Last month I started with grumbles about the Wimbledon rain. This month, like all 'greenies' I am almost praying for some rain. All the little ponds have dried up, and we have had no luck with the thunderstorms. In consequence, whilst butterflies are really flourishing, some other summer specials are really suffering. I do a count of dragonflies on Upton Heath, and numbers last week were well down on June figures - too dry and too warm. Trees too are really suffering. Their defence is to drop leaves, and shallow rooted species like silver birches look Autumnal already. Chestnuts too, seem to be quick to lose leaves, possibly so they can concentrate on producing nuts? Thoughts of Autumn, and some of the nightjars will be heading back to Africa soon, but perhaps the warm temperatures will persuade them to stay a little longer.

This Sunday (8th), there is a local walk on Canford Heath (BoP, Francis Avenue, 14.00 hrs.) and Dorset on Your Doorstep Magazine (free from your local library) lists nearly 60 other events in E Dorset in the remainder of August. Bats, birds, butterflies, archaeology, hill-forts, seaweeds and marine creatures. They are all there. Very rewarding too! I went on a flower trip to Portland recently, and amongst the banks in one of the old quarries, we were able to see Common blue, Small blue, Chalkhill blue and the last of the Silver Studded blue butterflies all together.

Conservation work starts again soon, and DCV are in the area on 22nd in Verwood and on 5th September at Holt Heath.

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

Prepared for Broadstone.net by
dudley.hull

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