Dorset DA

COUNTRYSIDE CARE OFFICER'S REPORT

2006 | Dec 05 | Oct 05 | Aug 05 | Jun 05 | Apr 05 | Jan 05 | Dec 04

Dec/Jan 2005-6

Tesrod and his Harem – Spotted at Brownsea
Thirteen and a half Dorset members went to a conservation day to clear Rhododendrons at Brownsea.

We were piped aboard the ferry at 09.30am and had a smooth crossing. On arrival at the Island we were “welcomed” by Tesrod our first adoptive squirrel. During the day various relatives were spotted organising their food stores for the winter. Our task for the day was to cut back Rhodies from the area of the Heronry, an area normally out of bounds, however, as the herons had not yet nested we were permitted to clear the area.

The clearing seemed harder going than last time (or are we beginning to show our ages??). We still managed to build a large bonfire and cook some baked potatoes for lunch.

At lunchtime proceedings were brought to a sudden halt, as Sandra split her shin open on a projecting twig, or a “fir cone branch“ as Sandra called it. (Well I think that’s what she said). This tested our health and safety procedures, which proved to be impeccable. Chris, the Site Manager and first-aider administered the first aid, evacuated the patient by 4x4 to awaiting boat, which returned her to the Mainland where a member (thank you Stewart) transported her to the Casualty Department at Poole Hospital.

Meanwhile, back in the Heronry, work had been (gratefully stopped) whilst we had lunch and awaited the return of the Site Manager. In his prolonged absence we decided to make our way back with the tools to HQ, where we found Chris had been tied up in red tape sorting out “Health and Safety”.

Paperwork completed we were taken on a tour of the Island on the North Side, spotting deer on the way – terminating at a bird hide overlooking Poole Harbour and the Wildlife lagoon.

We were introduced to Avocets, Cormorants, green and red Shanks and even 3 Spoonbills, with the aid of DWT Television and their Telephoto lens Camera.

We eventually returned to the jetty to catch the boat; and braved the swell back to the mainland, disembarking tired but happy that we had done our duty for our 5 adopted squirrels and promised to return next year on November 19th to exercise ourselves and our parental visiting rights. Gordon Colman

Post Script
Sandra ended up with another 20 steri-strips on her leg and a couple of days off work. We wish her a speedy recovery and suggest the Committee provides her with shin pads for our next visit!!

Enquiries from members indicate that some parents would be interested in children being involved with the conservation work. To this end I am pursuing the matter with DWT to arrange a “child friendly” event to coincide with one of our meets in the spring. – more details in next issue.

Gordon
– Dorset DA Countryside Care Officer

Oct/Nov 2005

We have finished adopting Squirrels, having 5 now in our ranks. But - we still need more members to come over to Brownsea Island on Sunday 13th November 9.00am to 4.00pm to clear Rhododendrons and have a tour of the Islands nature reserve. It's not too strenuous and is good fun.

The trip has been opened up to CCY members, accompanied by an adult, if anyone is interested. If you want pictorial evidence of what we will be doing, see page 16 of Octobers Out and About where we have a half page spread. Who knows your picture could be in the national magazine.

Don't miss this chance of a lifetime SEA CRUISE.

Gordon
– Dorset DA Countryside Care Officer

As an addition to the above I would like to say what a great day out we all had in February this year. We didn't know what to expect when we departed from Poole Quay as Gordon had kept us in the dark about the Rhododendrons, but it was great fun. The work itself was not hard and there was a good team spirit, the men were chopping down the Rhododendrons and the girls were dragging the branches away lopping them and then stacking the wood on a wood pile and putting the small branches on a fire. After, we went back to the house for lunch and then on a nature walk with the Warden, which was very interesting, we were shown various different species of birds, trees and habitats. If you are able to go on this outing it is well worthwhile.

Jayne

June/July 2005

WHAT- Countryside Care ?

WHAT is DDA doing for “Countryside Care” ?

So far we have joined Dorset Wildlife Trust, the most active organisation in our area. Adopted two of their squirrels on Brownsea Island and raised a substantial donation towards helping with wildlife conservation in our area. We have visited Brownsea Island and performed a conservation task clearing rhododendrons to make the island squirrel friendly.

WHAT have DDA planned for the future?

We intend to repeat the trip to Brownsea Island this year for conservation work for up to 20 persons. We have informed members of events available to them through the DWT. Future DWT events can be viewed on their web site or for info contact myself.

WHAT I require is feed back from members.

If any members have availed themselves of the DWT facilities or events we would like to have your views and comments. This would help us plan a course of action for the future working around member’s requirements. If you are involved in conservation work or have any helpful information please let me know in order that I may pass it on to other members.

WHAT –are you waiting for, contact me on 07704519245, see me on site, or write to me: address in Dorset Diary

Gordon
– Dorset DA Countryside Care Officer

FREE Divers Weekend - 16 & 17 July

Dorset Wildlife Trust would like to invite you to their FREE Divers Weekend taking place on Saturday 16 & 17 July, 10am - 5pm at Purbeck Marine Centre, Kimmeridge Bay, Dorset.

There will be exhibits and activities for divers and families. There will also be information and displays on:

* Live underwater camera

* Diving photography and videos

* Dive sites including the Black Hawk

* Marine I.D. Talks

* Sea search

* Marine Conservation Society

* Kids activities.

* ...... And lots more!!

Please note this is a dry event

The event is free entry but donations gratefully received!

