The directory of community and business organisations in Broadstone Dorset

Environmental News July 2008

June has been a fairly friendly month for both plants and creatures. Not bakingly hot and, unlike last year no torrential bursts of rain. The only sufferers appear to be the butterflies, probably due to eggs and larvae getting washed away last year.

Birds seem to be happy and plentiful, and I have been lucky enough to have both greater spotted and green woodpeckers nesting in my garden. Previous years it has been only the greater spotted, but this year we had green woodpeckers in a tree barely ten yards away. I was surprised to see the size of the green fledgling, as he looked too fat to get out of the nest hole.

Have journeyed out on to Corfe Hills on a damp evening, and the nightjars thought it a silly idea as well.

The walk was led by Terry Elborn, who part of the time is replacing Mark Stanaway. Good wishes.

He is a very knowledgeable guy, and last Sunday was the front man in unveiling the moth trap at Upton Country Park.

One moth species that I currently have a grudge against, is Cameraria Ohridella. This is a tiny immigrant (since about 1998,) that produces a leaf miner caterpillar that attacks conker trees. The miner eats away a very wide track, and in no time an affected tree looks like it is the end of September. It is all over Broadstone, but the hopeful news is that the tree will regenerate again next year.

I have spent some time searching for butterflies, mostly away from Broadstone, but have seen a very good population of green hairstreaks on the old railway line across Upton Heath. Also just this last week the meadow browns and marbled whites have appeared. Gardeners will have noticed there are not many of the cabbage white varieties yet, and are, no doubt, rubbing their hands.

The latest Issue of Coast and Countryside has just arrived. The activities section for July lists nearly 70 events, covering almost every topic in nature’s book. Many events are for children, and a few are very local and some centres are still running working tasks – anyone for ragwort pulling??? I just don’t know how to describe all the treasures, but if you have a real interest in land or sea, then just ring whichever of the following numbers looks best. Canford Heath nightjars, 9th July Culliford Crescent 20.30 hrs.

Useful Numbers of organisations running tasks or walks:-

Dorset Countryside	01305 224214
Durlston Country Park	01929 424443
Poole Countryside	01202 265265
Avon Country Park	01425 478470
Moors Valley	01425 470721
NT (Studland)	01929 450259
Dorset Wildlife Trust	01305 264620
Natural England	01929 557469

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

Environmental News July 2008

Prepared for Broadstone.net by dudley hull

Prepared for Broadstone.net by
dudley hull