Page 70 - br-july-2020
P. 70
July 2020 July 2020
Shitterton (and how to get there) BERE REGIS WILDLIFE AND
You need to head out of Dorchester, with the ENVIRONMENT GROUP
morning sun up ahead,
Before turning left at the five barred gate,
If you can do get out and about locally and enjoy our
which stands by a wooden shed.
fabulous surroundings with its abundant wildlife.
After taking second on the right, just past the
scrumpy sign,
Follow the Dorset motorway, with grass for Wildflowers and Butterflies
dotted line.
The meadow areas at May’s Wood are now at their
Carry on past the dead badger, to an oak best, with a wonderful show of Knapweed and other wild flowers such as Ox-eye
tree where an owl is asleep. Daisy. Knapweed can be identified by its thistle-like purple flowers which bloom
Beside a barbed wire fence, enclosing, from memory, I think it's sheep. from a spherical blackish bud. Knapweed is a firm favourite of pollinating insects,
be they bees, butterflies or beetles, the flowers being a source of good quality
nectar. Later on its seed heads provide plentiful food for many birds. On a sunny
Next there's a gravel track, where a hay rick stands by a bush.
day you are likely to see clouds of butterflies, including Common Blues, Small
Watch your step, but soldier on, to where the grass grows lush. Heath, Meadow Browns and Marbled Whites (as pictured here on Knapweed).
Over the stile, then mind the ditch, for you've still got a bit to go. Knapweed has many local names
around the country, such as Hard
Follow the hedgerow into the dip. It’s the one where blackberries grow.
Head, Bachelor's Buttons, Blue
After that, you'll tend to find, the way ahead is down,
Bottle and Iron knobs.
Until you reach a field with a cow, which, from memory, I think is brown.
One of the smaller brown butterflies
you may see is the Small Heath.
You should be close to a graveyard now, and you ought to quicken your tread. Despite its name it is not confined
It's a place where there are strange goings on, or so I've heard it said. to heathlands and tends to favour
Bear left past the church and tower, the one where bells are rung. grasslands. It flies close to the
ground and settles with its wings
To a place where there’s a smelly heap, which, from memory I think is dung.
closed. At rest you can see the
You'll think you're just not getting there, but keep on forging ahead, ‘eye’ on the outer upper wing,
Until you reach a brick-built barn, which from memory, I think is red. which supposedly acts as a decoy
to predators.
Round the corner, there's a fallow field, which the farmer never sows, Some annual flower meadows have also been created at May’s Wood (above
Then take second turn on the right, past a bed where watercress grows, the school and at the far end of Shitterton). They should be ablaze later this
month with the varied colours of traditional cornfield flowers. They include poppy,
To find an old thatched cottage, with a big brass knocker on the door,
corn marigold, corn cockle and common toadflax. Do go and take a look at
After passing a couple of oak trees, well, maybe three or four, these areas and see what you can find. And, if you have a garden, why not
You’ll find yourself in Shitterton. It's best to go there, sober. create your own meadow area next year – the insects will really appreciate it.
I can't remember when I was last there, but from memory, I think, October.
Souls Moor Ponies and their Conservation Work
Paul J Openshaw
On Souls Moor, the ponies are back and doing a great job again. The benefit of
the grazing on the wet part which floods in the winter has already helped the
70 27
