FRI 1 – SUN 3 WALLPAPER WEEKEND WORKSHOP Create your own plant-inspired repeat patterns & design before printing a length by hand, with Hugh Dunford Wood. Materials included. No experience needed. Residential £329 Non Residential £249. Pre-booking essential on www.kingcombe.org or tel. 01300 320684.
SAT 2 CATERPILLAR KIDS – CRAFTY CATERPILLARS, 10.30am – 12.30pm. Discover the dastardly disguises some caterpillars use to avoid being eaten. Learn all about these fascinating creatures, plus crafts & games! Meet at Lorton Meadows Centre,Lorton Lane, Upwey, Weymouth, DT3 5QH Booking essential: tel. 01305 816546. Children £2.50, must be accompanied.
SUN 3 A GOOD TERN! – LITTLE TERN WALK, 1.30 – 3pm. Join us for a walk to see the little terns, one of the UK’s rarest seabirds & help raise money to protect the colony at Chesil. Learn about the plight of this charismatic little bird, find out about the breeding success & get an insight into their fascinating behaviour. All money raised will go directly into protecting the colony. £5 pp (additional donations welcome). Meet at Chesil Beach Centre,halfway along the A354 between Weymouth and Portland. Post code: DT4 9XE.
SUN 3 VISIT MICHAEL EVAN’S WILDLIFE GARDEN at Farrs Coach House, Cowgrove, Wimborne, 2 – 5pm. Turn west at Wimborne Hospital, after ¼ mile park next door at Farrs House and walk thru’. Tea & cake available. Cost £3 donation to DWT please. Wimborne Group
TUES 5 WEST DORSET VOLUNTEER WORK PARTY, 10am – 3.30pm. Booking is essential for new volunteers as places are limited. Please contact DWT Warden Steve Masters on 07557 561624 for further information.
WED 6 THE GREAT HEATH VOLUNTEER WORK PARTY, 10am. The group will be visiting various Great Heath reserves & alternating between wildlife survey days & practical conservation/access tasks. The length of the day will vary depending on the day & activity, e.g. survey days will be much shorter. Please contact Megan Lowe on 01202 692033 or at [email protected] for more information.
WED 6 LORTON VOLUNTEERS CONSERVATION TASK, 10am – 3pm. A regular day of practical work on the nature reserve restoring habitats important for local wildlife. Tools, gloves & drinks supplied. No experience necessary, please bring a packed lunch. Meet fortnightly on Wednesdays at Lorton Meadows Conservation Centre, Lorton Lane, Weymouth, DT4 5QH No charge. For more information please phone 01305 816546.
WED 6 SEASEARCH-FRIENDLY EVENING DIVE IN LYME Bay (“Ruby J” or “Blue Turtle”). For more info or to book contact Charlotte Bolton at [email protected] Seasearch Event
THUR 7 PAINTING WORKSHOP AT UPTON HEATH, 10am – 4pm. Join artist Marisa Rehan & Dorset Wildlife Trust to discover & interpret the natural world in paint. Based on Upton Heath & at The Urban Wildlife Centre with drinks provided. Suitable for adults including those with limited mobility. Please mention when booking if you need assistance to access the heath. Cost £15. Limited spaces (max 15) so booking essential: tel. 01202 692033 or email [email protected]. The Great Heath event.
THUR 7 PASTURES NEW VOLUNTEER TASK, 10am. Join the regular volunteering group in West Dorset. Tasks can range from hedge-laying to Himalayan balsam pulling in locations all over West Dorset. Please contact Nick Gray on 07824 438974 or at [email protected] for details.
FRI 8 A MORNING WALK AT GIRDLERS COPPICE with Steve Oliver (DWT Warden), 10am – noon. Meet at Fiddleford Manor car park on the A357 near Sturminster Newton. No charge, but voluntary contributions welcomed. Booking essential: tel. Steve Oliver on 07824 874273.
FRI 8 THE HEATH AT DUSK, 9 – 11pm. As night descends on Upton Heath, experience the sights & sounds of the emerging nocturnal wildlife. With luck nightjars will be out & about. Meet at the end of Beacon Road, BH18 9JP, off Pinespring Drive/Roman Road, Corfe Mullen.
