Environmental News January 2007
Well, we have survived another 'shortest day', and start looking forward to longer days and the return of Spring.
Unfortunately, it does not seem that way yet. The cold grey stretch before Christmas, and the wet specks when it was not cold, seem to have left our natural world in a sort of traumatised existence.
I have a reasonably large garden, with plenty of trees, but the amount of activity to be found is almost nil. At times there are two or three squirrels rushing up and down trees. I am not sure if they are trying to mate, or merely getting warm and dry. Also from time to time we get a gathering of tits, who group in the branches above the seed feeder. Then they rush go off in search of nicer seeds. Wood Pigeons are quick to spot any old bread we dispense, and there seems to be a clan of ten. Possibly more, but I have not counted higher.
The odd crow has been seen, and there is a resident greater spotted woodpecker who announces his presence occasionally.
All the late flowers of last month seem to have gone into hibernation, but if one searches carefully beneath the leaves, small sprouts of primroses, and tips of bulbs are looking to start 2007 in a positive way.
The local group, Friends of Broadstone LNR, are doing conservation work on 7th Jan and again on 4th Feb in the Nature Reserve (details - Dave on 250148), and they have their Annual Review on 19th Jan.
Birds are the main interest at this time of year and Poole RSPB (13th - 622472), Durlston (14th - as below), NT Studland (10th - as below) and RSBP Arne (13th 01929 553360), are all wanting to show what is on their patch. Poole RSPB also have a boat organised for 21st (01929 462383) but these boats have been incredibly popular this year, so you may be disappointed.
Dorset Coast and Countryside. Gives a wider range of events.
Useful Numbers of organisations running tasks or walks:-
| Dorset Countryside | 01305 224214 | or l.park@dorsetcc.gov.uk |
| Durlston Country Park | 01929 424443 | |
| Avon Country Park | 01425 478470 | |
| Poole Countryside | 01202 265265 | |
| Moors Valley | 01425 470721 | |
| NT (Studland) | 01929 450259 |
Other useful wildlife web sites for wildlife news in this area are:
Prepared for Broadstone.net by
dudley.hull
See the Broadstone Environment main page for information on this organisation.
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