TUES 2 ACCESS CHESIL, 11am – 12pm, a ‘short gentle’ walk around Chesil Bank & the Fleet Lagoon to discover its secrets. This easy access walk, along flat surfaces, is suitable for mobility scooters & wheelchairs. Find out about everything from the formation of the Chesil beach to the rich wildlife & military history. Meet at the Chesil Beach Centre. Free Event.The Chesil Beach Centre. Fine Foundation Chesil Beach Centre, Portland Road, Weymouth, DT4 9XE. [SY 668 755]. Tel: 01305 206191.
TUES 2 WEST DORSET VOLUNTEER WORK PARTY: Please contact DWT Warden Steve Masters on 07557 561624.
THUR 4 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 07824438974 or at [email protected] for details.
THUR 4 MARITIME HERITAGE WITHIN A CANNON SHOT OF THE CHESIL, a talk for those people who were not aware that the Chesil Beach Centre is the epicentre of our Maritime Heritage. It will include world records, world firsts, three wars, shipwrecks, our plans to scupper those foreign invaders, industrial archaeology, treasure & tragedy & also a bit about our unique approach to fishing in just 40 minutes. 7 – 8pm, Chesil Beach Centre. £3 per person.The Chesil Beach Centre. Fine Foundation Chesil Beach Centre, Portland Road, Weymouth, DT4 9XE. [SY 668 755]. Tel: 01305 206191.
SAT 6 LORTON MEADOWS OPEN DAY, 10am – 4pm (Free). The Conservation Centre is open for visitors, come along for a walk around the reserve, then drop in for a hot/cold drink, & peruse our selection of gifts & wildlife books. Watch birds in the boxes live on screen, & purchase nest boxes and bird food.For further information, please contact the Community Conservation Officer on 01305 816546 .Lorton Meadows Conservation Centre, Lorton Lane, Upwey, Weymouth, DT3 5QH. [SY 674 826].
SAT 6 INSECT WALK, 2 – 4pm, Lorton Meadows NR (£1/person, Family Event). Join us for a guided walk through the meadows, spotting insects, from dragonflies to grasshoppers, with the Community Conservation Officer. Refreshments afterwards. No unaccompanied children.For further information, please contact the Community Conservation Officer on 01305 816546 .Lorton Meadows Conservation Centre, Lorton Lane, Upwey, Weymouth, DT3 5QH. [SY 674 826].
SAT 6 GREAT CHESIL BEACH EGGCASE HUNT, 11am – 12.30pm. Get active with shark conservation. Join us to search for shark & ray eggcases along Chesil Beach. Learn about British sharks & find out what lives inside a mermaid’s purse! Your finds will be recorded & used for the conservation of these charismatic species. £2 per person.The Chesil Beach Centre. Fine Foundation Chesil Beach Centre, Portland Road, Weymouth, DT4 9XE. [SY 668 755]. Tel: 01305 206191.
SUN 7 Drop in to the WELLY ZONE
at any time from 2 to 4.30pm east of the slipway at Baiter
Park Poole & discover Baiter’s seashore wildlife. Please wear suitable clothing. PANACHE Event.
SUN 7 EAST DORSET/ARC WORK PARTY, 10am – 1pm. Lend a hand with practical conservation work at the Sopley Common Reserve. Tasks include scrub clearance, pine & sycamore control, path clearance etc. Meet at the Ramsdown car park. For more information, please contact Jon Crewe on 07989 777757.
TUES 9 WEST DORSET VOLUNTEER WORK PARTY: Please contact DWT Warden Steve Masters on 07557 561624.
TUES 9 SOUTH DORSET MID-WEEK VOLUNTEERS, 10am – 3pm: Habitat management on a DWT nature reserve near you. Please contact warden James Hitchen on 07436 157328 for further details or to book your place.
