Last month struck me as being completely natural, with a dry start for the fireworks, then a good mix of sun, wind, rain and gloom. Eventually brought forth some fungi, but the very dry summer seems to have stopped them bursting forth in great numbers.

Brought the small birds back from the fields, so we now see them round the feeders, but fewer than last year.

One very late red admiral early in the month, and dozens of squirrels everywhere. I guess the good weather and the long Autumn meant they managed two healthy broods this year.

There is one organised walk on Canford Heath this month(14th 2.00PM, meet Gravel Hill lay-by) and a birdwatch at Upton Country Park on 13th 9.30AM - tel. 680134)

One 'Birdboat' for Poole RSPB this month on 14th December. Details tel.748445.

Different topic that may interest some of you. There is a draft proposal from a firm of marine consultants on a strategy for maintaining Poole and Bournemouth's sandy beaches for the next 50 years. The strategy is to build a string of the 150 metre rock groynes (like those two at the Haven point) nearly to Hengistbury Head. There is a shortened version of the plan in the Library, and further details can be had from BoP on tel. 261354.

There is also a waste strategy around, on disposal of waste for the next 10 years. This maintains Beacon Hill and Whites Pit as important landfill sites, but also proposes a major Pyrolosis plant in Hatchpond Road. This would bring in lots of extra traffic, and put a lot of pressure on the Hatchpond site, which in winter is a convenient resting place for a lot of ducks and marine wildfowl. Again, details in the Library.

Conservation work is available in several places. Locally, the Friends of Broadstone Nature Reserve will be at work in the Reserve on Sunday 14th (10.00AM, Fontmell Road), and Upton Heath Volunteers work normally on Thursdays. (DWT for details). Poole RSPB work at Arne on the first Sat and Sun. in the month, 10.00 AM car park. Also a task group on Canford Heath (tel. 261337 for details) East Dorset District Council run frequent tasks, details from Moors Valley. Dorset Conservation Volunteers are at Parley Common 21st Dec.

Useful numbers:

Other useful wildlife web sites for wildlife news in this area are:

http://www.greenlink.co.uk/

http://www.wildlifetrust.org.uk/dorset

http://www.dorsetbutterflies.com

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dudley.hull

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