Dorset

Countryside

Volunteers

No 180 May - July 2017

Reg Charity No 1071723 www.dcv.org.uk

DCV is . . . • A practical conservation group run by volunteers since 1972 doing practical work in the

countryside that would not otherwise be done • Volunteers are male and female, from all walks

of life and from all over the county • Work is seasonal, e.g. woodlands in winter -

hedgelaying, coppicing; in summer dry stone walling, clearing ponds, footpath work

• Organisations we work for include: Dorset Wildlife Trust, Heritage Coast Project, Natural England, Amphibian Reptile Conservation Trust

• We work at weekends throughout Dorset • No super-human strength or special skills

needed, or attendance on every task or even for the whole weekend - any time is a bonus for us and for you!

DCV offers . . . • Practical care for the environment • Opportunity to learn new skills - training given • Use of all necessary tools • Beautiful countryside, social events, fun &

companionship YOU should bring . . . • Stout footwear (steel toecaps if possible) • Old clothes (wear layers) Long trousers and

sleeves are best • Tough gloves (we have some to sell/lend) • Waterproofs, sun block, sun hat, insect repellent • Lunch and some water • Don’t forget an up to date tetanus jab Reaching a task . . . • If you need, or can offer, a lift phone Richard

Meatyard or Peter Warren 3 days before a task • Lifts from Wool station (toolstore is nearby) • Travel links: http://www.morebus.co.uk/ https://www.dorsetforyou.com/travel-dorset/rail

A DCV day lasts . . . • 10.00a.m. – 5.00p.m. approximately including

breaks for drinks (which are supplied) and lunch (please bring your own lunch)

FINDING DCV . . . • Maps with the task programme (at the back of this

newsletter) show the locations of task sites • DCV website dcv.org.uk • Facebook • Look for DCV’s yellow arrows near the worksite or

the DCV information board may show an explanatory note

• If unsure of the worksite try to arrive by 10.00 to meet other volunteers. The worksite may be some way off. Lost? give us a call on 07929 961532 (after 10.00 a.m.) ring longer than normal

FOOD & DRINK

• Please bring your own lunch • DCV provides free hot/cold drinks and biscuits

during the day - bring your own mug if you wish • Occasionally DCV may hold a shared lunch or

supper (aka bring a dish) when it is usual for people to bring some food to share around

• Note: If you have a medical condition or allergies

of any sort, please carry a card and bring necessary medicines. If you wish, bring this to the attention of the task leader. Please complete the “in case of emergency” details at the end of the newsletter, and bring on task. “In case of emergency details” can be inserted into a small key fob which can be attached to your rucksack. Key fobs are available from Richard Meatyard.

• All youngsters are welcome, but should be

accompanied by a responsible adult.

Who we are, what we do, where, why and how . .

EDITORIAL

Spring is stunning this year! Each species of tree a different shade of green in its new foliage,

or bronze, red, even ginger. Bluebells and primroses carpet our woods, abundant wild flowers

elsewhere. Greater numbers of insects and butterflies in all habitats; swallows have arrived.

For many, these are the first signs of spring - what is it that says “spring” to you? Longer days,

wearing a t-shirt on task, or that first warm, still morning full of promise . . . ?

DCV had two weekends of coppicing this winter for National Trust in Langton West Wood. The

coupe has been finished in this working wood and is being fenced by contractors to keep deer

out to allow un-nibbled regrowth that can be cut and used. NT have thanked DCV for all their

hard work this winter. Bluebells, primroses, violets and orchids are in flower.

We are delighted that the Heritage Lottery Fund has awarded an extension for The Great

Heath Project funding until the end of March 2018. This funding is to develop the work of

engaging people and celebrating their local wildlife, especially in the Holes Bay and Corfe

Barrows Nature Parks.

A gentle reminder to all DCV members to pay their subs please. There is a form on DCV’s

website at http://dcv.org.uk/Pdfs/Newsletter/Membership.pdf, or ask for one on task. At £3

per head per year, this is only a very small amount but shares the cost of funding the website

and printing the newsletter. As a paid up member you are also entitled to participate in the DCV

mailing list which notifies changes in tasks or extra events / news / info.

As always, thank you to our many contributors who sent in articles, it is your newsletter. So,

thank you Doug, Jane, Richard, Helen, Terry, John, Gareth, Toby.

In this issue we have lots of articles to do with nature and what we may see when out on task or

in the countryside; our task programme will take us to many corners of Dorset and many

different habitats. Some of these places would not normally be seen by the general public, so

we really are very privileged. To increase the enjoyment of volunteering there will be more pop

up events this quarter, i.e. walks, picnics, talks by the ranger etc.

So are you ready for the spring into summer?

A new newsletter and a new season. During the last few days it feels that Spring has really sprung. Out and about the birds are busy and birdsong is everywhere. Down at Cogden the Skylarks were soaring and singing overhead. With the blackthorn now well in flower, the hawthorn starting to green-up and the bluebells showing signs of coming into flower, we come to the end of another slash and burn season. Changing over to more constructive work, although no doubt there will be a few invasives to deal with as the Summer progresses but no Himalayan Balsam this year. So it seems much that was done will become undone.

