Don't forget - we will be at the Dorchester Corn Exchange tomorrow from 9am-4pm to chat about all things beaver related! 🦫
Have your say about beaver reintroductions on the River Frome, and enjoy family-friendly activities and displays. ~ Jack
Do you live in east Dorset and like butterflies? We urgently need someone to take over a vital transect at Hod Hill that has been running for 44 years. See our website for details
www.dorsetbutterflies.com/2026/04/coul...
A grasshopper warbler singing at Lyscombe today 😀 @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social
gorgeous photo!
A brilliant morning for a Lyscombe breeding bird survey.
A good variety of birds seen including a ringtail hen harrier, wheatear, male redstart, willow warbler, corn bunting, lesser and common whitethroat. @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social
I think the reintroduction of grazing over the winter, reducing the sward height and creating patches of bare ground, created the ideal conditions for the seed to germinate.
Without the grazing, I don't think we would now have so many flowering.
Hundreds of cowslips are now flowering at Lyscombe, with even more still to flower!
From a few dozen last spring to this, a great indication that the grazing is working.
All we need now is some Duke of Burgundy's to find them 🤞
@dorsetwildlife.bsky.social @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social
This April, some of England's largest landowners are obliged to publish estate management plans, through being members of the National Estate for Nature.
The privately-owned Clinton Devon Estate has published its plan early, and it looks really good: 1/
clintondevon.com/wp-content/u...
Did you watch Dirty Business? I can't believe how much water companies have gotten away with. They're putting profit before public health - it’s a scandal and the Government MUST take action! Sick of sewage? Add your name to the petition today: you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/en...
Don’t forget - you have until midnight tonight to place your Teemill order and get FREE UK delivery! 🙌
Browse our new wildflower designs, along with the rest of our beautifully illustrated clothing range, here 💐👉 bit.ly/4b0EEw3 ~ Jack
Young man sitting in field with plant ID books, recording wild flowers in the sunshine
Can you find, identify & record 100 wild plants in 2026?
BSBI is confident that (with our support) yes, you can!
Beginner botanists, will you accept the challenge?
Sign up today for #100Plants2026 challenge:
bsbi.org/take-part/ac...
Check out the webinars & #WildFlowerID help we've prep'd for you!
⏰ LIMITED OFFER ⏰
The first 2 people to join Dorset Wildlife Trust for half price will receive a signed copy of The Good Bug by @georgemcgavin.bsky.social 🐞📖
Join here 👉 dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk/halfpriceoffer
Then DM us on Bluesky to claim your book!
Remember, once they're gone, they're gone!
Are you planning to undertake a project in 2026 which involves collecting plant-related data?
Would you like <£1,000 towards your costs?
Apply for a #BSBIPlantStudyGrant!
Here's how:
bsbi.org/learn/grants...
Read how a #BSBIGrant helped Katherine research ancient meadows:
bsbi.org/blog/2026/01...
white coral fungus
The fruiting bodies of honey fungus. Not good news for this ash tree.
The delicate, fairy inkcaps
The splendid waxcap, quite a rarity in Dorset. This one seems to have folded over for some reason.
Some fantastic fungi have appeared at Lyscombe recently.
White coral, masses of honey fungus, fairy ink-caps and the gorgeous coloured, and quite rare, splendid waxcap!
@dorsetwildlife.bsky.social
Adonis Blue on Field Scabious
Silver-spotted Skipper on Field Scabious
View of main slope at Fontmell Down in Dorset looking brown after the long dry spell
HUGE numbers of Adonis Blue at Fontmell Down in North Dorset today, over 200 in 30 mins, one every 5m in places. Just like the old days. Also 4 Silver-spotted Skipper. Grazing looks perfect, but mighty dry. Well done @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social
Nice to see a family group of spotted flycatchers at Lyscombe on Friday. There were two wheatear hanging out on site this week as well. @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social
Have seen a couple at Lyscombe this week 😀
If there is any horseshoe vetch or cowslip seed left over we could use it at Lyscombe.
Not as pretty, but just as crucial. The cattle also create bare ground. Great for insects like mining bees and butterflies, and ideal for wildflowers to germinate in.
Those cow pats are important too. Full of dung beetles which are food for things like bats, hedgehogs and birds.
They still have plenty of work to do munching away on the SSSI, but the downland is already benefitting from their grazing. Plenty of wildflowers amongst the grasses.
The Lyscombe longhorns keeping cool in the shade this week
@dorsetwildlife.bsky.social
Chocks away! A day of drone flying at Lyscombe today. Getting some footage to showcase the reserve and help illustrate our plans for the site.
@dorsetwildlife.bsky.social
A pair of small blues seen mating yesterday at Lyscombe. A potential second brood in a few weeks time?
Exciting to find this species already doing well on the reserve, suitable habitat will increase significantly over the coming years 😀
@dorsetwildlife.bsky.social
@dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social
A small skipper nectaring on rough hawkbit today at Lyscombe. @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social
A figure of eighty moth (Tethea ocularis)
A privet hawk-moth (Sphinx ligustri) on a common knapweed (Centaurea nigra) flower.
Grass rivulet moth (Perizoma albulata)
A good moth trap at Lyscombe this week. Some nice finds including a grass rivulet, a rare moth in Dorset whose larvae feed on the seed capsules of yellow rattle. 3 hawk-moths elephant, small elephant and privet 🙂@dorsetwildlife.bsky.social @dorsetmoths.bsky.social @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social
Thank you!
Thank you!
This moth is proving tricky to ID. Dog's tooth, dusky brocade, alder moth?! Anyone got a suggestion?
@dorsetmoths.bsky.social @mothiduk.bsky.social
I was priveleged to see this calf born last week at Lyscombe.
Longhorn's are known for being easy calvers and this first time mum was no exception. Looking forward to seeing this and the other calves grow up and enjoy exploring Lyscombe. @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social
A short visit to @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social Higer Hyde Heath today. Very pleased to see a couple of silver-studded blues, sand lizards a smooth snake and a hairy rove beetle!
@dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social
