AT the RSPB meeting in Powick Parish Hall last Wednesday evening Mr John Robinson spoke about the natural history of the Wyre Forest where he was a warden for 22 years prior to his retirement. His selection of slides illustrated the effects of coppicing oak for producing charcoal for industrial purposes and the associated woodland plants and flora. There are hay meadows and wetter areas supporting a variety of grasses, flowers, fungi, lichen and mosses. Photographs of the bird life, reptiles and mammals were much appreciated by the 100 plus audience. Wyre Forest, which contains areas designated as SSSIs (sites of Special Scientific Interest), is managed by English Nature. The April meeting of the RSPB will take place on Wednesday, April 10 when Charles Martin, a former Farne Islands National Trust warden, will illustrate the Bird People of St Kilda. The evening is at 7.30pm in Powick Parish Hall.

This Sunday's family service at St Peter's Church is at 11am and with the children of Junior Church will include a dramatic presentation of the last week of Jesus' life and celebrate Palm Sunday. There will not be a service at Callow End as the children will be taking part in this service, which is entitled The Road to Easter.

On Monday, March 25 there will be a service of Compline at St Peter's, Powick. Offers of help to decorate the church for Easter are asked to contact Thea Wild (01905) 831048 or Jenny Hill (01905) 830672.

Nine members of 1st Powick Brownies took part in packing customers' shopping in the Co-Op store at St John's, Worcester, last Saturday afternoon. They joined Brownies and Guides from the St John's and Crown East units to raise money for the Acorns Children's Hospice. £532 was collected in aid of sick children and in addition £100 was raised in order to help one Guide who is representing Worcester on a visit to the Guide Centre in Thailand later in the year. The Brownies who packed bags for two hours were: Hannah Whittal-Wiliams, Lucy Woolstenhume, Sophie Powell, Juliet Wilkes, Sarah Fraser, Charlotte Habershon, Amelia Peden, Nicola Griffiths and Leila Cattel. This Friday is the last meeting before Easter but many Brownies will be attending an Easter Eggstravaganza at Blackmore Guide Camp site at Hanley Swan tomorrow (Saturday) for a day of fun activities, balloon race, tombola, assault course, archery etc.