Environmental News January 2010
First a Happy New Year to all those searching for the first signs of Spring. However with the very cold spell we have just had, most of the 'signs' have kept their heads well down.
The cold does make it very difficult for the small birds that live on insects. Pied wagtails for example, never stop, and there are still a few pairs locally scouring the open places like football pitches and car parks. It is more serious for one of our local specialities, the Dartford Warbler, which has such a restricted habitat. After a really cold winter, their numbers could be greatly reduced.
There is a theory though, that those animals that truly hibernate appreciate the cold, as they emerge later and stronger after a long sleep. Hopefully this will be true of the hibernating species of butterflies. We will see.
Luckily bulbs are very resilient, and eyes down for the first snowdrops.
Not many events, but conservation work parties almost everywhere. There is a walk and lunch at Studland on 13th Jan. (NT as below), and a guided walk round Durlston on 23rd. There is also a bird boat, stopping on Brownsea on 31st (01929 462383).
If weather permits, most of the areas run practical conservation groups, and details of these and further interesting walks should be available at the numbers below. Broadstone Library has copies of Coast and Countryside, where you can get your own free copy, and find information about the few January events in Dorset.
Useful Numbers for tasks and events :-
| Local Dorset Wildlife Trust | 01202 692033 |
| Durlston Country Park | 01929 424443 |
| Avon Country Park | 01425 478470 |
| Poole Countryside (BoP) | 01202 265265 |
| Moors Valley | 01425 470721 |
| NT (Studland) | 01929 450259 |
| Natural England | 01929 557450 |
Other useful wildlife web sites for wildlife news in this area are:
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dudley hull
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