Invasive Plants Cleared At Hursey

The weather was glorious and a lot was accomplished on Saturday when volunteers helped clear invasive plants from the wildflower meadow at Hursey…

Many thanks to volunteers from Dorset Wildlife Trust.

Read the original post from Nick Gray, West Dorset Conservation Officer HERE.

#Broadwindsor,#Burstock,#Blackdown,#Hursey,#Kittwhistle,#Seaborough,#Drimpton,#Dorset,#DAONB,#Village,#BWGPC,#WestDorset,#Conservation,#HurseyCommon,#DorsetCouncil,#Mow,#Rake,#Scythe,#Volunteer,#Outdoors,#ThankYou,#Sunshine,#SocialDistancing,#BeSensible,#BeSafe,#StaySafe

Conservation Volunteers Meet At Hursey Common – Thursday, 15th July

Very recently confirmed, Nick Gray, Conservation Officer for West Dorset’s Wildlife Trust will be at Hursey Common tomorrow (St. Swithin’s Day), July 15^thand is calling out for local volunteers to join in…

“Dear All,
I hope this finds you well and relishing sunny prospects. We meet this week on St Swithin’s Day, July 15^th, a day steeped in folklore and hay-making tradition… appropriately enough, as it turns out, because we’ll be swinging scythes and raking up arisings from a couple of species-rich patches at Hursey Common, near Broadwindsor.
You might think it’s a bit early to be cutting wildflowers off at the knees but I don’t have to tell you guys there’s always a balance with the more boisterous species, and cutting some areas slightly earlier will prevent weed species seeding and, as our aim is only to cut between a third and half of the target areas, begin a rotational cutting pattern that will tempt the flowering season to continue well into the autumn. Justification enough, I hope, and I’ll look forward to seeing you for a bit of mowing or raking or both.

PLEASE LET ME KNOW if you can make it so I can keep an eye on numbers as there may be a few local volunteers along to join us too. And, with apologies for another truncated day, we’ll be finishing around lunchtime again this week. But, in the sunshine’s honour, some of us can start a bit earlier too…

Please meet at Hursey Common – as on the map, or grid ref ST434026. There is a parking area on Hursey Common where there’s plenty of room. There are two patches to tackle, one next to the car park and one down the road, so if anyone who’s keen to do some mowing can arrive a bit earlier than usual at 9am, we can get a head start before rakers arrive at normal time of 10am… When you reply, if you could let me know your preference, I can manage tools too. If anyone has a rake or pitchfork they can bring along, that would be brilliant. And don’t forget gloves for the attendant nettles and thistles.

Also below is the Coronavirus Consent form that you may know about by now. Anyone who hasn’t already done so, please fill it in and email back to me, or if that’s tricky, I’ll bring along some paper copies. But please do have a look at it before the day. (Anyone who HAS already filled one in, I’ll bring your form along so you can just sign and date for this week…)

Don’t forget your drinks and snacks as I fear we still can’t share just yet.

Very many thanks as always, I’ll look forward to seeing you there.

Best wishes,
Nick”

Nick Gray
West Dorset Conservation Officer

The Kingcombe Centre
Toller Porcorum
Dorchester
DT2 0EQ

Tel: 07824 438974

*If you would like to be involved with the limited volunteer activities going ahead – please download and complete the Coronavirus Consent form HERE.

#Broadwindsor,#Burstock,#Blackdown,#Hursey,#Kittwhistle,#Seaborough,#Drimpton,#Dorset,#DAONB,#Village,#BWGPC,#WestDorset,#Conservation,#HurseyCommon,#DorsetCouncil,#Mow,#Rake,#Scythe,#Volunteer,#Outdoors,#Sunshine,#SocialDistancing,#BeSensible,#BeSafe,#StaySafe

Big Butterfly Count Is Down 34% In 2020

This year’s Big Butterfly Count took place between 17th July – 9th August 2020. In all, during this year’s Big Butterfly Count, over 1.4 million butterflies were counted across the UK.

Worryingly this summer’s Count has seen a reduction in the average number of butterflies logged per count of -34% in comparison with 2019 and the lowest average number of butterflies logged overall since the event began eleven years ago. Encouragingly, 2020 also saw the highest number of butterfly sightings ever submitted by the general public with 111,628 participants submitting a record-breaking 145,249 counts this year, an increase of 25% on 2019.

