Natural History, Science and Technology.

WE HAVE MOVED----- FROM NOW ON THE GROUP WILL BE MEETING AT ST TERESA’S CATHOLIC CHURCH. THE MEETING IS STILL EVERY SECOND THURSDAY 2-3.30

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Planned events

2026	Activity
March	Skin Inside and Out                                  Joyce O’Neill
April	Visit to Tucks Brewery   Thoresby
May	Trees                                                                Ann  Ayodele
June	Birds of Prey                                                  Chris Shervey

April 2026

The Nature, Science and Technology group went to TUCKS micro brewery at Thoresby on Wednesday 8th April 2026 for a guided tour. Mena our guide explained the brewing process and how different types of beer were created. The entire brewery has been created in what used to be a double garage for horse drawn carriages!

The brewery is run by 2 men, Simon and Adam who still find time for full time jobs, leaving Mena to the day to day running of the place. Mena keeps in constant touch with them and uses mobile technology if any adjustments to the brewing process need to be made. It was very interesting and some of the beers were acceptable but pricey!

March 2026

This months talk was given by Joyce, on skin inside and out. For something most of us take for granted it is a very complicated organ, in fact it is the largest organ in the body. We learnt why skin is different colours, how we feel through our skin, why it is waterproof, that each internal organ has it’s own covering of skin and much much more.

Feb 2026

This month Jim gave us a talk on microwaves and there uses, not only for cooking but for communications. We also had a demo where  using a long rope he showed us the different parts of the wave. We learnt that microwaves are part of a bigger family of waves e.g. x rays gamma rays  all travelling at the speed of light, with different wave lengths.

Jan 2026

This month Trevor Smith from Ravenshead u3acame and gave a very interesting talk (& showed us 2 short films) on the history of cheese making. I for one didn’t realise all the complicated processes and time it takes from cow to the cheese in the shop.

13th Nov 2025

Ann Ayodele gave a very interesting talk on Fungi. We all agreed that they are a fascinating life form – no they are not a plant. We learnt they are a classification all to themselves.

The uses of fungi are varied and surprising. Ann brought samples for us to look at which showed the differences in size, texture and colour that can be found in different fungi.

9th Oct 2025

This months talk was on Ears and Sounds, the first part explaining what sound is Vibrations travelling in waves) and the second part explained how these vibrations are changed by the ear and the brain into the sounds that we hear. A section on earing in animals told us weird and wonderful facts such as the ears of a praying mantis are in it’s chest! After coffee and a chat we finished off with 2 games of Sound Bingo. In game one identifying everyday sounds and game 2 was identifying sounds animals make.

Sept 2025

This month we went to Mansfield Museum, our tour started in the store rooms first the natural history room were hundreds of birds and animals are. These are  the legacy of the Victorians fascination for taxidermy.  The collections came from two local collectors. In the social history room we rummaged among old household artifacts and a wonderful collection of tins made by the Metal Box Company of Mansfield. Then into the museum, first the Birds of the World display and then the Dinosaur display. We finished the tour off with a welcome cup of coffee.

July 2025

This month Joyce gave us a very interesting talk on why when we have a blood transfusion we can only be given certain types of blood. Then how we get our blood types from our parents, when the combination of their types will result in a  certain type  In the child. E.g.Father B Mother O Child B or O.  Father AB Mother AB  Child AB A or B.

12th June 2025

The group had a useful and very interesting talk from Jake a paramedic on CPR and Defibrillators. We learnt what happens when a person has a heart attack and how as a passer by to give CPR. We also learnt how to use a defibrillator, call 999 who will give you the code for the box switch on the defibrillator and follow the instructions. The most important message was don’t be afraid to have a go, without intervention that person suffering a heart attack will die.

April 2025

This months talk was given by members of the Warsop Wildlife Rescue on hedgehogs. We learnt some very interesting facts about hedgehogs and were all given a pamphlet to take home with the facts in. We also learnt about their work in rescuing hedgehogs and how to spot a hedgehog in distress. The meeting ended with a question and answer session. The WWR are coming to talk at the main meeting in July where they will talk more about their work and the other birds and animals they rescue.

March 2025

This month we looked at the elements on the PERIODIC TABLE. Playing games of bingo we learnt the symbols of the elements. We were given  interesting facts on some of the elements and finished with a Periodic table quiz to see “what we had learnt”!

14th Nov 24

Today was our first meeting at St Teresa’s and it didn’t start well the caretaker forgot we were going and so we were 15 mins late starting. But everyone prefers the new venue and hopefully next time will be better. The group discussed plans for next year and then had a talk on Birds In The Garden. A wide variety of birds were covered  from Wrens to Woodpeckers.

10th October 24

Jodie from Mansfield Museum brought several old implements and we split into 2 teams and spent an enjoyable hour discussing their use. Some we easily identified as our mothers or grandmothers had used them. Others were more difficult. One large heavy metal object had both teams puzzled. What was it I can’t tell you because even the museum don’t know! ! See how many you recognise from the photos.

July 2024

The title this month was Do you know your Tibia from your Fibula?

It was part quiz and part talk. Quiz --- Everyone had a picture of a skeleton to mark on the positions of the bones. Talk – where the bones are located and the function of the bones. The person who placed the most bones correctly was Joyce who won the prize of a chocolate orange!

June 2024

At the June 2024 meeting we had a talk from Jake the Paramedic, who showed us a Defribulator and explained about regular and irregular heart rhythms. He also presented equipment used for resuscitation and explained how they worked.

He also demonstrated, with the help of Joyce, how cushions were used to aid lifting people from the floor.

It was a most informative and enjoyable 2 hours!

On 8th Aug 24 the group will be visiting Wollaton Hall, Nottingham.