I left you last time speculating on what Vitower would be like. Those that came out on the day will know that it proved to be a hidden gem. Helped in no small part by a beautiful sunny day and a spectacular sunset as we left site. Unfortunately and perhaps why it is a gem, there is no public access so any return visit has to be by arrangement with ARC.

I get the impression that this has been a particularly warm Winter and surprisingly frost free, based on how little I have had to defrost the car in the mornings. Ground conditions suggest it has been fairly wet although fortunately for us most of the rain seems to have fallen overnight or during the week so we have had few wet tasks. A memorable exception was the hedgelaying at Kingcombe Meadows where we were treated to a Kingcombe “Jekyll and Hyde” weekend. Saturday sunny and dry, Sunday drizzle degenerating in to heavy rain as the day progressed resulting in an early finish as the

hedge bank rapidly became unsafe to work on.

February treated us to a bit of a cold snap. Coppicing in Langton West Wood we were sheltered from the icy windy and had a roaring fire to keep us warm. Sadly the same could not be said of Upton Wood, on possibly the coldest weekend of the year and with the not overly physical work most people felt the cold and the absence of a warming fire.

Fortunately as February progressed it warmed up although a brisk cold wind continued to make itself felt in exposed locations. At Compton Down the task was relocated to the wooded glade at the foot of Fontmell that we started work on last time we were there. Good news as this sheltered location kept us out of the, above mentioned, wind.

The following weekend pine cutting at Great Ovens was less sheltered. On both days keeping the fire under control was something of a challenge. On Saturday it made several bids to escape, thankfully all foiled. On Sunday with nothing near the fire to catch there was less excitement.

Continuing the theme of pines, the first weekend in March we visited Town Common, the eastern most site of recent years. The north end, which only DCV veterans remember working on. A sandy fire site and overnight rain kept everything under control on this sensitive site that was damaged by fire a short time ago.

After a year’s break we made a welcome return to West Milton where the reserve is now under

DWT management. Billed in the newsletter as gorse clearing, the task metamorphosed into installing a field gate and stile. What didn’t change though was the excellent after task tea and cakes, kindly provided by the Marsh’s.

The first session of hole digging for the year out of the way it was back for a final scrub bashing session at East Gore. On Saturday the area cleared was mostly pine. Then on Sunday with the ARC warden available to stump treat we switched to clearing birch. The resulting hotter fire threatened to get out of control on several occasions and the DCV backpack extinguisher was called in to service on a couple of times during the day. Val who was leading the Sunday, ably aided by Don, took advantage of the final fire of the season to lay on baked potatoes, sausages and various other goodies at lunchtime.

With scrub done for the season it was time to go to Higher Hyde Heath for a day and get the fencing project restarted. Strutting the strainers we dug in last year, banging in posts and getting materials down on site ready for the next full weekend there.

Then it was on to a “wake-up” Tyneham session. An excellent turnout meant a long list of varied jobs were completed and in addition to the now standard bring a dish lunch there was the inaugural DCV chocolate brownie bake off, won by Jane. Too much chocolate?

Newsletter deadlines means that news of our second visit to Higher Hyde Heath, the Abbotsbury beach clean and the first session on the wall at Swyre will have to wait until next report.

Co-ordinator’s report Richard Meatyard

DCV – My First Year

John Saxty’s DCV blog

In March I had my first anniversary of volunteering with DCV. What an eye opener of a year.

13th March 2016 Upton Wood. Nervous new boy, I was made very welcome by all members. Pulling and digging out brambles. To my surprise, at the end of the day, I was invited to go with the group to France for a weekend in May to help Orchis with some gardening!! I jumped at the chance. A great weekend previously reported.

Since then I have been dry stone walling, beach cleaning, cutting and burning a ton of gorse, pine and brambles in the 4 corners of Dorset. I helped to uncover a pond for frogs etc. to use in a place close to Poole Harbour that the general public don't usually get to see.

I have frightened myself silly with some of the country lanes we have to use to reach some of the task sites (the hedges were

almost touching both sides of the car) I was praying that I didn't meet anyone coming the other way.

Tyneham is always a joy and we get a chance to be constructive instead of destructive, (but do miss the bonfires).

A thoroughly enjoyable year and looking forward to many more.

John

BLUEBELLS Aren’t bluebells wonderful! Hyacinthoides non-scripta or the common bluebell are the native British

form unlike the Spanish variety Hyacinthoides hispanica. Mostly thought of as a

woodland species they also thrive in costal locations especially damp areas.

It is estimated that Britain has half of the world population, the rest on the

Atlantic coast of Europe from Spain to the

Netherland and Ireland.

Whilst most plants require a certain number of

hours above a certain temperature before they start

growing, Bluebells need cold days below 10ºC to

start pushing leaves above ground. The bulbs have

contractile roots which pull the bulb deeper into the ground every year,

this protects them from frost.

The emerging shoots are shaped like a spear with a small sharp tip, this allows them to push through

the soil and leaf litter.

Bluebells engineer there surroundings by storing phosphorus, a key growth hormone, and fructans

instead of glucose, thus depriving other plants of nutrients and this how we get carpets of Bluebells.

A very short guide to Bees

Did you know there are 23 species of bumblebee in the UK plus all the solitary bees and hoverflies, but there is only one species of honey bee. Here are some of the most common.