SAT 9 BUMBLEBEES Discover the world of bumblebees at this ever popular hands-on identification workshop at Kingcombe, with expert Bryan Pinchen. £63. Pre-booking essential on www.kingcombe.org or tel. 01300 320684.
SAT 9 A GUIDE TO EVERYTHING CHESIL, 2pm – 4pm. Join your guide to discover the secrets of Chesil Bank & the Fleet Lagoon. This whistle-stop tour covers everything from the formation of the beach to the rich wildlife & military history. Meet at the Chesil Beach Centre, halfway along the A354 between Weymouth and Portland. Post code: DT4 9XE. Adults £3, Children £2.
SUN 10 A GUIDE TO EVERYTHING LORTON, 2pm – 4pm. Join us for a guided walk to discover the wildlife of Lorton Meadows. Look out for dancing butterflies, wonderful wildflowers, & a host of other species enjoying life on the reserve. Meet at Lorton Meadows Conservation Centre, Lorton Lane, Upwey, Weymouth, DT3 5QH Adults £3, Children £2.
SUN 10 AN EVENING OF “SEEING BUTTERFLIES” Bird, Snake, Spider or Fungus? Join Philip Howse as he unravels the weird disguises of butterflies & moths during this dinner talk. £30. Pre-booking essential on www.kingcombe.org or tel. 01300 320684.
MON 11 – FRI 15 DORSET’S BUTTERFLIES & MOTHS Discover the diversity of summer butterflies & moths across Dorset’s famed landscape of chalk downlands, pastures, woodland & coast, with expert David Brown. Residential £485 Non Residential £325. Pre-booking essential on www.kingcombe.org or tel. 01300 320684.
TUES 12 SOUTH DORSET MID-WEEK VOLUNTEERS, Habitat management on a DWT nature reserve near you. Please contact DWT warden James Hitchen on 07436 157328 for further details or to book a place.
TUES 12 WEST DORSET VOLUNTEER WORK PARTY, 10am – 3.30pm. Booking is essential for new volunteers as places are limited. Please contact DWT Warden Steve Masters on 07557 561624 for further information.
WED 13 NORTH DORSET VOLUNTEERS, Working on a DWT nature reserve near you. Please contact DWT Warden Steve Oliver on 07824 874273.
WED 13 THE GREAT HEATH SURVEY GROUP, Join DWT staff & local experts in learning about & identifying your local wildlife! From dragonflies to birds to small mammals we will learn at the same time as surveying different sites. This is suitable for beginners as well as experienced naturalists. Times & meeting places will vary each session depending on which wildlife we are surveying. Please contact Katie Wilkinson on 01202 692033 or email [email protected] for more information.
THUR 14 URBAN WILDLIFE VOLUNTEERS, From April until September meet on the second Thursday of the month at the Urban Wildlife Centre, Beacon Hill. For this week meet at 9am for a moth trap opening & 10am for recording/monitoring tasks. For details of each task contact Andy Fale on 07970 552673 or the Urban Wildlife Centre on 01202 692033.
THUR 14 KING BARROW QUARRIES NR – BUTTERFLY WALK, 10am – 12pm. Join the Portland Project Officer for a guided walk around the disused quarry to discover how wildlife, including butterflies, has reclaimed the site. Meet at the first car park on the left off New Ground Road, nearest to Portland Heights Hotel. Just off the A354, turn left on to Yeates Road then onto New Ground Road (map ref. SY 689730). Please wear suitable footwear. Booking essential: contact the Chesil Beach Centre on 01305 206191. Adults £3, Children £2.
THUR 14 BROWNSEA WALK & DRAW, 11am – 2pm. Drawing workshop, led by artist Julie Herring, suitable for adult beginners or improvers, this is a chance to see, enjoy & draw the wild world. Based at Dorset Wildlife Trust’s Brownsea Island Nature Reserve with drinks provided. Please wear stout footwear; bring a packed lunch, sketchbook & pencils (& camera & binoculars, if desired). Cost £15 plus normal boat fares & NT landing charges apply. Boats from 10am from Poole or Sandbanks. Limited spaces. Booking essential: tel. 01202 692033 or email [email protected]. The Great Heath event.
