Suffolk
Bird
Group

Please read this information carefully.

 

We look forward to welcoming you on our Outdoor Events!

 

Booking and Cancellation

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• The list of Outdoor Events (Field Meetings) can be found on the Programme Card enclosed

       with the Winter copy of The Harrier - and also on the SBG website.

• Prior booking for most of these events is not necessary and you should assemble at the

       time and meeting place described on the Programme Card.

• Booking is required for certain events with restrictions on numbers or with other particular

       circumstances. You are asked to contact either the Leader or the Outdoor Events

       Organiser beforehand. Those meetings requiring pre-booking are clearly indicated on the

       Programme Card, along with relevant phone numbers.

• Please Note. If the weather forecast for the day of the event appears particularly poor and

       potentially unsafe, the Leader reserves the right to cancel the event. If you think this is

       likely to happen, you should contact the Leader by phone the evening before to check

       whether or not the event will be run.

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Participation​

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• SBG Outdoor Events are generally led by one or more of our members working in an

       amateur capacity, on behalf of members.

• Young people are very welcome to attend, but those under 18 must be accompanied by a

       parent or guardian - or a responsible adult well known to the young person, who formally

       assumes responsibility for them.

• Dogs, except guide dogs, are not permitted to accompany you.

 

Our Preparation for an Event

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• Leaders will be familiar with the routes to be taken and will consider the relevant documented Risk

       Assessment.

• The main safety issues in relation to the event will be shared with you at the start and may

       be revised if conditions change significantly.

 

Your Preparation for an Event

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• Please take sensible precautions to ensure your own safety and that of others attending

       events.

• Do not attempt a walk unless you are fit and able to do so. Walks often cover several miles

       and you must expect at least the kind of hazards occasionally encountered on public

       footpaths in the countryside of lowland England.

• Wear appropriate clothing, weatherproof clothing and footwear. Walking boots or at least

       stout shoes are a minimum footwear requirement for all walks.

• Be aware of forecast weather conditions and come appropriately prepared for hot, dry

       days (sunhats, sunscreen etc), as well as cold, wet ones (weatherproofs, hats, gloves etc).

• In many areas, ticks are present as potential vectors of Lyme Disease. To minimise the risk

      of exposure, you are strongly advised to wear long shirtsleeves and long trousers and tuck

      the bottoms into your socks. You should undertake a personal check for any ticks on

      returning home and remove them immediately using a ‘tick hook’.

• Ensure your tetanus vaccination is up to date. Keep all sores and wounds covered.

• You should not assume that contact to emergency services will be immediately available,

       as meetings may take place out of mobile phone range.​

• Bring your own picnic lunch and drink(s), plus your own wipes or water to clean your hands

      before eating and drinking.

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Taking Care during an Event

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• It is expected that you will make every effort to draw the Leader’s attention to any

      member of the group in distress.

• Take sensible precautions to avoid natural hazards. Stay away from the top or base of cliffs

      and water edges, particularly where there are sloping banks etc.

• Avoid skin contact with water.

• Where a walk includes a section of public highway, follow the Highway Code

      recommendations to pedestrians.

• Toilets and other personal facilities may not available during a walk, but the Leader will be

      aware of the location of those nearest to the route.

• If you decide to leave an event early, you must advise the Leader of your departure from

      the group.

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First Aid

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• It is not a requirement for a Leader to be a qualified first aider or to be expected to

      administer first aid.

•  You should carry your own portable first aid kit and any personal medication for your own

      use.

 

Transport

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• Unless otherwise arranged by the Leader, you should make your own way to and from the

      meeting point for the event.

• It is sometimes necessary to move between sites by vehicle during an event. In instances

      where participants do not have a vehicle of their own, there is normally somebody with a

      spare seat who is willing to convey them. In these circumstances, such travel

     arrangements take place solely by agreement between the driver and potential passenger.