A reminder to be safe on the work site

With the change from cutting to more constructive tasks some of us are more relaxed in the warm weather. We may be in shorts and T-shirt and this means more opportunity for us to do ourselves an injury. The obvious are sun burn, scratches and stings. We must also not let up on protecting our eyes, hands and feet. DCV have first aiders so use them if you need to, if self administering first aid please let the task leader know to write on the task report form in case of future problems. A few items you may wish to bring out: Sunscreen and a hat, antihistamines or cream in case of hay fever or a sting. Gloves and safety glasses should of course be a must, ask the task leader for a spare pair if you forget to bring them. Have some extra water in the car with you in case you get stuck in traffic. We still need to be vigilant both for ourselves and others.

Langton Wood & Logging– Jane’s story

I’m sending photos of my husband's grandfather in a Canadian logging camp that I mentioned yesterday. He has written notes on the back of the two logging camp photos - the top one with the horses says " winter 1913 - me on top, 126 logs on 12ft bunk, 45 miles in from Blind River, Ontario." and the bottom photo (he's the guy in the middle) - "1914 in camp, 8 months and 1 week without seeing the outside world, then I joined the army in April '15."

He had a pretty eventful life - born into a large working class family in Brighton, he left home when he was 16, made his way to Liverpool, lied about his age and got a free passage on one of the immigrant boats to Canada (should have been at least 18). When he got there he was recruited by one of the lumber companies and sent off into the bush where he spent a few years working in the northern forests. One of

his first jobs was to take out the tired teams of horses to the nearest town and bring back a fresh team, this was 5 days walk through the wilderness on his own with just a rifle to keep off the wolves and bears and some basic supplies. I've seen a reconstruction of a logging camp from that time, there were about 30-40 men and two large log cabins that they built themselves - one for a kitchen and eating area and one with rows of rough wooden bunks

It was on the February task in Langton West Wood, we were coppicing for National Trust, Toby Hoad was there extracting timber with the help of one of his horses. Jane was there on the Saturday and whilst we were chatting, she suddenly told me this was what her husband’s grandfather had done for a job in the wild and snowy woods of deepest Canada. She had some photos and would send them to me. When I got home I though what a great story that would make for the newsletter and as luck would have it, I didn’t even have to ask Jane because when she emailed the photos, she had also written the piece! So, with her kind permission, here is the quite remarkable story of Old George . .

Logging Cont’d . . . .

with straw filled sacks for mattresses for the men to sleep and live in for months at a time. It was a pretty harsh life. When he came out of the bush in April 1915, he found out that the First World War had started, they had no news in the camp. He volunteered for the 'Remount Squadron' this was men who took horses by boat from Canada over to the front lines in France and then bought the worn out and wounded horses back. However on his first trip out when he arrived in France his commanding officer told him the Remount Squadron had just been disbanded, and he had no choice but to go into the infantry. He then spent the rest of the war in the front line trenches involved in all the major battles, the Somme, Vimy, Passchendaele, Ypres

etc . . he was wounded and gassed a few times but amazingly survived. At the end of the war he married a British army nurse he'd met in the army hospital, and they both went back to Canada, to live in Ottawa. It was very difficult for the returning soldiers, there was a depression, very little work, and because he was married, he couldn't go back to the lumber camps. He queued up for work tickets each day at the Labour Exchange, then he was given a job for the whole of the first winter he was back cutting ice blocks out of the frozen Ottawa river for which he was paid one cent a block (these were for ice boxes in the days before fridges). Ottawa is one of the coldest cities in the world in winter, -30 degrees C or so and the

wind howls down the river valley, it must have been hell! Anyway the following year he managed to get himself an apprenticeship to a boiler engineer and happily spent the rest of his working life in the nice warm cellars of the large commercial buildings in central Ottawa maintaining their boilers (he swore he'd never be cold again).

Old George was quite a character, he smoked like a chimney, drank half a bottle of whiskey a day, and lived ‘til he was 98. Quite a story of survival against the odds I think! I thought you might like to hear it.

Jane Faulkner

Tips on Dry Stone Walling History The “walling in” of fields dates from when hunter-gatherers gave way to settled farming. These farmers would enclose a piece of land, manure it and grow crops, whilst outside of the field was rough grazing. Many of these prehistoric sites are still visible today especially in upland areas long since abandoned by cultivation. Early walls might have been stones collected from the field and heaped along a boundary. Common fields or commons could be large, up to 40 hectares, with boundary stones to mark plots and the best plots rotated to different families. With the enclosure acts many farming commoners had their rights taken away. These commons became fields, property of a landlord, and the commoners had to become labourers. With these acts came a standardisation of walls. They were planned by surveyors and built by gangs of professional wallers who worked in all weathers to finish the job. Gone were the winding walls of higgledy-piggledy stones to be replaced by hundreds of miles of straight walls, some even going over hills and mountains.

Safety and Equipment The four areas of the body most affected when walling are:

• the feet if a stone is dropped on them,

• hands with scrapes and cuts • the back from over exertion

and lifting beyond one’s capability.

• eyes, goggles can be provided to stop grit and dust getting into your eyes.

So we should wear steel toe capped or stout boots to protect our feet and gloves as much as possible to protect our hands. As for our backs, I will leave that one up to you, but bend your knees when lifting even smaller stones and use the tools available to move or lever foundation stones.

