PRESIDENT Jill Warner wished everyone a happy new year and hoped the few members who had been ill over Christmas would soon be better.

In order to get healthy, the Worcestershire Federation was encouraging every institute to complete 90 miles of walking over the year to celebrate Worcestershire's 90th birthday by Stepping Out.

The rambling group agreed to monitor miles walked by members during their monthly walks and the next walk would be around the Lickey Hills.

Names were taken for the Lucy Hingley Lecture and the annual council meeting. There was also a lot of interest in two craft classes for making corn dollies and tea-bag folding.

The speaker was Madeline Gould, from Hagley, who spoke about 25 years with peacocks.

She gave a short outline of how peacocks had been revered throughout history as creatures close to the gods and holding great powers and symbolism. They feature in many paintings and decorations of ancient buildings.

They originated in India and have many myths surrounding them, mainly due to the fact the males grow their tails every year by Easter.

Then, after their courting period, they shed the tail feathers each August, ready to start again the next spring.

Mrs Gould became interested in them when she acquired a pair along with her home 25 years ago. She now owns 16 and they wander freely around her grounds, roosting in the trees at night.

She showed slides of the peacocks which showed their beautiful colours , particularly when they are displaying their tails.

Mrs Gould offered to pass her speaker's fee to the tsunami disaster appeal.

The competition for a bird of a feather was won by Margaret Harrison for her kiwi.