PLACES TO SEE BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS IN DORSET

Cerne Abbas

Grid Ref ST 66/01

Lyndlinch Common

Grid Ref ST 73/13

Piddles Wood

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General Description

Piddles Wood is a large, predominately oak woodland, with plantations of Larch and Cherry within the boundary. Although the wood is privately owned there is a network of footpaths throughout the wood which is currently managed in large part by Dorset Wildlife Trust. There are some large areas of Hazel/Oak coppice, some broad rides, and an area of meadow at the eastern end. At the northern and western parts there is some ancient oak woodland left undisturbed. Although the Elms have now disappeared, there are still plenty of Holly with Ivy climbing the older trees.

Butterflies

Purple Hairstreak – take your binoculars.
Holly Blue
Common Blue
Orange Tip
Brimstone
Silver-washed Fritillary including var.valezina
White Admiral – one of the best Dorset locations.
Marbled White

Moths

By day numerous Small White Waves in areas of Hazel coppice
By night Notable species include
Blotched Emerald
Barred Umber
Great Oak Beauty
Lead-coloured Pug
Red-necked Footman
Orange Footman
Cream-spot Tiger
Beautiful Hook-tip

Plants

Piddles wood has one of the best displays of Bluebells in Dorset
The “Great Oak” a listed ancient oak specimen tree

Access

OS map sheet 194 covering four kilometer squares to the south east of Sturminster Newton. There is a car park on Broadoak Lane for half a dozen vehicles and at the southern corner a small layby area. The paths near the car park tend to be quite heavily used by dog-walkers. There is a good pub that also does food at the junction on A357.

 

Slop Bog LNR

One of the last remaining sites of heath and sphagnum bog in Dorset, with a mix of associated insects, spiders, reptiles and birds. A circular route from the West Moors road entrance gives wheelchair access to a boardwalk crossing the sphagnum bog.

Species to look for:

Butterflies
Slop Bog is one of the strongest Silver-studded Blue colonies in Dorset
Grayling
Ringlet

Moths
Emperor Moth
Six Spot Burnet

Birds
Stonechat
Dartford Warbler
Nightjar
Snipe

Access.
Slop bog lies between Ferndown and its bypass. There are two entrances.  To the East, off the B3072 West Moors Road (Grid ref. SU 081 016) and to the west at the end of Redwood Drive (Grid ref. SU 074 017). A circular route from the West Moors road entrance gives wheelchair access to a boardwalk crossing the sphagnum bog.
Full details and lots more information can be found at www.slopbog.org.uk.

Stonebarrow

Grid Ref ST 38/93

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