May does not seem to have been any better than April. Just as wet, and probably cooler.

The talk at the Poole RSPB AGM was on Farmland Birds, and that was a pretty depressing subject. A few species have been saved from extinction, but a lot of really common species including skylarks, starlings, grey partridge, lapwing and tree sparrows are declining at an alarming rate. Tree sparrows are probably extinct in the County and grey partridge are down 75% in the last ten years! RSPB have a bird boat along the cliffs to Swanage and beyond on 10th June at 7.00PM. Details from Brownsea Island Ferries tel 01929 462383.

There are scores of guided walks and activities across the County (weather permitting), and the Dorset Countryside Book and the Greenlink Website (www.greenlink.co.uk) list almost 100. Only two are really local, a walk with the Borough of Poole Warden (Sunday 11th at 2.00 PM) on Canford Heath, and a walk with the Herpetological Conservation Trust on their Dunyeats Hill Reserve (Sunday 25th 3.00PM. For BoP walk, meet at the end of Francis Avenue, and for HCT meet at second cul-de-sac off Merriefield Avenue.

The Friends of Broadstone Nature Reserve will be hoping to see Nightjars on Friday 30th on Corfe Hills (meet 20.30hrs at the school), and if you cannot manage that day, the birds are around every fine evening at twilight. There are also other guided walks looking for nightjars, listed in the publications above.

If you feel you want to know more about any particular aspect of the Countryside, the best way to learn is to join a group where there are others who can help you to spot things or tell you relevant facts. There are groups and sub-groups for almost anything, animal vegetable or mineral. The Greenlink site is probably the best starting place, but DWT or the DCC Countryside office are also full of information. Enjoy our Countryside.

Dudley Hull

See the Broadstone Environment main page for information on this organisation.

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