NNo.83 Autumn 2016 SUNDAY 11 DECEMBER 10.00 am to 4.00 pm. The reserve entrance is off the minor road from Cattistock to the A37 about ½ mile BROWN HAIRSTREAK EGG SEARCH AND CONSER- from the A37. Park inside the metal gate at map VATION ACTION DAY reference ST 606004. Alners Gorse Contact is Nigel Spring on 01963 23559 or 07981 As well as the regular scrub management work 776767, email [email protected] (10am until 4pm) there is the chance to take part in the annual Brown Hairstreak egg search for some or FRIDAY 27 JANUARY all of the day. Brown Hairstreak eggs are quite easy CONSERVATION WORK DAY – STRATFORD TONY to see once you know what to look for and are DOWN more easily counted than the elusive butterflies, so Joint with Wiltshire Branch this is an important exercise. Training will be giv- en. Wear waterproof footwear and bring a packed We are clearing tree seedlings and scrub to improve lunch if attending all day. The afternoon egg search part of this extensive area of chalk grassland in will carried out on Rooksmoor Common. Leader: Dr south Wiltshire. Martin Warren. Meet at 9.30 am at New Farm Barn, map reference For the Alners Gorse count meet at 10.00 am at the SU 093 240. If travelling from Dorset, 600 yards reserve entrance. after sign on the left to Throope, it is accessed by an unmarked track, on the left just before the pylon For the Rooksmoor count meet at the wooden shel- line. Press button to open gate. For further infor- ter in Alners wood at 1.00 pm. mation or if you are arriving later, contact Nigel Alners Gorse reserve entrance is on the road from Spring on 07981 776767 or email nigel- Hazelbury Bryan to Kings Stag beside the Hazelbury [email protected] Bryan village sign and 30 mph sign. Park on the wide straight road verge well away from the dan- SUNDAY 29 JANUARY gerous bend, map reference ST 736100. CONSERVATION WORK DAY For further information please contact Nigel Spring Lydlinch Common (North Dorset) on 01963 23559 or 07981 776767, email nigel- Lydlinch is part of an area crucial to the Marsh Fritil- [email protected] lary, and conservation work is vital to ensure that SUNDAY 22 JANUARY the habitat is kept suitable for its survival at this site. Meet 10.00 am and park in the lay-by just out- CONSERVATION ACTION DAY side the village on the Sherborne to Sturminster Lankham Bottom Reserve road, map reference ST 737137. We continue the task of gorse and thorn scrub Contact is Colin Burningham on 01935 873219. clearance on this important downland reserve.

SATURDAY 4 FEBRUARY BRANCH MEMBERS DAY AND AGM Your yearly opportunity to find out the latest news and developments within the Branch. The programme will consist of: * AGM and Chairman’s summary of the year * Presentations on current BC initiatives to enhance sites for Duke of Burgundy and Large Blue by Rachel Jones and Sarah Meredith. * Tea and raffle draw. Donations of cakes and raffle prizes gratefully received. * Members’ photo session. Here is a chance to show your photos of butterflies, moths, life stages and Branch events (max 20 please). Let us know in advance if you wish to contribute - contact Nigel Spring by email [email protected] 2.00 - 5.30 at Puddletown Village Hall DT2 8RX, map reference SY 757942. There is plenty of parking in the village. If you require any further details or can offer help on the day, please contact Adrian Neil on 01305 832937. SUNDAY 5 FEBRUARY Our annual visit to control scrub regrowth and CONSERVATION WORK DAY open up new areas for butterflies. Langford Valley, for the Duke of Burgundy In spite of its small area, Perryfields is a very good site for butterflies and moths, and is Meet 10.00 am at the field gate beyond Lang- ford Farm Cottages, near Lower Magiston, map becoming increasingly important as it gets more reference SY 639958. Take the minor road and more hemmed in by housing, quarries and northwards from Stratton to Sydling St. Nicholas supermarkets! along the Sydling Water. At the crossroads turn The reserve lies above the Museum car park on right into the Langford valley and to the farm. the western side of Pennsylvania Road, Easton. Contact is Brian Dicker on 01963 32453 or Follow the A354 onto Portland and through 07817 301203 on the day. Easton. Continue along Wakeham to its end and the public car park is on the right hand side SATURDAY 18 FEBRUARY of the road opposite Pennsylvania Castle at SY BUTTERFLY TRENDS IN WEST DORSET AND 695713, postcode DT5 1HS. PORTLAND For further information please contact Nigel All are welcome to this presentation of the re- Spring on 01963 23559 or 07981 776767, email sults of butterfly recording in West Dorset in [email protected] 2016. Please come along as well if you might be SUNDAY 26 FEBRUARY interested in taking part in the monitoring in 2017. Walks covered are Brackett’s Coppice, CONSERVATION WORK DAY Black Hill, Chard Junction, Cerne Giant, South- Lydlinch Common field Hog Cliff, Kingcombe, Lankham, Lorton See January 29 for details. Meadows, Powerstock, Portland (Broadcroft, Perryfields and Tout), Radipole and Stonebarrow FRIDAY 3 MARCH and the Wider Countryside