This page was updated on Monday, 25-Sep-2023 21:12:50 BST

SKYLARKS NEWSLETTERS: OUR ON-LINE ARCHIVE

Our newsletter, Skylarks, contains notifications of forthcoming events as well as reports on recent events and other articles and information related to the Park. Collectively, they constitute an 'on-line archive' as all major events and projects are reported within the newsletters.

YOU CAN CONTRIBUTE!!! If you have an idea for the newsletter, or would like to write an article, please let us know - see the 'Contact us' link above. To get your own advanced copy of the latest Skylarks why not become a member? Check out the details about membership through the Membership page.

Every edition of 'Skylarks' includes as standard: a Message from the Chair, notification of our next event, and the Programme of Events for the remainder of the current year, and contact details. Additionally, they contain special features, as and when referenced below.

Click on link to open	Special Features
71 - September 2023	The Birdsong Walk, Bring Your Own Picnic By The Lake, Annual Moth Night, Wickford Community Showcase Event,Wick Country Park - Wildlife Sightings, Wick-ed Gardeners
70 - February 2023	The January Jaunt & AGM 2023, Wick-ed Gardeners, Wick Country Park - Wildlife Sightings 2022
69 - August 2022	Picnic in the Park, Moths & Star Gazing Evening, Wildlife Sightings, Bat Watch & Night Walk, Photographic Competition 2022
68 - February 2022	Wick Country Park - Wildlife Sightings in 2021, Wick-ed Gardeners, New Bailiff at the Park
67 - September 2021	Wildlife sightings at The Wick Country Park, Wick Country Park Moth Night & Star Gazing,Planting of the Cherry Blossom Trees, improvements to the Wick Country Park Entrance
66 - February 2021	Wildlife sightings at The Wick Country Park, the year 2020
65 - July 2020	Wildlife sightings at The Wick Country Park, January to July 2020
64 - March 2020	The January Jaunt & AGM 2020, The Wick Country Park Wildlife Walk February 2020
63 - December 2019	Kites, Cars & Other Things, September 2019, The Skylark Regeneration Project, Winter 2019 / 2020
62 - September 2019	Skylarks 3K Race July 2019, The Beauty of the Wick Country Park
61 - June 2019	Bird Song Walk 2019, Skylarks 3K Race April 2019
60 - March 2019	January Jaunt 2019 & AGM
59 - December 2018	Kites & Classic Cars September 2018
58 - August 2018	Nature Day July 2018, The Skylarks 3K Race July 2018
57 - May 2018	Skylarks Race April 2018, Bird Song Walk 2018
56 - March 2018	January Jaunt 2018 and AGM, Wick Coiuntry Park Information Boards, Litter Blitz February 2018, Membership arrangements for 2018
55 - November 2017	Kites & Classic Cars September 2017, The Bat Walk September 2017
54 - August 2017	Paws in the Park June 2017, Nature Quest July 2017, The Skylarks 3K Race July 2017, The Bat Walk May 2017
53 - May 2017	Weed & Clean February 2017, Skylarks Race April 2017, Quiz Night 2017, Bird Song Walk 2017
52 - February 2017	Information Boards project, January Jaunt / AGM (2017), Full events programme for 2017
51 - November 2016	Kites and Classic Cars 2016, The Bee Chambers
50 - August 2016	PAWS 2016, Nature Quest 2016, Crickets & Dragonflies 2016, Skylarks Race, July 2016
49 - May 2016	Quiz Night 2016, Birdsong Walk 2016, Skylarks Race April 2016, The Great Spring Clean
48 - February 2016	Yule Ramble 2015, Chair's Report for 2015
47 - November 2015	Membership renewal for 2016, Kite Festival September 2015, the Refurbished Storage Container / new wild-life home
46 - August 2015	Paws in the Park 2015, Skylarks Race July 2015, Nature Quest 2015, Crickets & Dragonflies 2015
45 - May 2015	Quiz Night 2015, Litter Blitz, Birdsong Walk 2015, Skylarks Race April 2015
44 - February 2015	About this Website, Yule Ramble 2014, New Cycle Racks
43 - November 2014	Kite Festival 2014, Wickford Wildlife Society, Membership renewal
42 - August 2014	Paws in the Park 2014, Nature Quest 2014, Crickets and Dragonflies 2014, Skylarks 3K Race, July 2014
41 - May 2014	Quiz Night 2014, Birdsong Walk 2014, Skylarks 3K Race April 2014
40 - February 2014	Yule Ramble 2013, Wick Weeders
39 - November 2013	Crickets and Dragonflies 2013, Kite Festival 2013
38 - August 2013	Paws in the Park 2013, Nature Quest 2013, Skylarks 3K Race (July 2013), Sue's Corner
37 - May 2013	Quiz Night 2013, Birdsong Walk 2013, Skylarks 3K Race (April 2013), Meadowcroft Garden Centre Donation of Tools
36 - February 2013	Yuletide Ramble 2012, Dipping Pond Renovation, Volunteer Work Parties
35 - November 2012	Nature Quest August 2012, Kites 2012, Improvements to the Park 2012
34 - August 2012	Paws in the Park 2012, The Pond Clearing Work Party 2012, Skylarks 3K Race July 2012, Crickets & Dragonflies 2012
33 - May 2012	Quiz Night 2012, Tree Planting 2012, Skylarks 3K Race April 2012, Bird Song Walk 2012
32 - February 2012	Tree planting event November 2011,
31 - November 2011	Kites 2011, Fishing success in the Lake, Nature Quest 2011
30 - August 2011	PAWS 2011, 3K Run July 2011, Crickets & Dragonflies 2011
29 - May 2011	Work Party / Litter Pick 2011, 3K Run April 2011, Bird Song Walk 2011
28 - February 2011	Work Parties 2011, Wickford Wildlife Society
27 - November 2010	Nature Quest 2010, Kite Festival 2010
26 - August 2010	PAWS 2010, 3K Run July 2010, Crickets & Dragonflies 2010
25 - May 2010	Birdsong Walk 2010
24 - February 2010	Bird Sightings in the Park, January 2010
23 - November 2009	Kites 2009
22 - August 2009	PAWS 2009, Nature Quest 2009, An 'Alien' lands in the Park - unusual widlife sightings, 2009, Translocation of Reptiles to the WCP, 2009
21 - May 2009	Birdsong Walk 2009, Work Parties February 2009, New Picnic Benches 2009
20 - February 2009	Winter birdlife at the WCP
19 - November 2008	Your suggestions needed - for naming areas of the WCP
18 - August 2008	PAWS 2008, Nature Quest 2008, Wildlife News, Homes for Wildlife
17 - May 2008	Bird Song Walk 2008, Bee Houses, Tales from a new Friend
16 - February 2008	Wickford Wildlife Society, Soil, land use and associated grassland plants at the WCP,
15 - November 2007	Kites 2007, Natural Nibbles (facts about blue tits), Nature's Clash of Colour
14 - August 2007	PAWS 2007, Nature Quest 2007, Natural nibbles (facts about blackbirds)
13 - May 2007	Park Update 2007, A spring walk around the Wick Country Park 2007, Natural nibbles (facts about house sparrows)
12 - February 2007	[Chairperson's report for 2006, Canine ramble, Natural nibbles, Did you know - the Friends' Logo
11 - November 2006	Winter Walk with Canine Ramblers, The Dragonfly Walk in August, A message from Phil the Pill Box
10 - August 2006	Dog Awareness Day 2006, Photographic Exhibition 2006, Name that plant! (a botanical survey of the plants of the WCP)
09 - May 2006	A little history (history of The Wick area of Wickford), Garden Update
08 - February 2006	A young 'Friend' describes the Yuletide Ramble 2005, In the belfry (or the pill box) (Visit by the Bat Conservation Trust), Phil's fascinating facts (Tortoiseshell butterfly)
07 - November 2005	Autumn / Winter work parties, WCP Wildlife records 2005, Tales from a dog walker, A story from Phil the Pillbox, Weekly healthy walk
06 - August 2005	How does the garden grow? (The development of the Pavilion Garden), Nature Quest 2005, Dragons, damsels and other beasties (two bug hunts 2005), Autumn / Winter 2005 Work Parties, One of Britain's largest hoverflies visits the Wick Country Park 2005 (Volucella zonaria)
05 - May 2005	The Canaries meet the Skylarks (visit by the Canary Wharf Walkers to see and hear the skylarks flying over the Park), Easter Work Party 2005, The Canaries meet the Skylarks, We spotted the birdies! (Birdsong Walk, 2005), What lies beneath? (Environment Agency ecological assessment of the Lake)
04 - February 2005	A message from the Countryside Ranger (Initial thoughts about the first Management Plan for the WCP, January in the Park
03 - Autumn 2004	- Chair's report on her own Wildlife walk, Message from the new Countryside Ranger, The development of the Park, Plea for volunteers
02 - Spring 2004	- The opening of the Pavilion (The Education & Information building), the opening of the Play Area, Wildlife Sightings, Future Events
01 - November 2002	- Our first introductory edition! Message from the Chair, Forthcoming events - including notice of the official opening of The Wick Country Park, December 8th, 2002, Work Parties, Appeal for new members