Tools • Iron Bars to lever large stones • Walling Hammers to take off

points or split stones • Goggles for use with above • Mattock or Pick to dig up

buried stone • Fencing kit to remove wires

from fences • Stakes and string to set up a

working line • Wheelbarrow and Buckets to

transport stone • First aid kit • Water for drinks and to wash

hands Hats and sunscreen (Volunteers should bring these)

The Wall Volunteers, especially DCV, are asked to repair existing walls that have fallen down. We are rarely asked to build a wall from scratch where there has never been a wall before. Sections of walls fall down over time especially through neglect, damage from walkers and livestock and the weather. Sometimes new stone is provided because the old has split and broken down too much and sometimes the user body might decide to sacrifice another wall to make one good one out of two.

Rules There are generally 4 rules for walling.

1) Use the biggest stones for the foundation, base, throughstones, coping (or top stones) and wall ends.

2) Cross or break the joints as in bricklaying.

3) Keep the middle full of “in fill” or heartings of all shapes and sizes.

4) Taper the wall slightly as you

build upwards.

5) Put the stones length way into the wall for stability. A traced stone or length ways along the wall may roll out.

Tips on Dry Stone Walling continued:

Preparation can save time later! There may be some good stone buried next to the wall or grassed over. Dig these up first before dismantling the remaining wall and covering them. • Don’t pile up stones next to the

wall but leave a walkway. • Agree with the task leader how

much wall needs to come down and if it needs new foundations.

• Use a line to make sure

volunteers build a straight wall and raise the line as you go.

Separate coping stones into a separate pile before you start or it may be difficult to finish without the proper stones. The parts of the Wall Foundations or Footings With a couple of tons of stone on top these need to be stable and strong. Use the thickest and largest stones. Take your time bedding them in and they should come up to but not above ground level. Lay them in two parallel lines with the longest edge into the wall. Allow small gaps for drainage and fill other gaps with smaller stones. The foundation should be level and flat ready to take the next course. Courses The larger stones should be at the bottom grading to smaller at the top. Build up a couple of courses placing stones over joints below. Each course should be built up with a line of similar sized stones. This is where teamwork comes in. There is no place for “These are my stones so keep off”.

Fillings Fillings or Heartings are stones of irregular shape that fill the wall and stop it from collapsing in on itself. Use sizeable stones to fill the space and pack around with smaller ones. Every course place a few at a time making sure that they are wedged and compacted down before adding more. They will help to bind the courses together and add stability to the wall. Throughstones These are larger stones that straddle the width of the wall. They help even out pressures in the wall and to prevent bulging as the wall settles. A perfect wall will have one or two courses, depending on the wall height, placed at regular intervals. Use larger throughstones lower and smaller ones higher. In our non perfect world of walling it may not be possible to find enough stone for a regular layer so the next best thing is to use them more cautiously, and at points of most stress ie next to gates, stiles, wall ends, change in direction and on slopes.

Coping These top stones should straddle the width of the top of the wall. They provide necessary stability by weighing down the courses under and bonding each side of the wall as the wall settles. The coping stones are often long flat thin stones laid on edge either vertically or at an angle. They have to be of a weight that a volunteer can easily lift but heavy enough to provide a downward force. Most wallers have the problem of not keeping enough of them back to finish the job but have some walling stone left over. A well-made wall won’t last if it hasn’t got these coping stones on top. It may be necessary to alternate one large stone and one smaller stone but whatever you do the wall really needs to blend in with other nearby walls. DCV has 2 walling tasks this quarter: Sunday 25th June at Swyre Sunday 16th July at Swyre

Invertebrate of the month – Scaly Cricket Scaly Cricket Pseudomogoplistes squamiger (what a name!!) is a small cricket, not too dissimilar in size and shape to a wood cricket Nemobious sylvestris but it is completely wingless and covered in minute scales over most of its body; in the male the rear end is notably truncated and in the female the ovipositor is the same length as the cerci (it’s longer in the house cricket). It also lives in a completely different habitat, being confined to shingle beaches at a couple of locations on the south-west coast of England – plus a single site in south Wales. Distribution – first discovered on Chesil Beach in 1949, but not seen again there until 1977, since when it has been found occasionally there – when people have looked! In 1998 a specimen was found on Branscombe Beach, on the south Devon coast, and further surveys the following year discovered that there was a second population at this location. The only other place it occurs on mainland Britain is at Marloe Sands in Pembrokeshire, Wales, though it has also been found on Sark in the Channel Islands. Abroad it is also considered rare and elusive; it occurs in a few places round the Mediterranean, on the coast of Portugal, and on Madeira and the Canary Islands; in addition to this it has been found on the Cherbourg peninsula in northern France. Occurrence in UK – Originally it was thought that it only occurred on Chesil Beach and that it might have been accidentally introduced by ships bringing sand into Portland harbour at the end of the second world war. But with the discovery of other populations in Devon and south Wales, as well as the Channel Islands and Cherbourg peninsula, it is now accepted that this enigmatic and elusive insect is a true native and a relict from post-glacial times, having presumably survived on these beaches for the last 8000 years. Habitat and habits – it inhabits the hostile environment of shingle/pebbly beaches, close to the high tide mark and mostly occurring at or near the ‘strand line’ As such it is subject to inundation from occasional storms and must be considered threatened in England. It is nocturnal, emerging at dusk to feed presumably on animal and vegetable detritus on and about the strand line – it has not been observed feeding in the wild but apparently feeds on both animal and vegetable matter in captivity. Other than that, very little is known about it; it has recently been discovered that it has a three year life cycle, with eggs laid in autumn and over-wintering, with the resulting nymphs over-wintering for a second year and reaching maturity the following summer, with adults possibly over-wintering successfully too. Our sightings - Autumn is the best time to search for adults but they are very difficult to find. A better method is pitfall trapping; Adrian Colston (National Trust and the county orthoptera recorder for Devon) very kindly set 24 pitfall traps on the beach on the morning of Sunday 14th September and we checked them on Monday evening. Unfortunately only six of the 24 traps were still in situ – we found a few plastic cups (which we were using as the