THUR 14 TWILIGHT ON THE HEATH Join Nicky Hoar to look for nightjars & other wildlife in Corfe Mullen. Meet at 8.45pm at Rushcombe Bottom (on the Roman Road just off Higher Blandford Road), map ref. SY 993973. Stout footwear & a torch recommended. Limited parking. Suggested £3 donation. Event in partnership with Borough of Poole. For more information, ring 01202 692033 or email [email protected]. The Great Heath event.
FRI 15 MORNING WITH MOTHS Discover the huge diversity of species on the wing at Kingcombe during high summer using light traps, with David Brown, before tucking into a delicious brunch. £18. Pre-booking essential on www.kingcombe.org or tel. 01300 320684.
FRI 15 – SUN 17 NEEDLE PUNCH FELTING TEXTILE WORKSHOP Create fabulous felt designs inspired by the natural world, with renowned textile artist Sandra Coleridge. Specialised equipment provided. Residential £279 Non Residential £199. Pre-booking essential on www.kingcombe.org or tel. 01300 320684.
SAT 16 CATERPILLAR KIDS – BEAUTIFUL BUTTERFLIES, 10.30am – 12.30pm. Search for butterflies in our wildflower meadows & join us on this summers’ Big Butterfly Count, plus crafts & games. Meet at Lorton Meadows Conservation Centre. Booking essential: please phone 01305 816546. Children £2.50, must be accompanied.
SUN 17 NORTH DORSET VOLUNTEERS, Working on a DWT nature reserve near you. Please contact DWT Warden Steve Oliver on 07824 874273.
SUN 17 LYME BAY SURVEY DIVES
(hard boat “Ruby J”). For more info or to book contact Rik Girdler at [email protected]. Seasearch Event
SUN 17 LORTON MEADOWS BUTTERFLY WALK, 2 – 4pm. Join us for the start of this summers’ Big Butterfly Count, wander over the meadows and identify butterflies, so you can record which visit your local patch. Meet at Lorton Meadows Conservation Centre,Lorton Lane, Upwey, Weymouth, DT3 5QH Adults £3, Children £2.
TUES 19 WEST DORSET VOLUNTEER WORK PARTY, 10am – 3.30pm. Booking is essential for new volunteers as places are limited. Please contact DWT Warden Steve Masters on 07557 561624 for further information.
WED 20 THE GREAT HEATH VOLUNTEER WORK PARTY, 10am. The group will be visiting various Great Heath reserves & alternating between wildlife survey days & practical conservation/access tasks. The length of the day will vary depending on the day & activity, e.g. survey days will be much shorter. Please contact Megan Lowe on 01202 692033 or at [email protected] for more information.
WED 20 LORTON VOLUNTEERS CONSERVATION TASK, 10am – 3pm. A regular day of practical work on the nature reserve restoring habitats important for local wildlife. Tools, gloves & drinks supplied. No experience necessary, please bring a packed lunch. Meet fortnightly on Wednesdays at Lorton Meadows Conservation Centre,Lorton Lane, Upwey, Weymouth, DT3 5QH No charge. For more info. please phone 01305 816546.
THUR 21 SEASHORE SAFARI, 1.30 – 3pm. Join us at low tide to explore the amazing underwater world of the Fleet Lagoon. Hunt for the marine wildlife which calls our shores their home, as well as looking for the tell-tale tracks & signs of hidden species. Meet at the Chesil Beach Centre, halfway along the A354 between Weymouth and Portland. Post code: DT4 9XE. Wellies advised. Adults £3, Children £2.
THUR 21 A GUIDED WALK AROUND STOUR VALLEY NATURE RESERVE led by the Warden. Meet at 7pm at Granby Road car park (map ref. SZ 096958). No dogs.
THUR 21 PASTURES NEW VOLUNTEER TASK, 10am. Join the regular volunteering group in West Dorset. Tasks can range from hedge-laying to Himalayan balsam pulling in locations all over West Dorset. Please contact Nick Gray on 07824 438974 or at [email protected] for details.
SAT 23 TASTY TALES ON THE TRAIL Celebrate summer on a unique evening of fine food, folklore & spellbinding stories to delight the senses & tickle the imagination, with professional storyteller, Martin Maudsley. D £30. Pre-booking essential on www.kingcombe.org or tel. 01300 320684.
