Oswald Bailey is very sorry to tell you that we will be closing our Gloucester and Bournemouth stores on the 17^th of March 2012, we would like to thank you for your valued custom at these shops. Please take advantage of our “everything 1/2 price” closing down sale. These are unbelievable, unrepeatable prices and include all our big brand names, Berghaus, Vango, Craghoppers, Seal Skinz, Brasher and many more.

To find your next nearest store please click here

Oswald Bailey is still a family company, now in its 106^th year.  It has been run for the last thirty years by Stephen Bailey, Oswald’s grandson.  Stephen’s son Christopher has recently joined the company full time and has taken command of the web team.  The company appreciates that many customers now prefer to use Oswald Bailey’s website to purchase the wider selection of goods online.

www.oswaldbailey.co.uk

Gloucester, with Christopher and Helen Bailey, great-grand children of Oswald Bailey opening the shop for the first time.

Don’t miss out on the Mega Sale Now On at Oswald Bailey. Grab a bargain or two with up to 70% off selected lines while stocks last. Don’t miss out on some fantastic bargains.

Final orders for guaranteed Christmas delivery, 20th December.

Between 20th and 22nd we should still be able to deliver for Christmas but it is not guaranteed by our courier.

In stock items only.

Dorset Wildlife Trust’s Lorton Meadows Nature Reserve has made the top 10 in The Wildlife Trusts’ new guide to the best places to see birds of­ prey in the UK.  Winter is a fantastic time of year to spot raptors soaring among the clouds or hedgehopping as they chase prey, and Lorton Meadows is also home to breeding kestrels, barn owls, buzzards and more.

Barn owl – Wildstock

Tawny Owl – Steve Davis

Kestrel – Steve Davis

A special site for raptors

Catherine Mason, Dorset Wildlife Trust’s Community Conservation Office said “The grassland at Lorton Meadows is carefully managed to encourage small mammals such as voles and mice. These form the main source of food for a variety of raptors, so the reserve acts as a well-stocked larder, supporting a range of birds of prey from kestrels to barn owls.”

Lorton Meadows has hosted Dorset Wildlife Trust’s infamous “raptorcams” over the last few years, and resident breeding barn owls Bob and Brenda have become a firm favourite. This special nature reserve near Weymouth is also home to breeding kestrels and tawny owls, with buzzards and sparrowhawks regularly sighted swooping over the meadows. Peregrine falcons, marsh harriers and short-eared owls have also been spotted at Lorton Meadows, giving visitors a huge variety of raptors to spot in one place.

Spot them for yourself

Dorset Wildlife Trust’s Lorton Meadows nature reserve regularly hosts family activity days which allow volunteers and visitors a fantastic chance to spy one of these birds of prey in the wild with their own eyes. These events are made available to everyone by Wild About Weymouth and Portland, a partnership between Dorset Wildlife Trust, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, Dorset Countryside and Weymouth and Portland Borough Council. The project is funded by the Big Lottery Fund through Natural England’s Access to Nature programme, to encourage people to discover, enjoy and help conserve the borough’s wonderful natural environment.

For the UK’s top places to see raptors, see the new guide at the website.
The next Lorton Meadows family activity event is a Christmas Craft day on Saturday 10th December, 10.30am till 12.30pm. The event will take place at Lorton Meadows Nature Reserve, Lorton Lane, Upwey, Weymouth, DT3 5QH. There is a £3 charge for each child attending, no unaccompanied children are permitted, and please wear old clothing. Booking is essential, please call Samantha Dallimore on 01305 816546 to book a place and for more information.

-ENDS-
Notes to Editor

1. For more information please contact Samantha Dallimore at Dorset Wildlife Trust on 01305 816546.
For our latest news RSS feed, see /c2/rss/dwt_latest_news.xml

Wild About Weymouth and Portland is a partnership project, funded by the Big Lottery Fund through Natural England’s Access to Nature programme, involving Dorset Wildlife Trust, The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, Dorset Countryside (DCC) and Weymouth and Portland Borough Council.  The project aims to improve access in and between important wildlife sites in the borough and encourage local people and visitors to discover, enjoy and help conserve the wonderful natural environment of Weymouth and Portland.
Additional funding has been provided by Portland Gas Trust and the AONB.

2. Access to Nature is run by Natural England and is part of the The Big Lottery Fund’s
Changing Spaces programme launched in November 2005 to help communities enjoy and
improve their local environments.

3. Natural England manages this £28.75 million Lottery-funded programme on behalf
of a consortium of twelve national environmental organisations comprising BTCV,
British Waterways, Environment Agency, Forestry Commission, Greenspace,
Groundwork UK, Land Restoration Trust, The National Trust, Natural England,
RSPB, the Wildlife Trusts and the Woodland Trust.

4. Through this programme, it is Natural England’s ambition to create opportunities
for people from all backgrounds to have greater access to our natural environment
and bring a lasting change to their awareness and understanding as well as
improved links to the natural world, which many of us can take for granted.

5. Access to Nature closed to applications in May 2010 but for further information
about the programme visit www.naturalengland.org.uk/accesstonature

6. The Big Lottery Fund is the largest of the National Lottery good cause distributors and has been rolling out grants to health, education, environment and charitable causes across the UK since its inception in June 2004.For further information about the Big Lottery Fund, its programmes and awards visit www.biglotteryfund.org.uk

original article http://www.dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk/lorton-haven-birds-of-prey

The Oswald Bailey Regatta Mega Sale is now on in shops and online.  50%  or more off selected regatta items.

Order now for Christmas delivery. Last chance for in stock items 11am 22nd Dec.

OverBoard Pro-Sports Waterproof Backpacks 20 and 30 litre are now in stock!

OverBoard Pro-Sports Waterproof Backpack 30L £57.49

OverBoard Pro-Sports Waterproof Backpack 20L £47.49

The Star Buy Gelert Nemesis 8 Person Tent Package with an RRP of £409.99 is now available at the bargain price of £225.99 – That’s a saving of £184! The package includes the Nemesis 8 person tent, the Nemesis 8 carpet and the Olympus 8 Footprint. Be quick! Limited stocks available!

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The Igloo Down Jacket, from Trespass, is perfect for very cold locations and would look great on the ski slopes. This jacket features a 50% down / 50% feather insulation and boasts a downproof lining. Read the rest of this entry »

Get ready for the cold snow and prepare for some fun…