traps) scattered over the beach and we think that herring gulls had got at them to eat the bait (bits of Cornish pasty!). But of the six they missed, two had scaly crickets in them; a single in one and three no less in another. Below is a photo of one of them (they were all female), taken by Adrian Colston. This was an excellent result and enough to show that there is still a reasonable population at Branscombe. This was highly relevant as the severe storms of last winter had changed the profile of the beach at Branscombe quite dramatically and many had feared that the crickets might not have survived. So it was very pleasing to be able

to confirm that there still appears to be a viable population here – and that this insect is presumably able to withstand such occasional storms as an adaptation to life in this seashore habitat. Once we had admired them we released them on the beach, whereupon they immediately burrowed down into the shingle and disappeared. But it was getting dark by then and a few minutes later they (or possibly other individuals) emerged again and we were able to watch them scuttling about over the pebbles. I hope that you find this short account of this fascinating and enigmatic insect interesting – and maybe it will prompt you to go out and see what you can find in your local area.

Jon Curson Natural England Senior Specialist - Invertebrates

How do we value DCV task sites? Toby Woodcock

It had been another good day out on task, satisfying work, lots of people socialising, plenty to see and a beautiful task site. At the end of the day, somebody said what a lovely site and that started a discussion about people’s favourite DCV work sites, which in turn led on to exactly what criteria do we use to define a “good” or “bad” work site? And then someone said - sounds like an article for the newsletter (yes, be careful what you say on task). It was even suggested that this may be a contender for the annual report . . . . Toby was out on task that day and was quite taken with the idea so he said he would have a think about the criteria we might use. These are the points he has suggested we consider in valuing our favourite task sites - perhaps we’ll vote at the AGM . . . Many thanks to Toby for putting some thought into this for us. So, which is your favourite task site?

A site is rated on the following factors. The factors are followed by examples on why a site should be marked down. Marks out of 10

• Distance to car park/trailer

• Gradient - steep/flat

• Plant type- spiky, thorny or stingy

• Fire - smoky/hard to light

• Dryness - boggy

• Mud - no mud/very muddy

• Easy or hard to find worksite

• Terrain rugged/smooth

• Ease of task type - constructive, coppicing, hedgelaying etc

• Rural isolated/ urban fringe Bonus marks for

• Nice view

• Sea side

• Cake at end of task

• Shelter from rain

• Christmas trees!

• Wildlife - glow worms, lizards etc

• Guided tours with rangers

The control of Ragwort

This medium height attractive plant much loved by the cinnabar moth caterpillar and hated by farmers is a well established invasive, now classed as native. A biennial plant with a rosette in the first year and flowers in the second. Planted in the 17th century Oxford botanical gardens where it escaped and established itself around Oxford, it became known as Oxford ragwort. Ragwort contains alkaloids making it poisonous to animals, who won’t eat the bitter tasting plant but will when the plant wilts and dies and the taste is masked by plant sugars. The “Weeds act” 1959 requires landowners to control the spread of ragwort from their land and so organisations such as the

National Trust, Dorset Wildlife Trust and Natural England will either use volunteers or mechanical methods to cut and remove the plant. Volunteers are used on grassland with a scientific designation, such as Fontmell down and Hambledon hill where spraying would be harmful to other flora or on slopes inaccessible to vehicles. The ragwort is collected in bags and trailered away to be burnt or composted. Ragwort can be difficult to pick especially when the ground is dry and hard. DCV use a tool called a “lazy dog” which is a 2 or 3 pronged fork that can be pushed under the root and pulled

back to ease the plant out. They are effective and very easy to use. Ragwort is a useful nectar plant to many insects and is therefore left where there is no threat to farm animals. There is a perception that ragwort is on the increase but evidence suggests that it is not spreading or becoming more widespread but local land use changes such as not mowing verges give the appearance that it is on the increase.