For further details please contact Purbeck Marine Wildlife Reserve 01929 481044

April/March 2005

In January while the rest of Britain were sheltering from the storms and blizzards, 13 Dorset DA members embarked on a sea trip to Brownsea Island, to the Dorset Wildlife Trust Conservation site in sub-zero temperatures to visit our adopted red squirrel “TESROD” and to perform some conservation work, clearing Rhododendrons. On arrival the Warden gave us an interesting talk on the history of the island, which was originally a china clay quarry, and is now a National Trust site and nature reserve. After a trek across the island we eventually arrived at the work site and received our saws and loppers, along with the relevant health and safety instructions. We were confronted by a solid wall of Rhododendrons. After 3 hours of hard labour and a huge amount of progress, we left an enormous bonfire under the care of the Warden and escaped to the old “Rectory” now the DWT HQ on the Island. We had a well-earned rest along with baked potatoes – cooked the “traditional” way – in the microwave!! (Too cold to stand around the bonfire awaiting them to cook). After lunch we were taken on a boardwalk over an Alder swamp, shown Herons nesting in treetops and some strange specimens in the arboretum.

We did see our adopted red squirrel Tesrod who put in a short appearance, but as this is the “closed to tourists” season the rest of his family had “clocked off” and were tucked up warm somewhere!! One of the nicest spots on the Island was in the bird hide, out of the cold wind, overlooking a brackish lagoon with Poole Harbour and Sandbanks as a backdrop.

From here we observed varieties of birds, too many to list, including Avocets, Oyster Catchers and Herons. The day finished at 4.00pm with a choppy boat trip back to Poole. We did not spot any Icebergs – but I’m sure it was cold enough for them!!!

We thanked our host for the day and donated £60.00 - collected as our payment for this adventure, promising to return next November when we hope the weather will be a little warmer?

Members wishing to go to the Island in the Summer for a day out can catch boats from Poole Quay – it’s well worth a visit.

Click here for photos

Gordon Colman
– Dorset DA Countryside Care Officer

January 2005

This month should see the first Dorset DA active conservation event, with our Brownsea Island Trip. There has not been a big enough response to justify a second trip as yet. However, do not despair if you had just forgotten to get in touch, we will see about another trip a little later in the season. Dorset Wildlife Trust Site is at: www.wildlifetrust.org.uk/dorset if you click on it it could change your life! There are hundreds of events you could go to in Dorset some adult some child orientated. The following is a commercial for Children’s Wildlife Watch. It would be nice to get some of our children (or grandchildren) involved. The starter pack and bimonthly mailings could solve your birthday present dilemma – and help them become “environmentally” friendly.

Wildlife Watch is the junior branch of The Wildlife Trusts. Our aim is to encourage children to discover more about their environment and the issues affecting it. The Watch approach aims to;

• increase understanding of our whole environment,
• foster awareness and feeling for the world we live in,
• encourage a caring attitude towards wildlife and participation in conservation,
• create factual, informal, fun ways to investigate our surroundings,
• ensure that young people’s environmental concerns, ideas and opinions are recognized and developed, and opportunities are created to act upon them.

We do this through Watch groups, projects and members’ publications.

Wildlife Watch membership Young people can subscribe to Wildlife Watch as junior members of their local Wildlife Trust. They receive a special starter pack plus six mailings a year.

Watchword, our lively magazine and Wildlife Extra, which opens into a poster, are each sent three times a year and are packed with features on UK wildlife and the environment, news and events, activity ideas, competitions and cartoons. Across most of the UK, individual Trusts also provide a local newsletter for their members.

Watch’s Gold Award scheme offers members the opportunity to have their personal environmental efforts recognized and rewarded. The Award comprises eight challenges designed to encourage members to explore the protect their environment, whilst also offering plenty of scope for individual choice and ability.

Watch membership costs £10.00 a year for an individual child, or £12.00 for up to four children living at the same address. Many Wildlife Trusts also include Watch membership as part of a whole-family package.

Please contact me if you are interested.

Gordon Colman
– Dorset DA Countryside Care Officer

December 2004

BRING BACK RED SQUIRRELS ..

Dorset DA are helping to re-establish the only red squirrel colony in Dorset on Brownsea Island, the site of Lord Baden Powel’s first Scout Camp site in 1907!

The DA has sponsored 2 squirrels through the Dorset Wild Life Trust. A competition was held to raise funds for Countryside Care and the squirrels on Brownsea. This was won by Terry & Dianne seen here (see photo) receiving their £25.00 prize and their fluffy squirrel. They have named this squirrel TESROD. (Dorset backwards). The second squirrel, is being raffled in a name the squirrel contest for project sponsorship. We have a trip to Brownsea Island to visit our squirrels and participate in some hands-on work to improve the environment of our adopted charges.

FACTS ABOUT RED SQUIRRELS
They do not hibernate over Winter. Squirrels can swim (stories of them swimming on their backs to keep their nuts dry are unfounded)! Squirrels live for about 6 years. They live in DREYS made of twigs, moss, leaves and fur, built in trees. For food they eat hazelnuts, buds, seeds, leaves, flowers, fruits, fungi and insects. The Red Squirrels are native to Britain living here since the Ice Age. They have been overrun by the immigrant grey squirrels introduced from North America 150 years ago. Now outnumbering the red by 66 to 1. Female squirrels can give birth to 6 young per year, so the prospects for re-establishment of colonies is good, if the environment is made suitable this is where conservation comes in.

For more information on conservation and Programme events available for camping club members visit Dorset Wildlife Trust Website: at www.wildlifetrust.org.uk/dorset

The Boat Trip to Brownsea Island is Fully Booked. However, we are organizing a second trip for those members who missed the boat so if you would like to book for the second trip please contact me on 07747 804517.

Gordon
Dorset DA’s own Countryside Care Officer

Did that look as painful as what it actually was???!!!

Baked Potatoes roasting o'er an open fire....

Dianne & Terry receiving their Squirrel and cheque from Gordon, Countryside Care Officer