WED 10 VOLUNTEERS CONSERVATION TASK ,10am – 3pm, Lorton Meadows NR (Free). Join us for a day of practical work on site, to restore the habitats important for local wildlife, with the Community Conservation Officer. Tools, gloves & drinks supplied. No experience necessary. Please bring a packed lunch, meet at the Conservation Centre.For further information, please contact the Community Conservation Officer on 01305 816546 .Lorton Meadows Conservation Centre, Lorton Lane, Upwey, Weymouth, DT3 5QH. [SY 674 826].
THUR 11 URBAN WILDLIFE VOLUNTEERS
Meet every Thursday at the Urban Wildlife Centre, Beacon Hill. For this week meet at 9am for a moth trap opening & 10am for practical tasks. For details of each task contact Andy Fale on 07970 552673 or the Urban Wildlife Centre on 01202 692033. This is a Great Heath Living Landscape project event.Map ref. SY 976949. The Urban Wildlife Centre lies at the top of Beacon Hill Lane, off the Old Wareham Road, SW. of Corfe Mullen. BH21 3RX.
THUR 11 WILDLIFE ON YOUR SEASHORE , a seashore survey for Welly Zone volunteers. 12.30 – 3pm,
Eype, Bridport (map ref. SY 447911). Free PANACHE Event.
THUR 11 A GUIDE TO EVERYTHING CHESIL, 11am – 12.30pm. Join our 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. Adults £3, children £2.The Chesil Beach Centre. Fine Foundation Chesil Beach Centre, Portland Road, Weymouth, DT4 9XE. [SY 668 755]. Tel: 01305 206191.
SAT 13 CETACEAN & SEABIRD SURVEYOR COURSE, DWT & MARINE LIFE have teamed up for this popular course. 10am – 4pm, The Salt House, West Bay. £40 (£35 DWT members). BOOKING ESSENTIAL at [email protected]
SAT 13 BIRDS OF BROWNSEA – MIGRATION TIME, 11am-1pm. Discover the birds of Britain’s favourite nature reserve with Dorset Wildlife Trust. The bird migration season is underway & Brownsea’s internationally important lagoon is a top stopover for many wading birds. Meet at the public hide by the cormorant sculpture (100m from the quay). Boats from Poole or Sandbanks at 10am. Free entry this weekend to the National Trust owned island but boat fares apply. For more information ring 01202 692033 or 01202 709445 or email: [email protected]. Suggested donation £3. This is Great Heath Living Landscape project event.
SAT 13 LYTCHETT BAY WALK, 10am. Explore the new nature reserve at Lytchett Bay, part of The Great Heath Living Landscape. Led by Dorset Wildlife Trust & Amphibian & Reptile Conservation, this is a chance to find out about the wildlife & habitats of this special site on the shores of Poole Harbour. Meet at Lytchett Heath, Sandy Lane, Upton (just west of Moorland Way junction) map ref. SY 974927. For more information ring 01202 692033 or email: [email protected]. Suggested donation £3. This is a Great Heath Living Landscape project event.
SUN 14 BROWNSEA ISLAND WORK PARTY, 9.30 am. Join the regular volunteering group on Brownsea Island on alternate Sundays throughout the year. Tasks include pine thinning, opening out the alder carr & rhododendron cutting. For details of boat timings etc contact Richard Proctor on 01202 693039 or 07718 511432.
TUES 16 WEST DORSET VOLUNTEER WORK PARTY: Please contact DWT Warden Steve Masters on 07557 561624.
TUES 16 IDENTIFYING BIRDS BY SOUND, a talk by Mark Constantine (Sound Approach Publications). 7.30pm, Herrison Hall, Charlton Down. Free entry but £3 donation requested inc. coffee & biscuits. Three Valleys Group.
WED 17 DORSET OWLS & THEIR HABITAT, a talk by Paul Sturgess. 7.30 pm, Digby Memorial Church Hall, Digby Road, Sherborne. Cost £2.50 (inc. coffee/tea & biscuits). Donations appreciated to cover costs. Sherborne Group.
