First signs of winter, but as yet no frost. As a result a few butterflies and dragonflies can still be seen on a sunny day. Some plants are also hanging on, and on current form we really will have lots of Christmas roses.

Nature wise, the stars of the show are the fungi. They are absolutely everywhere, and in a rich variety too. Unfortunately my expertise on fungi is limited, so the joys of eating chanterelles and blewitts are denied. Luckily I can recognise a parasol mushroom, and am still alive to prove it! As you may have seen in the Advertiser, an extremely rare Earth Star fungus was recently found in Poole, and it made an attractive picture.

If you did not manage to get on a Fungal Foray walk last month, there is a last chance at Holton Lee(01202 625562) on Sunday 7th at 2.30 PM)

Various walks, conservation tasks and boat/bird trips to be found. The RSPB November bird boats are on the 14th and 28th (01929 462383).

Friends of Broadstone Nature Reserves are at work on Nov. 14th (Fontmell Road entrance 10 am 255076). Most walks in the month are either for bird spotting or landscape appreciation, and there is plenty of conservation activity for those more active nature lovers. Not much though in the Broadstone area.

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

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

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