Scientific name: Senecio jacobaea Habitat: Grasslands, waste ground, roadside verges

The control of Thistles Thistles provide a succession of micro-environments and food for a range of birds and insects feeding on leaves, flower heads, and stems. However, in some grassland situations creeping thistle and spear thistle in particular can become a problem – both are injurious weeds. Other thistles may be rare, valuable to wildlife and unlikely to cause problems. Thistles for wildlife The goldfinch is the bird most commonly associated with thistles, the seeds of which make

up one third of its diet. Other birds include greenfinch, siskin and linnet, which eat thistle seeds and use thistledown in the nest. Butterflies including painted lady larvae feed on the leaves. Other butterflies such as the peacock and meadow brown use thistles as a nectar source. How thistles spread Thistles spread by seed but creeping thistle rarely propagates itself by seed, the fluffy fruit heads often have no fertile fruits. Instead, its root propagation is very efficient – fragments of rhizome can remain dormant in the soil for years and then appear when there is a gap in the sward. Thistle control options Timing of thistle control is crucial, before seeding, and the method used will vary according to the site: Prevention is better than cure – aim to maintain a well managed perennial sward without gaps. Avoid overgrazing especially in the winter. Control Strategy Herbicides are sometimes used but not on nature reserves. On flat ground cutting with strimmer or by tractor can be used but on steep slopes volunteers are best used cutting the stem at the base.

DCV Clothing available to order

Clothing has the DCV logo and "Dorset Countryside Volunteers" embroidered on. So far there have been lots of sales of hats, T shirts, sweatshirts and hoodies.

NB. The wording beneath the logo has changed from "Working for Conservation" to "Dorset Countryside Volunteers" and our version of the logo without words is then used. The logo is a little larger.

Adult sizes:

Sweatshirt (crew neck, unisex S to XXL) £16.50, Sweatshirt (crew neck, ladies, slightly lighter weight material, sizes 8 to 18) £16.50, Hooded Sweatshirt (unisex S to XXL with kangaroo pocket) £17.95, Zip Hooded Sweatshirt (unisex S to XXL with side pockets) £21.00, Polo Shirt (men S to XXL, ladies size 8 to 24) £12.50, T-shirt (unisex S to XXL) £8.50, Soft-shell jacket (unisex S to XXL) £45, Sleeveless soft-shell jacket (unisex S to XXL) £36.

Child sizes: Child sizes are by age: 2yrs, 3/4, 5/6, 7/8, 9,10, 11/12, 13.

Sweatshirt (crew neck) £10.50, Hooded Sweatshirts £13.50, Zip Hooded Sweatshirt £15.50, Polo Shirt £9.50, T-shirt £6.50.

Hats and caps: Hats have "DORSET COUNTRYSIDE VOLUNTEERS" in a contrasting colour (typically white) but not the logo.

Baseball caps £7.50 (adult or child). Fleece hat (with turn-up band) £7.50 (adult or child). Note that these are polyester so should be kept away from fire.

If you are interested in ordering hats/caps let Gareth know, but you may have to wait a while for him to receive sufficient interest to place an order as there is a minimum order quantity of 4.

Typical examples of colours are: Black, Navy Blue, Bottle Green, Burgundy, Royal Blue, Light Grey, Purple, and Red although hats have a more limited colour range.

Please note that there may be slight variations in details dependant on the stock that our supplier can obtain at the time.

Orders take up to 30 days to complete. Payment in advance is by cheque payable to Dorset Countryside Volunteers. Either collect the clothing on task, or contact Gareth for alternative arrangements.

Gareth will bring a sample out on future tasks.

Gareth Morgan DCVpublicity@gmail.com 07923 498760 (text or voicemail)

Step Building a short guide

Line and location As a rule of thumb shallow steps appear on a path where the angle of climb is approximately 1 in 4. These steps might be widely spaced with a rising tread. At 1 in 3 the path will either zig zag or be in need of moderate steps more evenly spaced but still with a rising tread. Steep steps at 1 in 2 or 1 in 1, should have evenly spaced steps with level treads just like walking upstairs. The obvious problem is that steps are narrower than a path and so in popular areas congestion can build up.

This can be overcome by putting in a very hard wearing surface on a wide path just like a road, i.e. rising from Lulworth towards Durdle Door. We are sometimes asked to alter the line of existing steps. This is probably because erosion has been caused by walkers taking short cuts. Here we have to physically block the short cut and realign the new steps around the affected area. The eroded path should be re-landscaped to prevent further erosion. The path and steps should always be clearly seen from above or below to prevent further short cuts.

Wooden Steps • These are very easy if replacing existing worn steps. The line and levels have already been done

before.

• Use an iron bar to lever out old steps and stobs.

• Stobs are stakes hammered into the ground and nailed to the riser to hold the step in place.

• If stobs are broken, get out as much as possible and realign new ones to one side.

• Cut new step wider than path and slot further into the bank. This adds stability to the step.

• Always use a spirit level and tap down the step with a hammer to make sure all steps are level.

• Use an iron bar to make a hole for the stob.

• Hammer in stob next to step using a sledge hammer or maul.

• Square stobs may twist. Pull out and put a counter twist on before re-hammering in.

• Cut off excess stob with forward slope making sure all stobs look the same.

• Stobs should be the same distance apart on every step. • Never put a third stob in the middle. This can trip walkers, especially if the step starts to rot.

Stone steps The principles are the same except round metal pins are used for stobs. Some steps have a slot cut into them for the stob.

Hammer down the pins using a metal sledge and a short piece of metal to bang them a good two inches below the level of the riser without damaging the stone step.

Further reading: BTCV Footpaths handbook

Finishing off Back fill the step with earth leaving a couple of inches for a top dressing. Sometimes this can be crushed limestone which forms a hard wearing waterproof cap. Other dressings can include pea gravel, beach stones or other crushed stone. This should be tamped down using a punner. Make sure the step surface has a camber to drain water off to the sides. Use up any turfs you may have cut to landscape the steps. This will quickly grow again and give it that mature look.

