Watch Points

Call for Volunteers for 2017!
Once we know our eggs have hatched this year, we will announce a programme of Watch Points on Cathedral Green. This year we expect huge numbers to attend because of the Paul Cummins' amazing "Weeping Window" of poppies at the Silk Mill Museum from 9th Jun.


From late May  until early July last year we ran free, public events every Saturday morning.
Volunteers were on hand to help visitors use our telescopes or binoculars to watch Derby's peregrine falcons, and to talk more about them.

Would you like to help us? If so, please email either Emma Wood at Derbyshire Wildlife Trust, or contact us via our normal email address.

Just for information, in 2016 the dates were:

Friendly  volunteers meet and talk with a wide range
of visitors on Derby's Cathedral Green

• Saturday 28th May  11am-1.30pm
•   Wed 1st June  11am-1.30pm
• Saturday 4th June  11am-1.30pm
•   Wed 8th June  11am-1.30pm
• Saturday 11th June  11am-1.30pm
•   Wed 15th June  11am-1.30pm
• Saturday 18th June  11am-1.30pm
•   Wed 22th June  11am-1.30pm
• Saturday 25th June  11am-1.30pm
•   Wed 29th June  11am-1.30pm
• Saturday 2nd July  11am-1.30pm
•   Wed 6th July  11am-1.30pm
• Saturday 9th July  11am-1.30pm (last one of the season)

(These were last year's dates; Watch Points for 2017 will be announced during May 2017)

Background information :

Our summer Watchpoints were free and usually started around 11am on Derby's Cathedral Green. They ran until about 1pm or later if there's lots of activity. They did not run  if the weather was foul.

We hope that in 2017 our peregrines will try to nest here once again. (This year it's possible that building work might discourage them) If not, then Derbyshire Wildlife Trust volunteers with telescopes will be on hand to talk to anyone wanting to see or learn more about the city's amazing peregrines.

The Green is the pleasant, grassy area at the rear of Derby Cathedral which gives excellent views of the peregrine nest platform. See Map

Watch Points are entirely free, though if you enjoy your time with us (and viewing the birds online), a donation is always welcome! The funds we receive from generous donations helps to pay for our webcameras and for staff to maintain the project and develop new activities.

Cathedral Green is a public open space. So do come down to watch the growing falcons for yourself at any time of day you like. Please note though that mornings are best for viewing since the sun casts a heavy shade on the nest by the afternoon, and you are then rather looking towards the sun. June usually sees the annual 'Duck Race' on Cathedral Green, with lots happening. Come along and meet us there!

Be sure to pop over to the front of the Cathedral, and check out our live webcam monitor inside the nest display in the window of the Cathedral Cafe on Irongate (they do good food, too!). The display is normally in place during most of the nesting season.
Come by bicycle and park your bike securely and for free at Derby Park Bikeworks.

SCHOOLS: if there are any teachers reading this who might like either a visit to their school by the project or perhaps to come to Derby to see the birds 'for real' then do get in touch via peregrines@derbyshirewt.co.uk. Subject to volunteer availability, we may also be able to offer Skype classroom chats with one of our peregrine experts, providing these are teacher-led. Find out more here.