About Blashford Lakes How to Find Us

The Blashford Lakes Nature Reserve is Blashford Lakes Centre, Ellingham Drove, managed by & Wildlife , Hampshire, BH24 3PJ

Trust for the benefit of people and wildlife. Tel: 01425 472760 In winter Blashford’s flooded gravel pits support E-mail: [email protected] thousands of wildfowl such as tufted duck, Blashford Lakes gadwall and wigeon. In spring a walk through Two miles north of Ringwood on A338 Ringwood - the woodland provides a wildflower spectacle of Salisbury road, take the Moyles Court/Linwood “What’s On?” bluebells and wild daffodils. Summer is the best turning at Ellingham Crossroads into Ellingham time to see some of the reserves 25+ species of Drove. After 400 yards, take the first left for the main January – March 2017 dragonfly, and mist shrouded lakes; fungi and reserve car park. Reserved parking is available at the changing colours signal the arrival of autumn. Education Centre for disabled visitors and groups

• Open: 9am-4.30pm daily. participating in organised activities at the centre. ( OS Map Grid Ref: SU 151 079) • Access: Good - surfaced tracks and

ramped access to hides. • Bus: X3 “Wilts & Dorset”; half-hourly

service Bournemouth - Salisbury • Toilets: Yes - at the Education Centre. • Cost: Please make a donation.

• Dogs: Due to the nature of the site dogs (other than guide dogs) are not permitted.

For reserve updates, wildlife sightings and the

“Blashford Blog”: www.hiwwt.org.uk

For more information on the work of Hampshire The Blashford Project is a partnership between & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, please visit our Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, New Forest website or call us on 01489 774400. District Council, Bournemouth Water and Wessex Water

Company limited by guarantee and registered in

No. 676313. Registered Charity No. 201081. Printed on paper sourced from sustainable woodlands.

Volunteers Group Bookings Scavenger Hunts!

Volunteers play an enormously important role in An exciting, fun, hands For added fun on your visit why not try one of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust’s on and informative our FREE seasonal scavenger hunts! Pick up a work at Blashford Lakes: range of activities are copy from the Education Centre. Or download available to schools, your ‘hit list’ from the Blashford Lakes page of our website: www.hiwwt.org.uk. Education Volunteers youth groups and Blashford Lakes offers a diverse range of community groups activities for school, youth and adult groups, throughout the year. ranging from bird watching walks, to pond Activities include pond dipping and campfire cooking! If you would like to share your knowledge and enthusiasm for and river dipping, “Wildlife Watch” is the junior branch of the wildlife with others please get in touch… guided walks, “Forest Wildlife Trust organised by registered volunteers School” and much, who lead fun activities for children aged 6-12. Conservation Volunteers much more! The award winning Blashford Lakes Wildlife Conservation and wildlife survey volunteers Watch group usually meets at the centre on the support our work on the nature reserve second Saturday of each month, 10:30- throughout the year. Limited opportunities are Self-guided Groups 12:30pm. Activities range from arts and crafts to available for new volunteers – please contact Due to the popularity of the nature reserve all nest box making and pond dipping to fossil the Reserves Officer for more details. groups, including self-guided groups, are hunting. For further details visit required to book in advance: tel 01425 472760 www.hiwwt.org.uk or contact Wildlife Watch Mobility Scooters or e-mail [email protected] David Caals 01202 814743 or e-mail [email protected] We have two very comfortable and easy to use all terrain Wild Birthday Parties Our parent/toddler

“Trampers” available for our For a birthday to group meets monthly visitors to borrow to enhance remember, why not for fun outdoor play, their enjoyment of the nature join us for a Wild games and wildlife discovery activities for pre- reserve. Booking is advised. Birthday Party of school aged children and their parents or carers. pond dipping, Normally the first Monday of the month, Find Out More… “minibeasting”, 10.30am-12pm and 1-2.30pm. Suggested donation of £4 per child. Booking essential. For more information about any of the above, river dipping or den including group visits, Wild Birthday Parties, building? Winter Wonderland January Mon 2nd Cost £10 per mobility scooters and volunteering, please February Mon 6th contact us: person (minimum Feathered Friends th e-mail: [email protected] £100). March into Spring March Mon 6 tel: 01425 472760

Please open me for details of walks, courses and events taking place at Blashford Lakes this season

