Please book with the event leader in advance – anytime up to the afternoon before the event. Please include your mobile phone number and email address, as we may have to contact you if numbers on the walks are limited, or if we have to cancel the event due to the weather or other unforeseen circumstances. Please don’t forget to let us know if you wish to change your plans. We will only use your personal details to contact you about the events you have booked for.
If you enjoy the event, we would be very grateful if you would consider a donation to the Dorset Branch of Butterfly Conservation. You can donate online or if you would rather not use an online payment, please see our ways to donate page.
- Contact: Martin Warren
- Email: martinswarren@btinternet.com Event booking information
- Meeting point: Meet at 8.30 am in the Cerne Abbas village hall car park. For the google map, See site map for details.
- Grid ref.: ST664015
- Postcode: DT2 7GY
- w3w: ///storming.graced.evolution
Thursday 27 November
Duke of Burgundy Habitat Enhancement Project
Giant Hill, Cerne Abbas
This is the third of the five sites we will be working on in this exciting new project funded through the Dorset AONB with a FIPL grant. We have already carried out two days of work on Red Post Hill at Up Sydling and a day on Black Hill at Cerne Abbas. We have funding to carry out emergency habitat management for Dorset's most endangered butterfly species, the Duke of Burgundy. This butterfly is now reduced to six small colonies in the county, all of which require careful management to maintain suitable habitat. We have a grant to carry out scrub control on several of these sites during the coming winter, which will greatly increase the butterfly's chances of survival. The work is funded under a Farming in Protected Landscapes (FIPL) grant awarded to Hilfield Friary, in conjunction with the Dorset Branch of Butterfly Conservation and EuCAN CIC. We are looking for practical support from as many people as possible at this site and the other three. Please get in touch with Martin Warren if you would like to find out more. martinswarren@btinternet.com The other sites which we shall be visiting over the coming weeks are: Giant Hill at Cerne Abbas again on Dec 4th, Telegraph Hill near Hilfield, and Langford Hill near Stratton. Please bring your refreshments and lunch with you and PPE if you will be working with power tools (certificated users only). It will help us with the planning (though not essential) if you let us know that you are hoping to join us.
- Contact: Nigel Spring
- Phone: 07981 776767
- Email: nigelspring@yahoo.co.uk Event booking information
- Meeting point: The Reserve entrance is off the minor road from Cattistock to the A37, about half a mile from the A37. See site map for details.
- Grid ref.: ST606003
- w3w: ///group.readjust.nuance
Sunday 30 November
Conservation Action Day
Lankham Bottom Butterfly Reserve
This a joint work party with Dorset Countryside Volunteers With our friends in the DCV we will be continuing our task of reducing the bramble and thorn scrub on the reserve and will be burning up if the wind direction is suitable. Bring loppers and bowsaws if you have them and PPE if you are a registered brushcutter or chainsaw user. Also bring your refreshments and lunch. Meet inside the main gate for a 9.30 am start or park and walk to find us if you arrive later.
- Contact: Martin Warren
- Email: martinswarren@btinternet.com Event booking information
- Meeting point: Meet at 8.30 am in the Cerne Abbas village hall car park. For the google map, See site map for details.
- Grid ref.: ST664015
- Postcode: DT2 7GY
- w3w: ///storming.graced.evolution
Thursday 4 December
Duke of Burgundy Habitat Enhancement Project
Giant Hill, Cerne Abbas
This is the third of the five sites we will be working on in this exciting new project funded through the Dorset AONB with a FIPL grant. We have already carried out two days of work on Red Post Hill at Up Sydling and a day on Black Hill at Cerne Abbas as well as a first visit here. We have funding to carry out emergency habitat management for Dorset's most endangered butterfly species, the Duke of Burgundy. This butterfly is now reduced to six small colonies in the county, all of which require careful management to maintain suitable habitat. We have a grant to carry out scrub control on several of these sites during the coming winter, which will greatly increase the butterfly's chances of survival. The work is funded under a Farming in Protected Landscapes (FIPL) grant awarded to Hilfield Friary, in conjunction with the Dorset Branch of Butterfly Conservation and EuCAN CIC. We are looking for practical support from as many people as possible at this site and the other three. Please get in touch with Martin Warren if you would like to find out more. martinswarren@btinternet.com The other sites which we shall be visiting over the coming weeks are Telegraph Hill near Hilfield, and Langford Hill near Stratton. Please bring your refreshments and lunch with you and PPE if you will be working with power tools (certificated users only). It will help us with the planning (though not essential) if you let us know that you are hoping to join us.
- Contact: Nigel Spring
- Phone: 07981 776767
- Email: nigelspring@yahoo.co.uk Event booking information
- Meeting point: 10.00 am at Alners Gorse reserve entrance on the road from Hazelbury Bryan to Kings Stag beside the Hazelbury Bryan village sign and 30 mph sign. Park on the wide straight road verge well away from the dangerous bend. For the Alners Gorse count, meet at the reserve entrance. For the Rooksmoor count, meet at the Alners Gorse hut on the reserve at 1.00 pm. See site map for details.
- Grid ref.: ST736100
- w3w: ///reframe.laughs.terminology
Saturday 13 December
Brown Hairstreak Egg Search
Alners Gorse and Rooksmoor, Hazelbury Bryan
This is the chance to take part in our annual Brown Hairstreak egg search for some or all of the day. It is a very valuable way to assess the status of this species on the two sites. The Blackmore Vale has traditionally been one of the strongholds of the Brown Hairstreak in the county. The eggs are quite easy to see once you get your eye in and are more easily counted than the elusive butterflies, so this is an important exercise, Training will be given if you are unsure what to look for. Wear wellingtons (!) and bring a packed lunch if attending all day. The afternoon egg search will carried out on Rooksmoor. Leader: Dr Martin Warren. 10.00 am Alners Gorse - map reference ST 737100, meet at the reserve entrance at 10.00 am, with lunch at 12.30. 1.00 pm Rooksmoor meet at the Alners Gorse hut. Wellies essential. Please park on or beside the verge along the straight stretch of road from Kings Stag - not on the bend - or park in the reserve car park if it is not waterlogged. If the forecast is bad for today, we will aim to do this survey tomorrow December 14th instead. Please book in advance for this event - by email to Nigel Spring or text to 07981 776767 including your mobile phone number in case we need to contact you if the plans change because of the weather.
- Contact: Colin Burningham
- Phone: 01935 873219 or 07849 921594 Event booking information
- Meeting point: Meet 10.00 am and park in the lay-by just outside the village on the north side of the A357 near the turning to Sherborne.
- Grid ref.: ST737137
- Postcode: DT10 2JD
- w3w: ///believer.recording.wheat
Sunday 25 January
Conservation Action Day
Lydlinch Common, North Dorset
Lydlinch is part of an area crucial to the Marsh Fritillary, and conservation work is vital to ensure that the habitat is kept suitable for its survival at this site. From 10.00 am to 3.30 pm.
- Contact: Colin Burningham
- Phone: 01935 873219 or 07849 921594 Event booking information
- Meeting point: Meet 10.00 am and park in the lay-by just outside the village on the A3030 Sherborne to Sturminster road, about 250 yards from its junction with the A357.
- Grid ref.: ST737137
- Postcode: DT10 2JD
- w3w: ///competes.range.cabinet
Sunday 22 February
Conservation Action Day
Lydlinch Common
Lydlinch is part of an area crucial to the Marsh Fritillary, and conservation work is vital to ensure that the habitat is kept suitable for its survival at this site. 10.00 am to 3.30pm.