WED 17 KING BARROW QUARRIES NATURE RESERVE GEOLOGY & QUARRIES WALK, 11am – 1pm. Meet at the entrance to the reserve (map ref. SY 689728), by the name stone, on Yeates Road, just off A354. Join us for a guided walk around this disused quarry that nature has reclaimed, to discover the geology of the site exposed by the quarrymen, along with their huts, gullies & tunnels with the Community Conservation Officer. Please wear suitable footwear. Booking essential. Please contact the Community Conservation Officer 01305 816546. £1 per person.
THUR 18 CAN INTENSIVE FARMING CO-EXIST WITH WILDLIFE? An illustrated talk by Peter Thompson, Biodiversity Advisor to the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust. 7.30pm, Christchurch Baptist Church Hall, Bargates, corner of Beaconsfield Road, Christchurch. Cost £2.00 incl. coffee & biscuits. Bournemouth & Christchurch Group.
THUR 18 URBAN WILDLIFE VOLUNTEERS 10am every Thursday at the Urban Wildlife Centre, Beacon Hill. Practical conservation work; all tools & training provided. For details of each task contact Andy Fale on 07970 552673 or the Urban Wildlife Centre on 01202 692033. This is a Great Heath Living Landscape project event.Map ref. SY 976949. The Urban Wildlife Centre lies at the top of Beacon Hill Lane, off the Old Wareham Road, SW. of Corfe Mullen. BH21 3RX.
THUR 18 PASTURES NEW VOLUNTEER TASK, 10 am. 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 19 THE SURPRISING, COLOURFUL & BEAUTIFUL WORLD OF TOADSTOOLS, a talk by Eric Watson 7.30pm, Allendale Centre, Wimborne (open at 7pm). Wimborne Group. This is a Great Heath Living Landscape project event.
SAT 20 WILDLIFE OF DUNYEATS HILL, 10am – 12 noon. Discover the special wildlife of Dunyeats Hill, part of The Great Heath Living Landscape, with Dorset Wildlife Trust & Amphibian & Reptile Conservation (ARC). Meet at the entrance marked ‘FP No 97’, 2nd turning in Merriefield Ave, off Upper Golf Links Rd, Broadstone. Please do not block residents’ access. All welcome but children must be accompanied by adults & strong sturdy footwear is advised. For more information ring 01202 692033 or email [email protected] . This is a Great Heath Living Landscape project event.
SAT 20 WILD ABOUT WIMBORNE! 10.30am – 3.30pm on the Minster Green, Wimborne. Tons of wildlife activities & crafts: discover the River Allen’s wildlife; make a dragonfly from reeds; meet Claude the white clawed crayfish & discover the secrets of otters & water voles. Also face painting, storytelling & sales stalls. Contact Amanda Broom, River Allen Project Officer, on 01202 642780 for more details.
SAT 20 LORTON MEADOWS OPEN DAY,
10am – 4pm (Free). The Conservation Centre is open for visitors, come along for a walk around the reserve, then drop in for a hot/cold drink, & peruse our selection of gifts & wildlife books. Watch birds in the boxes live on screen, & purchase nest boxes & bird food.For further information, please contact the Community Conservation Officer on 01305 816546 .Lorton Meadows Conservation Centre, Lorton Lane, Upwey, Weymouth, DT3 5QH. [SY 674 826].
SAT 20/ PORTLAND SURVEY DIVES.
SUN 21 Contact Charlotte Bolton for details:
[email protected] Seasearch Event.
SUN 21 NORTH DORSET VOLUNTEERS, Working on a DWT nature reserve near you. Please contact DWT Warden Steve Oliver on 07824 874273.
SUN 21 VOLUNTEER BEACH CLEAN,
10am – 12pm, Worbarrow Bay (map ref. SY 865803). Help with our autumn beach clean. All equipment provided. Free Event.
