An outstanding and relatively unspoilt country park in Swanage. Even at weekends the park remains relatively quiet. In addition to seacliffs, former quarries, chalk downs and woodlands the park is a migration hotspot that frequently hosts many interesting birds varyig from Aquatic Warblers to Wrynecks. Read More …
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Crabbing at Kimmeridge
Over the years we’ve been fortunate to visit Kimmeridge Bay marine nature reserve on several occasions. Despite the reef being a stronghold for Spider crabs so far we hadn’t seen any. On this occasion inspired by a group of children crabbing from the end of Read More …
Badbury Rings
Another Iron Age hill fort and another outstanding site. Really enjoyable walking around admiring the views across the Dorset countryside whilst listening to Cuckoos calling from the woodland, Skylarks overhead and Yellowhammers in the adjacent fields. Plenty of Orchids around. The sheer number of Greater Read More …
Parsonage Down
Probably the finest area of chalk downland within the UK and within the top 3 SSSI’s/Nature Reserves we’ve visited. To describe the area as exceptional is an understatement. The site is the main stronghold in north-west Europe for the endangered Burnt Orchid. In addition, there Read More …
Dragons and Lizards
Keeled Skimmer (female)A real specialist of pools in wet heathland and bogs. This particular female had just emerged and was surprisingly approachable. Unfortunately none of the bright blue males were around. Sand Lizard (male)Definitely the most spectacular of our native lizards especially when the Read More …
Return to Ebbor Gorge
An almost magical area of ancient woodland. Perhaps also unsurprisingly its also a National Nature Reserve. The walk and scramble up through the gorge is superb with the high limestone rock faces and caves giving the woodland an ethereal quality. Unfortunately the rain cut short Read More …
Grasslands of the Mendips
White Rock Rose on Brean Down. Restricted to the the limestone grasslands of the Devon and Somerset coast it was surprising to see how abundant this nationally rare plant is on the south facing slopes of Brean Down. Cowslips just above Cheddar Gorge. Unfortunately Read More …
Shapwick Heath and Westhay
Shapwick Heath is a superb National Nature Reserve but ridiculously busy – even during the week. A bit of local knowledge would have been useful I suspect its one of those areas that rewards regular visitors who’ve got the time and knowledge to escape the Read More …
Swans & Hobbys
Hmmm… not sure if that looks right however hobbies they’re definitely not. A few highlights from a really enjoyable week on the Somerset Levels. First stop Westhay Moor a 5 minute drive from where we’d set up camp just outside Wedmore. Mute Swan Great Read More …