April in Broadstone.

A few warm days at last, and thoughts of Spring flood into action. I was even seen working in the garden today, planting lettuce seeds amongst other activities. Also looking for garden visitors, and they seemed to be quite plentiful. Butterflies, brimstones and small tortoiseshells, approved of the sunshine, and grey squirrels were always to be seen. It had been a comfortable winter for them, and I think most of last Autumn's brood had made it.

An afternoon on the golf course emphasised my earlier views, with at least 20 male brimstone and even more tortoiseshells were seen. We did see one most unusual creature though, which was a Turtle/terrapin in the Blackwater stream. It was about 9 inches square, with small red pouches either side of the mouth. Either escaped or dumped, but a good distance from any house and 100 yards from any public access path. The golf course is an interesting, though not freely available, area of land, and has an egret as a regular visitor, and last year had a resident kingfisher.

In general, the first immigrant birds have arrived, with the usual flush of chiff-chaffs singing away wherever there are trees. Blackcaps are also in the district.

There has been some discussion lately about the maintenance of our Local Nature Reserve. The 10 year plan requires that certain areas should be retained as heathland, and recent clearance work of invading trees, has upset a number of regular walkers. Complaints have, hopefully, led to a policy of better information and awareness that will give everybody ideas of what will be happening and why?, and the chance to raise objections.

As the conservation season comes to a close, we need to look at the coming season. First migrant birds are with us, butterflies are coming, and lots of flowers are itching to burst forth. Just look, and you will be stimulated by all the new changes around you!!.

Future events include a walk on Canford Heath (Francis Ave. 11th April 2.00 PM)., the Dorset Beach Clean (4th Apr. 01929 421111), birdwatch at Durlston, Lodmoor (RSPB), Winspit (680134), and a local walk in Delph Woods (25th April, ) and Hatch Pond (28th April).

DCV will be back in Branksome Dene Chine on 17th and 18th April, and will be beach cleaning at Abbotsbury on the 4th April.

Poole RSPB will be visiting White Nothe on 25th April (01929 480246), and have their AGM at Upton Community Centre on 13th May 2004.

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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