Spotlight on Lankham Bottom Nature Reserve

65 species of fungi have been recorded here, including 14 waxcaps, which makes the site of regional importance. Of special interest is Cortinarius roseipes, of which this is the first Dorset record. It is found on the west facing slope growing in association with Rockrose (Helianthemum), the latter being important as it is the larval food plant of the Brown Argus butterfly.

Many birds also breed here, including:Stonechat, Meadow pipet, Yellowhammer, Linnet, Willow warbler, Lesser whitethroat. Dozens of moths are recorded, Wood tiger, Six spot burnet which we might see flying in the daytime. It’s a fantastic site for butterflies and moths because of the high quality and variety of the grassland habitats: as well as the prime chalk downland on the slopes the upper areas are acidic and in

places have even had heather. The great variety of scrub – and a healthy rabbit population to keep things in shape - mean lots of other wildlife from glow-worms to dormice. DCV have worked here, scrub cutting and ragwort pulling in 2008 and ragwort pulling in 2009. The maintenance since 2009 has been pretty much the same

sort of works – with a lot more scrub clearance followed by annual cutting of re-growth plus the unavoidable ragwort control. Tractor and flail is now used for later winter cutting of scrub re-growth in accessible areas – the stuff on steeper slopes still needs to be done by hand. Repairing/replacement of fencing is also needed at times. Works have generally been done by our Dorset Branch volunteers but also a lot by EuCAN groups including for brushcutter training. John Davis as Head of Reserves. Website: http://butterfly-conservation.org/ DCV are working here on: 29th & 30th July

This fantastic 46ha reserve just north of Dorchester is owned by Wessex Water but managed by Butterfly Conservation, based in Dorset. The grassland has been protected from agricultural improvement, so the chalk sward is flower rich and very varied, supporting over 30 species of butterflies including the threatened Marsh Fritillary. Several years of light grazing have brought about a considerable improvement in the floral richness of the grassland and with it an increase in the numbers of certain butterfly species.Cattle graze the site from May until January and since 2012 the ponies from our Alners Gorse reserve have usually spent the winter on Lankham after the cattle have left as it’s much drier than Alners.

There’s lots of anthills in the valley bottom where soil is deeper and I understand they will be yellow meadow ants.

Nature Notes The wondrous things we have seen on task

The year started wet and cool at the Green Pool but even here were lichens and mosses showing their bright colours. At Vitower the highlight of the day was the aerial dance of the Starlings as they combined into a large group, compressed, swirled and dived to create those mesmeric patterns. We also saw the large web like structure of the “Gorse mite” and within the moving mass of thousands of tiny red mites. February at Langton West Wood and what a treat for fungi lovers, as well as lichens, mosses, moulds and flowers. “What’s this red plastic” someone asked, it’s the “Scarlet elf cup”. In folklore they would be harvested and worn as hats by the little people. The damp parts of the wood have

the most plant species, and in flower was the “Spurge laurel”, an evergreen shrub with slightly scented yellow/green flowers. Also with same coloured flowers is “Dogs mercury” and there were carpets of them. The stiff holly like stems of the “Butchers broom” were proudly wearing their red berries. At Compton Down in the sheltered woodland the “Primrose” flowers were beginning to come out, also lots of “Dogs mercury” and the

leaves of the native “Arum” (lords and ladies). The woodland edges have “Hazel” with their long dangly catkins and their small red male flowers.

On the exposed downland were numerous “Dandelions” and bushes of “Gorse” in full flower. My first “Skylark” of the year heard. Our heathlands are some of the most diverse habitats in Dorset with insects, plants , reptiles, birds and mammals. At Great Ovens we all gathered round at tea break to watch the “Minotaur beetle” going about its

business. It feeds on dung and burrows deep into the sand to lay its eggs. On a smaller scale the fruiting bodies of the “Cladonia” show like red ended matchsticks, one really does have to get on hands and knees to view this one in all its winter glory. March and at West Milton we

had good views of the white hart, a white version of “Roe deer” ,full of

folklore and legend, it was feeding in a group of 5 and was sighted throughout the day. Spared the plough by its steepness the grassland is home to the “yellow meadow ant” which builds its nest under ground and its excavations into a mound on top. The ants are territorial and so the mounds are equally spaced apart, a most beautiful scene in the soft light of West Dorset. In the hedgerow we saw a “Red campion” in flower, probably a late bloomer from last year than an early riser from this.

Next to the heathland at East Gore were 2 coniferous pines with their young pine cones, soft and bright and when shaken or on a breezy day they release pollen by the cloud. A brilliant flash of sulphur yellow heralded the arrival of the “Brimstone butterfly”

Great Dorset Beach Clean 2017

Many thanks to Charles for dropping off and collecting the equipment and for visiting us during the day. We had a total of 30 volunteers, 26 adults and 4 children during the day. Not all stayed all day, so we calculate an equivalent of just over 23 work days. 19 of the 30 were from Dorset Countryside Volunteers (DCV). We collected 26 black bags for landfill, 4 clear bags of plastic bottles, 2 clear bags of tin cans. Also a brand new (still labelled) car tyre! For comparison, at the same time last year we collected 50 bags in total, and we certainly found it harder to find litter as we did the clean. It may be that less has been swept in by storms, or that the beach cafe offering free drinks to people litter picking is working well, or a mix of both. Gareth

Back on Chesil Beach at Abbotsbury for the Great Dorset Beach Clean - DCV’s usual patch because it does not get cleaned by any other group.

