SUN 1 EAST DORSET/ARC WORK PARTY, 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.
WED 4 THE GREAT HEATH VOLUNTEER WORK PARTY, 10am – 4pm. Practical conservation work on a variety of habitats. A wide range of tasks will be carried out; tools & training provided. Come along every Wednesday throughout the year & enjoy what the countryside has to offer. For more information call Sally Wright at the Urban Wildlife Centre on 01202 692033.
WED 4 NORTH DORSET VOLUNTEERS, working on a DWT nature reserve near you. Please contact DWT Warden Steve Oliver on 07824 874273.
THUR 5 URBAN WILDLIFE VOLUNTEERS, meet at 10am every Thursday at the Urban Wildlife Centre, Beacon Hill Lane, Corfe Mullen,Wimborne, BH21 3RX. 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.
FRI 6 IN THE KINGFISHER’S REALM – RESTORING DORSET’S RIVERS, an illustrated talk by Nick Gray, DWT, & Roger Genge, Environment Agency. 7.30pm, Bridport United Church, East Street, Bridport. Suggested £2 donation (£3 for non-members) to cover costs (inc. refreshments).
SAT 7 SOVELL DOWN VOLUNTEER WORK PARTY, 10am – 4pm. Practical conservation work; all tools & training provided. Please bring lunch. For details of each task please contact Steve Claxton on 07967 032626.
SAT 7 ‘SPRING BIRDS OF THE FLEET’– TALK & OPTICS DAY, 10 – 4pm. Join us to learn about the birds that visit the Fleet during Spring. Then try out our binoculars to practice your new ID skills. Rob Laughton, from Opticron, will also be at the Centre all day with a huge range of binoculars & scopes for sale. Talk at 12am. FREE Event at The Chesil Beach Centre,Portland Road, Weymouth, DT4 9XE. [SY 668 755]. Tel: 01305 206191
SAT 7 WILD LORTON DAY 10am to 4pm. Join us for a ‘Wild Activity’ at Lorton Meadows Wildlife Centre.Each month will feature a different activity from pond dipping to making a bird box, to helping to look after the reserve. Please see our website for specific details for each date. The Wildlife Centre will be open for visitors, come along for a walk around the reserve, then drop in for a hot drink & peruse our selection of gifts & wildlife books. Watch the birds on the feeders on screen, find out what to feed your garden birds during the colder months & purchase bird seed, feeders & nest boxes.Lorton Lane, Upwey, Weymouth, DT3 5QH. [SY 674 826].
SAT 7 – SUN 15 CHESIL BEACH CENTRE MEGA BIRD FOOD SALE, Lots of great deals on our large range of garden bird food and feeding items.Fine Foundation Chesil Beach Centre, Portland Road, Weymouth, DT4 9XE. [SY 668 755]. Tel: 01305 206191
SUN 8 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 contact Richard Proctor on 01202 693039 or 07718 511432.
SUN 8 WEST DORSET SUNDAY WORK PARTY, working on a variety of different tasks, including scrub clearance & hedge-laying, across West Dorset reserves. Please phone West Dorset Reserves Warden Steve Masters (07557561624) two days prior to the event to book or for further details. Bring waterproof footwear/ clothing, lunch & drinks.
MON 9 WILDLIFE GARDENING, an illustrated talk by Joy Wallis. 2.30pm Langton Matravers Village Hall. BH19 3HA. All welcome.
TUES 10 PORTLAND’S LIVING LANDSCAPES PROJECT – MANAGEMENT WORK & BUTTERFLY RESPONSE, a presentation by Rachel Jones, Butterfly Conservation, & Sam Hamer, DWT Portland’s Living Landscape Project Officer. Joint Meeting with Butterfly Conservation. 7.30pm, Carter Community School, Blandford Close, Hamworthy, BH15 4BQ.
TUES 10 SOUTH DORSET MID-WEEK VOLUNTEERS, Habitat management on a DWT nature reserve near you. Please contact DWT warden James Hitchen on 07436 157328 for details.
WED 11 THE GREAT HEATH VOLUNTEER WORK PARTY, 10am – 4pm. Practical conservation work on a variety of habitats. A wide range of tasks will be carried out; tools & training provided. Come along every Wednesday throughout the year & enjoy what the countryside has to offer. For more information call Sally Wright at the Urban Wildlife Centre on 01202 692033.
WED 11 VOLUNTEERS CONSERVATION TASK, Lorton Meadows NR (Free), 10am – 3pm. Join us for a day of practical work on site, to restore the habitats important for local wildlife. Tools, gloves & drinks supplied. No experience necessary, please bring a packed lunch.Lorton Meadows Conservation Centre, Lorton Lane, Upwey, Weymouth, DT3 5QH. [SY 674 826].
THUR 12 URBAN WILDLIFE VOLUNTEERS, meet at 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.
THUR 12 PASTURES NEW VOLUNTEER TASK, 10am. DWT Pastures New volunteers working on multifarious sites across West Dorset. Come and join in with all sorts of tasks from wild flower seeding to water vole conservation, coppicing to mayfly-counting. Flapjacks are on us. Please call Nick Gray on 07824 438974 for details.
SUN 15 NORTH DORSET VOLUNTEERS, working on a DWT nature reserve near you. Please contact DWT Warden Steve Oliver on 07824 874273.
TUES 17 BATS, a talk by Nick Tomlinson (Somerset Wildlife Trust). 7.30pm, Herrison Hall, Charlton Down DT2 9UA. Free entry but donation £3 requested incl. coffee and biscuits.
WED 18 DARWIN – HIS LIFE, IDEAS & INFLUENCE, a talk by David Croman. 7.30pm, Digby Memorial Church Hall, Digby Road, Sherborne. Cost £2.50. Coffee/tea & biscuits available. Donations appreciated.
WED 18 NORTH DORSET VOLUNTEERS, working on a DWT nature reserve near you. Please contact DWT Warden Steve Oliver on 07824 874273.
WED 18 THE GREAT HEATH VOLUNTEER WORK PARTY, 10am – 4pm. Practical conservation work on a variety of habitats. A wide range of tasks will be carried out; tools & training provided. Come along every Wednesday throughout the year & enjoy what the countryside has to offer. For more information call Sally Wright at the Urban Wildlife Centre on 01202 692033.
WED 18 THE MAPPING SEAS PROJECT an illustrated talk by Dr Charlotte Bolton, DWT’s Marine Survey & Data Officer. 7.30pm Fontmell Magna Village Hall (SP7 0JU). £2 (including tea/coffee/biscuis). Children free.
THUR 19 THE ARCHAEOLOGY, HISTORY & WILDLIFE OF ST. CATHERINE’S HILL, an illustrated talk by Rick Sharp. 7.30pm, Christchurch Baptist Church Hall, Bargates, corner of Beaconsfield Road, Christchurch BH23 1QL. Cost £2 incl. coffee & biscuits.
THUR 19 URBAN WILDLIFE VOLUNTEERS, meet at 10am every Thursday at the Urban Wildlife Centre, Beacon Hill Lane, Corfe Mullen, Wimborne,BH21 3RX. 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.
FRI 20 EXMOOR & THE WILD RED DEER, a talk by Mike Hooker. 7.30 pm, The Quarterjack Suite, The Allendale Centre, Hanham Road, Wimborne Minster.
SAT 21 SPRING BIRDS ON BROWNSEA, 11am – 1pm. Discover the birds of Britain’s favourite nature reserve with DWT as spring comes to Brownsea Island. Meet at the public hide by the cormorant sculpture (100m from the National Trust Quay). Boats from Poole or Sandbanks at 10am. No DWT charge but normal boat fares & NT landing charges apply. For more information, please ring 01202 692033 or 01202 709445 or email [email protected]
SAT 21 DISCOVER SEASHORE WILDLIFE, 11am – 4.30pm, Fine Foundation Marine Centre, KimmeridgeSY 909787, BH20 5PF. Learn to identify seashore creatures & then help us search for them on the shore. Free event. Phone01929 481044.
SUN 22 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 07718 511432 or 01202 693039.
SUN 22 URBAN WEEKENDERS, meet 10am at the Urban Wildlife Centre (BH21 3RX). Join the Urban team of Dorset Wildlife Trust on a regular weekend work party on DWT Upton Heath, on the last Sunday of every month. Volunteers will be helping wardens carry out conservation work on this important wildlife site. Tools & safety equipment provided, but 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]
TUES 24 ISLE OF PURBECK MID-WEEK VOLUNTEERS, Habitat management on a DWT nature reserve near you. Please contact DWT warden James Hitchen on 07436157328 for details.
WED 25 VOLUNTEERS CONSERVATION TASK, Lorton Meadows NR (Free), 10am – 3pm. Join us for a day of practical work on site, to restore the habitats important for local wildlife. Tools, gloves & drinks supplied. No experience necessary, please bring a packed lunch.Lorton Meadows Conservation Centre, Lorton Lane, Upwey, Weymouth, DT3 5QH. [SY 674 826].
THUR 26 PASTURES NEW VOLUNTEER TASK, 10am. DWT Pastures New volunteers working on multifarious sites across West Dorset. Come & join in with all sorts of tasks from wild flower seeding to water vole conservation, coppicing to mayfly-counting. Flapjacks are on us. Please call Nick Gray on 07824 438974 for details.
THUR 26 THE IMPORTANCE OF SITES OF NATURE CONSERVATION INTEREST, an illustrated talk by Sharron Abbott, DWT SNCI Manager. 7.30pm. Methodist Church, North Street, Wareham BH20 4AB. All welcome.
THUR 26 URBAN WILDLIFE VOLUNTEERS, meet at 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.
MON 30, THUR 2 & SAT 4 EASTER EGG TRAIL,
Lorton Meadows NR (£1/child, Family Event), 1pm – 4pm (all day Saturday). Why not stay for a picnic after the morning activities & follow the egg trail after lunch. Pick up trail guide at the Centre, follow the trail to find the clues, then return to collect your prize. No unaccompanied children. Lorton Meadows Conservation Centre, Lorton Lane, Upwey, Weymouth, DT3 5QH. [SY 674 826].
TUES 31 CHESIL CODE CRACKERS, Use your powers of observation & investigation to solve clues in & around the Chesil Beach Centre & crack the secret Chesil code, learning about local wildlife as you go! £2 per child, sessions at 11am & 2.00pm. Fine Foundation Chesil Beach Centre, Portland Road, Weymouth, DT4 9XE. [SY 668 755]. Tel: 01305 206191
TUES 31 NATURAL MOBILES & WIND CHIMES, 10am – 12 pm, £3 per child. Get creative & make a mobile or wind chime by only using the natural materials you find on the nature reserve. Take them home to hang up in the garden & listen to them tinkle in the breeze! Visit our website for more information: www.kingcombe.org. The Kingcombe Centre, Lower Kingcombe, Toller Porcorum, DT2 0EQ. Phone 01300 321409.