SAT 23 CATERPILLAR KIDS – POND PREDATORS, 10.30am – 12.30pm. Have a go at pond dipping & discover who eats who & their amazing adaptations to the underwater world of our ponds. Plus crafts & games. Meet at Lorton Meadows Conservation Centre, Lorton Lane, Upwey, Weymouth, DT3 5QH. Booking essential: tel. 01305 816546. Children £2.50, must be accompanied.
SAT 23 SEASHORE SAFARI, 2.30pm – 4pm. Join us at low tide to explore the amazing underwater world of the Fleet Lagoon. Hunt for the marine wildlife which calls our shores their home, as well as looking for the tell-tale tracks & signs of hidden species. Meet at the Chesil Beach Centre,halfway along the A354 between Weymouth and Portland. Post code: DT4 9XE. Wellies advised. Adults £3, Children £2.
SAT 23 WILD ABOUT POOLE! LOVE YOUR COAST & COUNTRYSIDE, 10am – 4pm. Join us for a free family wildlife fun day with Borough of Poole & partners in The Great Heath & discover your next door nature! Activities for all ages, real wildlife, face painting, crafts & guided walks beside Poole Harbour at Baiter, Harbourside Park, Catalina Drive, BH15 1TQ. For more information call 01202 692033 or email [email protected]. The Great Heath Event.
SUN 24 MARINE GIANTS TALK & EGGCASE HUNT, 11am – 12.30pm. Learn about the whales, sharks, dolphins & huge jellyfish that we have in Dorset. You will be surprised & amazed by the giants that can be found around our coast. Join us to hunt for shark & ray eggcases along Chesil Beach, halfway along the A354 between Weymouth and Portland. Post code: DT4 9XE. Meet at the Chesil Beach Centre. Adults £3, Children £2.
MON 25 MEET THE LITTLE TERN WARDENS, 1.30pm – 2.30pm. Little Terns are an important part of Chesil Beach, as much as the pebbles themselves. Hear from the wardens about the challenges & successes of the year as well as gaining a fascinating insight into one of the UK’s rarest seabirds. Meet at the Chesil Beach Centre, halfway along the A354 between Weymouth and Portland. Post code: DT4 9XE. Adults £5, Children £3 (additional donations welcome). All money raised will go directly into protecting the colony.
TUES 26 SOUTH DORSET MID-WEEK VOLUNTEERS, Habitat management on a DWT nature reserve near you. Please contact DWT warden James Hitchen on 07436 157328 for further details or to book your place.
TUES 26 WEST DORSET VOLUNTEER WORK PARTY, 10am – 3.30pm. Booking is essential for new volunteers as places are limited. Please contact DWT Warden Steve Masters on 07557 561624 for further information.
TUES 26 WILD BROWNSEA, 10.30am – 1pm. Get up close to the amazing wildlife of Brownsea Island with our experts. The wildlife of the Dorset Wildlife Trust Nature Reserve will be on show all morning (weather & wildlife permitting!). Start at the reserve entrance & make your way to see nesting birds from our spectacular hides, spot rare red squirrels & meet some of Brownsea’s amazing moths & sea life. Free event but normal entry charges apply for DWT reserve, National Trust landing fee & boat fares. No need to book but please ring 01202 709445 or email [email protected] if you have any queries. The Great Heath event.
TUES 26 CATERPILLAR KIDS – LUCKY LADYBIRDS, 1pm – 3pm. How many spots do ladybirds have – 2, 7 or 22? Why are they bright colours, instead of camouflaged? Plus crafts & games. Meet at Lorton Meadows Conservation Centre, Lorton Lane, Upwey, Weymouth, DT3 5QH. Booking essential: please phone 01305 816546. Children £2.50, must be accompanied.
TUES 26 FLEET EXPLORER – PROTECTED SEAS, 11.15am – 12.15pm. Join us for a boat trip on the Fleet Explorer to find out about Marine Protected Areas in Dorset, as we explore one of the UK’s finest. Find out about the incredible wildlife of the Fleet Lagoon & how important it is to protect our seas. Adults £6.50, children £4.50. Booking essential: tel. 01305 206191.
