At the February meeting of the Salisbury and District U3A the following announcements were made:-

Joan New requested digital photographs for the U3A website. Items of interest can be emailed to her.

The outings to Bristol on March 29 and to the Bolshoi Ballet on April 22 are full. On May 16, a trip to the Houses of Parliament, the Churchill Museum and the Cabinet War rooms is arranged. John Ewington said that British Rail gives a discount for 4 people booking a journey together.

Chris Dickson gave notice of a new course by Eva Baldock on Writing, to take place every second Friday afternoon. Chris asked for ideas for new courses, and new groups in subjects that appeal. David Wilson, treasurer, asked members to pick up their new cards.

Major Nigel Lewis gave a fascinating talk with excellent slides on barn owls and their conservation. The barn owl is found worldwide, below 55 degrees North. They nest in cavities in hollow trees and in barns. By 1981 there were only 4000 nesting pairs in Britain, due to industrialisation, new motorways, building on drained water meadows, etc. They eat short-tailed voles and shrews, found in rough tussocky grass. They are increasingly dependent on the rough grass left by the roadside, but many birds get killed by traffic.