Read the full report and how you can continue to help them HERE.

Butterflies and moths are incredibly valuable indicators of the health of our environment. Their declines show not only the effects of human behaviour on the world around us but also the changing patterns of our weather. As well as being important and beautiful creatures in themselves, they play key roles in the ecosystems of birds, mammals, invertebrates and plants as food, population controllers and pollinators. Their conservation is vitally important.

Add your sightings all year round – get their app HERE.

#Broadwindsor,#Dorset,#BigButterflyCount,#Conservation,#Observe,#SocialDistancing,#Butterflies,#StaySafe

The BIG Butterfly Count 17th July – 9th August 2020

Today, July 17th, sees the start of the Butterfly Conservation’s BIG Butterfly Count.

The BIG Butterfly Count is a UK-wide survey aimed at helping to assess the health of our environment simply by counting the amount and type of butterflies (and some day-flying moths) we see. It was launched in 2010 and has rapidly become the world’s biggest survey of butterflies.

They are asking that between Friday 17 July and Sunday 9 August, you choose a place to spot butterflies and moths. Each day, watch for just 15 minutes.
Using the free ID chart – identify and record the butterflies you spot.

It’s very easy for you to take part:

You can download their FREE ID Chart HERE
(You will have to give your name and email address which you’ll then need to sign in with when you submit your counts).
You then add your counts on their website or using the app.
You can view their interactive map to see how your data is contributing to conservation science and research.

#BigButterflyCount #Conservation #Broadwindsor #Dorset #Observe #SocialDistancing #Butterflies

Tag: #Conservation

Invasive Plants Cleared At Hursey

#Broadwindsor,#Burstock,#Blackdown,#Hursey,#Kittwhistle,#Seaborough,#Drimpton,#Dorset,#DAONB,#Village,#BWGPC,#WestDorset,#Conservation,#HurseyCommon,#DorsetCouncil,#Mow,#Rake,#Scythe,#Volunteer,#Outdoors,#ThankYou,#Sunshine,#SocialDistancing,#BeSensible,#BeSafe,#StaySafe

Conservation Volunteers Meet At Hursey Common – Thursday, 15th July

#Broadwindsor,#Burstock,#Blackdown,#Hursey,#Kittwhistle,#Seaborough,#Drimpton,#Dorset,#DAONB,#Village,#BWGPC,#WestDorset,#Conservation,#HurseyCommon,#DorsetCouncil,#Mow,#Rake,#Scythe,#Volunteer,#Outdoors,#Sunshine,#SocialDistancing,#BeSensible,#BeSafe,#StaySafe

Big Butterfly Count Is Down 34% In 2020

Read the full report and how you can continue to help them HERE.

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The BIG Butterfly Count 17th July – 9th August 2020

Today, July 17th, sees the start of the Butterfly Conservation’s BIG Butterfly Count.

It’s very easy for you to take part:

Like this:

#Broadwindsor,#Burstock,#Blackdown,#Hursey,#Kittwhistle,#Seaborough,#Drimpton,#Dorset,#DAONB,#Village,#BWGPC,#WestDorset,#Conservation,#HurseyCommon,#DorsetCouncil,#Mow,#Rake,#Scythe,#Volunteer,#Outdoors,#ThankYou,#Sunshine,#SocialDistancing,#BeSensible,#BeSafe,#StaySafe

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#Broadwindsor,#Burstock,#Blackdown,#Hursey,#Kittwhistle,#Seaborough,#Drimpton,#Dorset,#DAONB,#Village,#BWGPC,#WestDorset,#Conservation,#HurseyCommon,#DorsetCouncil,#Mow,#Rake,#Scythe,#Volunteer,#Outdoors,#Sunshine,#SocialDistancing,#BeSensible,#BeSafe,#StaySafe

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Read the full report and how you can continue to help them HERE.

Share this:

Like this:

Today, July 17th, sees the start of the Butterfly Conservation’s BIG Butterfly Count.

It’s very easy for you to take part:

Share this:

Like this: