The current cold and damp weather has done very little for our Summer residents. Walking round our local Broadstone Heath Reserve, the only active residents are squirrels and the larger birds.

On the rare occasions we do get a fine day, I generally head for notable sites where I know there will be active inhabitants. Saw lots of butterflies out at Badbury Rings, and also last week out near Corfe saw the first influx of clouded yellows - 3 to be exact.

On Sunday went into Somerset to see the re-introduced large blues. They did not like the weather either, but a dozen were found skulking in the grass.

My most memorable site this year has been driving through the new forest from Brokenhurst to Burley, and suddenly being next to three large red deer stags, with antlers at least as long as my arms. They were just grazing like the ponies, and seemed unafraid of passing cars.

Back to the Broadstone area, and events this month.

There is a DWT evening walk on Upton Heath on Friday 5th (Beacon Road, 9.00pm), and BoP have a Canford Heath walk on 28th (2.00pm, Francis Avenue) Friends of Broadstone Nature Reserve will be scouring Corfe Hills for Nightjars on 26th July (8.30 PM, Corfe Hills School) East Dorset( 01425 470721) are running a series of evening ambles around West Moors, Sturminster Marshall, Wimborne and a further series along the Stour Valley Way - now fully open. Moths and bats also feature in the programme, details via Greenlink, and all we need is some real summer weather!

The Greenlink Guide has over 40 events for this month. There has to be something that you will enjoy.

Useful numbers are listed below:-

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Dudley Hull

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