walks. There will BUTTERFLY TRENDS IN EAST DORSET also be a review of the special site surveys car- All are welcome to this presentation on the ried out for the Regional Action Plan in this part trends in butterfly numbers revealed by the of the county and other casual, website and gar- monitoring in east Dorset surveys in 2016 in- den records. cluding casual, website, garden and Regional The venue is Toller Porcorum Village Hall, start Action Plans (RAP). Walks covered are those at time 2.00 pm. The map reference is SY 562980 Avon Heath, Badbury Rings, Garston Wood, and the postcode DT2 0DT. Hengistbury Head, Kinson Common, Moors Val- From the A356, drive down into Toller Por- ley, Mude Valley, Pamphill Moor, Sopley Com- corum, over a small bridge then second right mon, Sovell Down, Stanpit, Stour Valley, Upton Heath and Wimborne St. Giles and also the Wid- (School Lane) then left into Church Mead to Vil- er Countryside walks. lage Hall From Bridport follow sign to Toller Por- 7.30 pm at St. Catherine's Church Hall on the corum, then down into village, over old railway corner of Leigh Road and Lewens Lane, Wim- bridge, then first left (School Lane) borne postcode BH21 1LE. Contact is Bill Shreeves on 01747 852587. Contact is Keith Miller on 01300 321007. SATURDAY 4 MARCH SUNDAY 19 FEBRUARY South Wilts Group Event CONSERVATION WORK DAY Dorset members are welcome to attend a social Langford Valley afternoon at the Village Hall, Middle See Feb 5 for details Woodford at 1.30pm. SUNDAY 19 FEBRUARY The afternoon includes two talks. Dr Sue Clarke CONSERVATION ACTION DAY is returning to talk about her work for Wiltshire Perryfields Reserve, Portland Branch on the Marsh Fritillary; Frank Lowe’s talk ‘Moths and their Defences’ looks at the mecha- Purbeck Chalk Ridge. nisms developed by moths to fool and avoid their 7.30 pm at the Methodist Hall, North Street, predators. Wareham postcode BH20 4AB. Middle Woodford is best accessed from the cross- Contact is Jon Bellamy on 01929 450182. roads on A360 signed to 'The Woodfords'. At the bottom of the hill, turn left and park in the recrea- TUESDAY 14 MARCH tion ground opposite the hall. The postcode is SP4 DORSET BUTTERFLIES AND THEIR RELATIONSHIP 6NR. WITH THEIR ENVIRONMENT There is no charge for entry. Joint with DWT Poole Group Contact for further details is Frank Crosier on An illustrated talk by Mark Spencer. 01722 790419. 7.30 pm at Carter Community School, Blandford SUNDAY 5 MARCH Close, Hamworthy BH15 5BQ Contact is Ken Yeates on 01202 674998. CONSERVATION ACTION DAY FRIDAY 17 MARCH Alners Gorse BUTTERFLY TRENDS IN NORTH DORSET We continue the woodland and scrub manage- ment work to improve our wildlife habitats. There All are welcome to hear reports on 2016 record- will be a bonfire with hot drinks and cake. Do join ing, casual, website, Wider Countryside and gar- us if you can between 10.00 am and 4.00 pm. den records and plans for the 2017 campaign. Please come along if you are interested or wish to Alners Gorse reserve entrance is on the road from help on any of the Regional Action Plan (RAP) sur- Hazelbury Bryan to Kings Stag beside the Hazel- veys or butterfly counting walks, which are Alners bury Bryan village sign and 30 mph sign. Park on Gorse, Cashmoor Down, Clubmen's Down, Dead- the wide straight road verge, well away from the moor Common, Duncliffe Wood, Fifehead Wood, dangerous bend, map reference ST 736100. Fontmell Down, Hod Hill, Jerry's Hole, Lydlinch For further information please contact Nigel Spring Common, Melbury Down, Milldown, Piddles on 01963 23559 or 07981 776767, email nigel- Wood, Rooksmoor, Ryewater, Sovell Down and [email protected] Stubhampton Bottom. THURSDAY 9 MARCH 7.30 pm at East Stour Village Hall, map reference ST 804234 and the postcode SP8 5JY. This is next BUTTERFLY TRENDS IN SOUTH DORSET to the playing field on the left of the road from All are welcome to attend this presentation of the East Stour to Gillingham. results of the south Dorset Transect and Regional Action Plan (RAP) surveys, Wider Countryside pro- Contact is Bill Shreeves on 01747 852587. ject, casual, website and garden records in 2016 SUNDAY 26 MARCH and the resulting trends in butterfly numbers. CONSERVATION WORK DAY Please come along if you might also be interested in joining in several of the butterfly counting walks Lydlinch Common at Ballard Down, Bindon Hill, Corfe West Hill, Corfe See January 29 for details. Common, Durlstons, Hethfelton, Higher Hyde, Langton Westwood, Lulworth Estate, Studland & Look at Butterfly Conservation’s website Ferry Road West, Tadnoll, Townsend, Wareham www.butterfly-conservation.org and the Dorset Walls, Winspit and the miniature walks along the Branch website www.dorsetbutterflies.com to find out more about our reserves.

BUTTERFLY CONSERVATION Company limited by guarantee Registered in England (2206468) Registered Office: Manor Yard, East Lulworth, Wareham, Dorset BH20 5QP Charity registered in England & Wales (254937) and in Scotland (SCO39268) Tel: 01929 400209 Fax 01929 400210 Email: [email protected] www.butterfly-conservation.org