Basildon Council Publications

Before The Friends group had been set up and started publishing its own series of Newsletters, as above, the Countryside Services team of the Council published a series of 8 Newsletters entitled The Wick Country Park News. The first of these Newsletters was published in 2000, and set out the original aspirations for the Park from the Council's perspective. The last few of these documents over-lapped with The Skylarks, with number 8 appearing in 2005. By then the main Development of the Park was complete.

Click on link to open	Features
1 - November 2000	- Introductory edition! Outline of the plans, including a centre-fold map and the envisaged timetable. Topical photos.
2 - July 2001	- Progress report, Wildlife at the Park, Introducing the new Ranger (Paul Bown), Future Work. Topical photos.
3 - December 2001	- Progress report, Future Work, Volunteer work, Site visits, map. Topical photos.
4 - May 2002	- The New Lake, Gating of the site, Power Line Poles, Tree Planting, Volunteer Work, Introducing the Friends of the Wick Country Park Group. Topical photos.
5 - November 2002	- The Friends Group, Opening Event, Ranger's Report, Volunteers, Wildlife Update, The Park takes shape Topical photos.
6 - July 2003	- Friends of the Wick Country Park, Wildlife Sightings, Pavillion, Meadow Trees, Vandalism, Pillbox Modification, Trails, Fencing, Volunteers and Schools, Pavilion Opening Event, Information, Transforming your Space Topical photos.
7 - July 2004	- Editorial, Adventure Play Area, Bats, Book Review, The Lake, Wildlife Feature: Crickets, Spotters Bird List, Introducing the New Ranger (Mark Williams), Fortcoming Events. Topical photos.
8 - August 2005	- Editorial, Establishing Park Woodland, The Oak Woodland, The Ash Woodland, Faeces and the Toxicara Parasite, EGrets Visit the Park, The New Pavilion Garden, Become a Friend, Forthcoming Events, The Spotter's Guide to Birds at The Wick. Topical photos.