SUN 21 MARINE GIANTS SAND SCULPTURE COMPETITION , 11am – 3pm. Pick your favourite British marine animal & turn it into a giant sand sculpture. Find out about our fascinating local marine life & get top tips on how to make the perfect sand sculpture. Lots of prizes up for grabs. Meet at Weymouth beach in front of the clock. £3 per team. Bring your own bucket & spade.
TUES 23 ISLE OF PURBECK MID-WEEK VOLUNTEERS, 10am – 3pm: Habitat management on a DWT nature reserve near you. Please contact warden James Hitchen on 07436 157328 for further details or to book your place.
TUES 23 WEST DORSET VOLUNTEER WORK PARTY: Please contact DWT Warden Steve Masters on 07557 561624.
WED 24 VOLUNTEERS CONSERVATION TASK , 10am – 3pm, Lorton Meadows NR (Free). Join us for a day of practical work on site, to restore the habitats important for local Wildlife, with the Community Conservation Officer. Tools, gloves & drinks supplied. No experience necessary. Please bring a packed lunch, meet at the Conservation Centre.For further information, please contact the Community Conservation Officer on 01305 816546 .Lorton Meadows Conservation Centre, Lorton Lane, Upwey, Weymouth, DT3 5QH. [SY 674 826].
WED 24 NORTH DORSET VOLUNTEERS, Working on a DWT nature reserve near you. Please contact DWT Warden Steve Oliver on 07824 874273.
THUR 25 AN AFTERNOON WALK AT STUDLAND for autumn fruits, including fungi, and a look at sand dunes & the process of natural succession that is clearly visible here. Meet 2.30pm by the National Trust visitor centre at Knowle Beach (SZ034836). For more information: 01929 551708. Isle of Purbeck Group.
THUR 25 URBAN WILDLIFE VOLUNTEERS 10am every Thursday at the Urban Wildlife Centre, Beacon Hill. Practical conservation work; all tools & training provided. For details of each task contact Andy Fale on 07970 552673 or the Urban Wildlife Centre on 01202 692033. This is a Great Heath Living Landscape project event.Map ref. SY 976949. The Urban Wildlife Centre lies at the top of Beacon Hill Lane, off the Old Wareham Road, SW. of Corfe Mullen. BH21 3RX.
THUR 25 MEDIEVAL WEYMOUTH & PORTLAND: FROM CONQUEST TO PLAGUE, an hour with Anne Collier, author of ‘The History of Weymouth & its Neighbours’ will be talking about what the local area was like in medieval times. You will be taken on a fascinating journey across Weymouth & Portland, discovering the rich history of the area & finding out about the quirky habits of the locals back then. 7 – 8pm, Chesil Beach Centre. £3 per person.The Chesil Beach Centre. Fine Foundation Chesil Beach Centre, Portland Road, Weymouth, DT4 9XE. [SY 668 755]. Tel: 01305 206191.
SUN 28 BROWNSEA ISLAND WORK PARTY, 9.30 am. Join the regular volunteering group on Brownsea Island on alternate Sundays throughout the year. Tasks include pine thinning, opening out the alder carr & rhododendron cutting. For details of boat timings etc contact Richard Proctor on 01202 693039 or 07718 511432.
SUN 28 URBAN WEEKENDERS, 10am – 1pm. Join the Urban team of the Dorset Wildlife Trust on a regular work party on DWT Upton Heath, on the last Sunday of every month. Meet at the Urban Wildlife Centre (BH21 3RX), Help wardens carry out conservation work on this important wildlife site. Tools & safety equipment provided. Please wear clothes you don’t mind getting dirty, sensible footwear & bring food & drinks. Families welcome, but children must be accompanied by an adult. Please contact Sally Wright on 01202 692033 for details or email [email protected]. This is a Great Heath Living Landscape project event.
SUN 28 LYME BAY SURVEY DIVES.
Contact Rik Girdler for details: [email protected]
Seasearch event.
TUES 30 WEST DORSET VOLUNTEER WORK PARTY: Please contact DWT Warden Steve Masters on 07557 561624.