Guided Walks and Winter Birds Finchfest 2017 February Sun 5th 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm March Thurs 2nd

A walk around the reserve looking at the 2:00pm – 4:00pm Family Events range of birds the reserve hosts at this A general birdwatching Booking is essential - please book your time of year. Wear suitable, warm outdoor walk, particularly in search place on: telephone 01425 472760, or clothing and footwear, bring binoculars. of flocks of finches, which e-mail [email protected] Booking essential. often peak in numbers at this time of year. Wear

We welcome a suggested donation of suitable, warm outdoor clothing and footwear, £4 per person, unless otherwise stated. bring binoculars. Booking essential. Night Senses (f) Please note that children must be supervised at February Fri 17th 7 – 8:30 pm all times and that dogs are not permitted on this Don't be afraid of the dark! Set off into the Signs of Spring nature reserve. March Thurs 16th 2:00 pm – gloaming on a family multisensory night time Events marked are suitable for families 4:00pm (f) adventure. Booking essential A walk around the reserve looking for the first signs of Late Winter Birds Spring. Wear suitable, warm th New Year Birds February Thurs 16 outdoor clothing and January Thurs 5th 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm footwear, bring binoculars.

2:00 pm – 4:00 pm A walk around the reserve Booking essential.

A walk around the reserve looking at the range of birds looking at the range of birds the the reserve hosts at this

reserve hosts at this time of year. time of year. Wear suitable, Wear suitable, warm outdoor warm outdoor clothing and Courses for Adults clothing and footwear, bring footwear, bring binoculars. Booking essential. To book please telephone 01489 774400 or binoculars. Booking essential. e-mail [email protected] Introduction to the Night Sky (f) All courses have limited numbers so please rd book at least two weeks in advance. February Thurs 23 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm In to Roost Digital Wildlife Photography January Thurs 12th Join us for an introductory talk on the sky tonight, before heading outside to observe the 10am - 4pm 3:30 – 5pm late Winter constellations with the Basics 1 Mar Sat 4th Watch as thousands of birds Astronmers*. Basics 2 Mar Sat 18th come into roost on and *In the event of cloud an extended talk and indoor Macro Mar Sat 25th around Water. demonstration of telescopes and astro-software will Birds April Sat 1st Booking essential, please be available. wear suitable warm clothing, Course Tutor: John Coombes All proceeds from the event will be split between bring binoculars HIWWT and Fordingbridge Astronomers. Understand your camera and learn to take Booking essential. Suitable for age 8 years and over. beautiful wildlife photographs. Booking essential. Cost £216 (or £60 per session).

Buggy Walks Wild Days Out! Get outside, get fit, meet other parents and Play, explore, discover and learn during the discover wildlife on a pushchair friendly walk. school holidays! Meet at the Centre on alternate Fridays “Wild Days Out” are registered with Ofsted. 10.30am-12pm. Telephone Tracy, 01425 472760 for information. Suggested donation £2. Time: 10am - 3pm Cost: £15

Places are limited so booking is essential – please e-mail [email protected] for more information and details on how to book.

Winter Craft Feb Tue 21st, 7-12 yr olds Feb Wed 22nd, 5-8 yr olds Young Naturalists Spend a crafty day on the reserve, using natural Calling all 13 to 17 year olds! Get outside, materials to sculpt and weave and create have fun, learn new skills, and improve your magnificently wintery works of art! wildlife knowledge. Young Naturalists meets monthly for practical conservation tasks, survey work, bird and wildlife watching. Healthy Walks Meet at Tern Hide at 11am every 2nd and 4th Young Naturalists is funded by the Cameron Bespolka Trust. Wednesday in the month for a walk lasting approximately 1 hour. Walking for Health is Time: 10am-2:30pm on Sundays 29th coordinated by the Ramblers and Macmillan January, 26th February, 26th March and every Cancer Support. Contact Nigel Owen on 01425 last Sunday in the month. 655511 or e-mail [email protected] Suggested donation £4. Booking essential.

Binoculars and Telescopes Join ‘In Focus’, optics and binocular specialists, for one of their regular events to try out different optics in the bird hide and find out what is best for you. These events will take place 10am - 4pm in the Tern Hide, usually, but not always on the first Tuesday of the month. Please check their website for changes in dates & details; http://www.at-infocus.co.uk/south_west.html or telephone Keith on 07909874527.