Cumberland,+OH+43732/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x8837dae07a595557:0xa1ceca93325a8bd1?sa=X&ved=1t:242&ictx=111). Please try to be there by 12:30 p.m. For most Wilds' tours, a shuttle bus will take you to the actual spot of the tour. So think of this as though you're going to the airport to catch a flight. It helps to be on time. The Wilds generally asks that people arrive at least thirty minutes because the scheduled start time of their tour. **GPS / Getting to The Wilds** The Wilds is in a very rural area, but I've never had a problem getting there with my GPS (I have Verizon). I've also uploaded a JPG map, below, of Muskingum County. Sometimes, though, it's hard to get a signal when you're at The Wilds and getting ready to leave. So you might want to consider downloading an offline map in Google Maps. Your cell phone should pick up a signal, however, within a few minutes after you leave. The Wilds' Visitor Center does have free Wi-Fi. **Carpooling?** If you want to carpool, I recommend discussing this in the comments, below, to this event. While I don't myself carpool, I will do what I can to help you arrange something if I can. **The weather** Dress for the weather. Just because the barn is heated doesn't mean it will be warm. And wear closed-toed shoes. Wilds' tours typically run no matter what the weather is. **After the tour** Once we're done with the rhinos, we'll head over to the very highly rated [Y-Bridge Brewing Company](https://ybridgebrewing.com/). The brewery is about thirty minutes from The Wilds, and it will be on the way back to Columbus for most, if not all, of us. The brewery's actual address is [1417 Linden Ave Ste D, Zanesville, OH 43701](https://www.google.com/maps/place/1417+Linden+Ave+d,+Zanesville,+OH+43701/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x8837edd6cc50824f:0xe3a0af1ccb2aefbf?sa=X&ved=1t:242&ictx=111). Y-Bridge Brewing does not serve food; however, they have several [food options](https://ybridgebrewing.com/food-options). I encourage you to check these out ahead of time on their website for yourself. However, here are a few of them: *Within walking distance -- 120 feet away* * [Angry Bull Saloon](https://www.facebook.com/AngryBullSaloonZanesville/) (pizza & subs) * The Corner Pub Sports Bar and Grill (classic bar food) *Delivery options -- [Door Dash](https://www.doordash.com/)* * [4 Star Pizza](https://fourstarpizza.com/), (740) 452-9300 * [Donatos](https://www.donatos.com/), (740) 452-7900 * [Pizza Cottage](https://www.pizza-cottage.com/), (740) 455-6000 * [Dominos](https://www.dominos.com/), (740) 455-3126 * [Papa John's](https://www.papajohns.com/), (740) 450-4100 If you live in the area or can't make The Wilds but still want to meet us at the brewery, that's fine too.

Join us as we get together to see the period drama / classic monster movie, THE BRIDE! The film is written/directed by Maggie Gyllenhaal and stars Jessie Buckley and Christian Bale in a new take on the classic tale, The Bride of Frankenstein. We'll be seeing this one on Thurs, 3/5 one day ahead of the film's opening on Friday. Here’s a description, trailer and plan for this event: DESCRIPTION: In 1930s Chicago, Frankenstein's creature asks Dr. Euphronius to create a companion for him. They give life to a murdered woman as "the Bride," sparking romance, police interest and radical social change. It is written, directed and co-produced by Maggie Gyllenhaal and stars Jessie Buckley, Christian Bale, Peter Sarsgaard, Annette Bening, Jake Gyllenhaal and Penélope Cruz. TRAILER: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-qJkAXLfYM PARKING: Close, convenient parking is available in the nearby garage (located between 9th and 11th, just off High St). Bring your ticket with you and have it validated at the theater and for $2, you’re covered for the night! PLAN: Please purchase your ticket for the 7:00pm showing and we’ll meet inside the upstairs lobby between 6:40 and 6:50pm. Advance ticket purchase is advised (via Gateway website preferred). Once you have yours, please list your seat number in the Comments below! Pre-show bite at Cazuela’s next door at 5:30pm. Please arrive by 5:30pm and ask for the Movie Group! Look forward to seeing you there, Dan

Coffee and conversation at [Stauf's Coffee Roasters](https://www.staufs.com/) in German Village. Street parking is free on Sundays.