For local people, the Poole Countryside Wardens have published a management plan to consolidate and improve the open spaces in the Pine Springs Estate, and to turn them into an integral part of the Upton Heath SSSI. Further details from Chris Valdez, on 672625. On a more general note, Autumn is definitely here, though a very mild and sunny one so far.

Tasks start to vary, as first come the migrating birds, then the fungal forays, and lastly the work parties to get rid of unwanted trees and scrub.

The following thoughts come from a member of one of the conservation groups in Broadstone.

Joys of Conserving!

As a member of the Broadstone Heath group I am pleased to have the opportunity to put fingers to keys to share some of the less obvious pleasures that can be experienced in one of Broadstone's more secluded wild places. For the last few years, a few of us have enjoyed discovering and helping to shape an area which boasts a curious mixture of natural and manmade parkland - featuring both woodland and heath alongside a major recreation area.

During the time I have been a member of the group, we have not only carried out a wide range of maintenance tasks with the expert assistance of a selection of wardens from Poole Council - but we have also been able to see some of the richness of the wildlife which exists on our doorstep.

Among the more outstanding events I remember are the hugely popular Reptile Discovery walk (in which some of our younger members were lucky enough to see some of Broadstone's adder population), and a guided exploration in which we were shown majestic Emperor Dragonflies cruising magnificently above some of the heather which we had helped to regenerate.

2002 has been a patchy summer, but it looks as though we are in for an active autumn! Once the dew has departed from the grass, there are still blue skies aplenty to keep up our spirits as the evenings draw in.

There is an air of verdant lushness on the heaths, in the woods and moorlands of Dorset. The purple haze of autumn heather is beginning to creep across our own Broadstone Heath and those of Canford and Upton Heaths the crowning glory of these fragile ecosystems. However, signs of change lie in wait - in the air and underfoot. Among the earliest trees to shed their yellowing leaves are the silver birches, many of which are now at virtually bare. The leaves drift idly - like the last of the butterflies (mainly red admirals and a few speckled woods) among the shrubs and trees. Down on the forest floor often hidden by windblown leaves from the previous autumn - the first of this season's fungi, the brown-speckled puffballs, are cautiously stretching their rounded fruiting bodies above the ground. Oh! For a little rain they cry.

Although, I often walk my dog on Broadstone Heath, there is nothing quite like the enjoyment of going out during the weekend for a few hours and helping to cut back, uproot, and thin out areas of hidden Broadstone to make a better place for wildlife. The other weekend, when warden Emma advised us that we were going to clear "all that patch" including trees and a major ramble of bramble - a number of us (including me!) were sceptical about what impression we could make. However, using tools loaned by Poole Council, 2 hours later we had cleared the area and done our little bit to make Broadstone a friendlier place for wildlife. At the same time, we had also had the chance to shed a little of the stress that is so much a part of modern life and felt better physically for doing so!

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Local Activities this month include a tour of Delph Woods ( BoP Sat 5th, 10.30 AM) and a walk on Canford Heath (BoP Sun 13th, 2.00PM). RSPB Bird Boats are restarting on Sun 20th Oct at 11.00AM (748445). Friends of Broadstone Nature reserve will also have a winter programme (255076), and for all the migrant birds - both going and coming - along the Purbeck Coast and fungi everywhere contact Greenlink by 'phone or at http://www.greenlink.co.uk.

Useful numbers are listed below:-

dudley.hull

For Broadstone Net

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

Say you saw it on "Broadstone NET"