WED 27 SEASHORE SCAVENGERS, 11am – 12.30pm. Walk along Chesil Beach, hunting for rare pink sea fans, shark eggcases & other treasures blown in from the Atlantic. Meet at the Chesil Beach Centre, halfway along the A354 between Weymouth and Portland. Post code: DT4 9XE. Adults £3, Children £2.
WED 27 THE GREAT HEATH SURVEY GROUP, Join DWT staff & local experts in learning about & identifying your local wildlife! From dragonflies to birds to small mammals we will learn at the same time as surveying different sites. This is suitable for beginners as well as experienced naturalists. Times & meeting places will vary depending on which wildlife we are surveying. Please contact Katie Wilkinson on 01202 692033 or email [email protected] for more info.
WED 27 ARTY OCEAN ACTIVITIES, 11am – 1pm or 2 – 4pm, Fine Foundation Marine Centre, Kimmeridge. Celebrate Marine Week. Have-a-go marine art & craft activities for children. 50p per item made. Just call in during either of the 2 sessions & choose what you want to make. Parents must accompany all children.
THUR 28 AN AFTERNOON WALK IN LANGTON WEST WOOD led by Chris Spilling. Meet at 2.30pm at Acton Car Park (map ref. SY 988787). Contact is Colin Nunn (01929 439211). We hope to see a variety of insects, especially hoverflies & also the Silverwashed Fritillary butterfly.
THUR 28 CATERPILLAR KIDS – WILD ABOUT FLOWERS, 10.30am – 12.30pm. Bird’s-foot Trefoil, Oxeye Daisy, Stinking Iris! Discover all these weird & wonderfully named flowers, plus crafts & games. Meet at Lorton Meadows Conservation Centre, Lorton Lane, Upwey, Weymouth, DT3 5QH. Booking essential: tel. 01305 816546. Children £2.50, must be accompanied.
THUR 28 KINGCOMBE KIDS CLUB will run every Thursday 10am till 12pm. Booking essential. Full details on www.kingcombe.org.
FRI 29 CUTTLEFISH KIDS – PECULIAR PLANKTON, 1pm – 3pm. Learn about the weird & wonderful world of plankton. Some of the smallest creatures in the sea are some of the strangest. Join us to hunt for these peculiar beasts & use our microscopes to view these fascinating creatures & turn them into giants on our big TV screens. Plus crafts & games. Meet at the Chesil Beach Centre. Booking essential: please phone 01305 206191. Children £2.50, must be accompanied.
SAT 30 – SUN 31 PORTLAND SURVEY DIVE (hard boat “Scimitar”). For more info or to book email [email protected]. Seasearch Event
SAT 30 CATERPILLAR KIDS –BUTTERFLIES & MOTHS, 10.30am – 12.30pm. Watch fluttering butterflies in our wildflower meadows & explore our overnight moth trap to see what surprises it holds. Plus crafts & games. Meet at Lorton Meadows Conservation Centre, Lorton Lane, Upwey, Weymouth, DT3 5QH. Booking essential: please phone 01305 816546. Children £2.50, must be accompanied.
SUN 31 URBAN WEEKENDERS, 9 – 10am moth trap; 10am – 12 noon wildlife survey on Upton Heath. Meet at the Urban Wildlife Centre BH21 3RX to help discover the wildlife of the heath. Families welcome, but children must be accompanied by an adult. Please check website, contact Megan Lowe on 01202 692033 or email [email protected] for more information.
SAT 30 WILLOW BADGERS SCULPTURE WORKSHOP Using ancient willow weaving techniques create your own badger sculpture on this exclusive day, with Kim Creswell. D £95. Includes materials. Pre-booking essential on www.kingcombe.org or tel. 01300 320684.
SUN 31 WILLOW OWLS SCULPTURE WORKSHOP Using ancient willow weaving techniques create your own owl sculpture on this exclusive day, with Kim Creswell. D £95. Includes materials. Pre-booking essential on www.kingcombe.org or tel. 01300 320684.
SUN 31 A GUIDE TO EVERYTHING LORTON, 2 – 3.30pm. Celebrate “International Day for Biological Diversity” by exploring Lorton Meadows Nature Reserve. Discover butterflies, birds & more! Come along for a guided walk around the reserve. Meet at Lorton Meadows Conservation Centre, Lorton Lane, Upwey, Weymouth, DT3 5QH Adults £3, Children £2.