This was a lovely day and very enjoyable task. Beautiful site, lovely weather, time to relax and chat and socialise - even have an ice cream. Great views and wonderful wild flowers along the shingle

bank, even swallows seen.

SOCIALS

This is the last call for anyone interested in joining us on our annual trip to France to work with our friends in Association Orchis, see photos of last year’s visit below. We leave Poole at 08.30 on Friday 19th May and return to Poole at 22.15 on Sunday 21st May. If you would like to join us or require more information please contact me. The only cost of the trip is £25 for the passenger ferry crossing to Cherbourg, using the discount kindly offered by Brittany Ferries and mentioned in the last newsletter. Terry Gillott 01202 757099 email - terrygillott3000@yahoo.co.uk Advance notice of September visit Anne-Marie has just advised that Orchis will visit us the weekend beginning Friday 22nd September 2017. Please therefore keep this weekend clear in your diaries.

DCV - ASSOCIATION ORCHIS EXCHANGE

Peter and Lesley hosted a wonderful celebration of Pancake Day. The event was very well attended, it was good to see so many familiar faces. The food as always was excellent, the chat non-stop.

The meal at The Silent Woman provided a varied menu the dishes proved very tasty. The layout of the tables allowed discussion between everyone, much of the focus having an archaeological basis.

Lunch at Tyneham was an ever popular bring a dish, whilst the afternoon chocolate brownie bake off necessitated plenty of discerning discussion and tastings. Eventually Jane was declared the winner - congratulations Jane!

Events for the next quarter include another bring a dish lunch at Tyneham this time on June 4th.

Please bring a dish to contribute to the picnic for all to share.

On Wednesday 21st June there will be an opportunity to climb the church tower at Sturminster Marshall to look at the bells, this will be followed by a meal at The Red Lion pub. Please meet in the pub car park at 6.45pm. It would help if you book with Helen well in advance so that we have numbers for the tower.

Weather permitting there will be a barbeque following the task at Studland on July 1st. Please bring your food for this with a salad to share.

Also on July 20th there will be a glow-worm walk at Melbury Down. We will meet in the National Trust car park at 6.30pm to have a picnic nearby then follow our guide on a glow-worm trail. Helen Gorman

Glow Worms Lampyris noctiluca

DCV Glow Worm Walk Thursday 20th July 2017. Picnic 6:30pm ish. Walk 8:30pm ish Grid reference ST 886 187 Lat/Long 50.967754, -2.163620

Glow worms are not worms but members of the beetle family and are about an inch long. Only the females glow to attract the flying males to mate and will only glow for a few weeks or until she lays her eggs, then she dies. The eggs hatch into larvae and will stay in this state for between one and two years living off small snails which they paralyse before sucking them dry. This life cycle means they may be plentiful one year and not the next. Using bioluminescence they glow from the final two segments of their body. This is caused when the molecule luciferin is oxydised to produce oxyluciferin, with the enzyme luciferase acting as a catalyst in this reaction. The males and larvae have smaller light emitting areas and can sometimes glow faintly. Their peak glowing season is mid June to mid July with others glowing earlier and some glowing later. They are often found in larger numbers on grassy unimproved areas such as downland especially where small snails occur but can be found almost anywhere in the UK from railway embankments, hedgerows and even gardens, where the grass in not tightly mowed or grazed. Look for them as soon as it gets dark from June to August but only look, do not disturb them or collect them in jars as used to happen centuries ago as some populations may be on a knife edge. Sites such as Hambledon Hill and Fontmell are well known for Glow worms and these site are protected nature reserves but they need some form of grazing and management each year. DCV have worked on both these sites this winter. As a thank you for all your hard work we have arranged a visit to Compton Down and Melbury Hill to see these rare creatures in their natural habitat. The National Trust ranger Clive Whitbourn will take us on a guided walk firstly to look at the flowers and when it gets dark to look for the

Glow worms. We hope to have a picnic on the hill before the walk.

Compton Car Park

Lay-by Extra Parking

Book Reviews

The Green Road Into The Trees (a walk through England) by Hugh Thompson A journey through rural England from Dorset to Norfolk walking the Icknield Way. This is also a journey through time, 5000 years in one book. Observing wildlife, meeting walkers and travellers as one would have at anytime in its history, people like ourselves today. A modern journey through an ancient landscape.

Meadowland by John Lewis-Stemple A year in the life of a field with observations close up and personal. Spring brings new life and migrants arrive. Summer and Autumn are bountiful but the harsh Winter takes no prisoners. It’s an intimate observation of wildlife and their behaviour, it’s these details that bring the book alive.

Butterfly Conservation events in Dorset

Butterfly Conservation is a registered charity based at Lulworth in Dorset and was formed in 1968 after a dramatic decline in butterflies. With 50 employed staff, 32 volunteer run branches and 30,000 members in the UK, this organisation is the worlds leading butterfly and moth conservation organisation. DCV are working on one of there reserves at Lankham Bottom in July. Here are some of the events they are running this summer. More walks and details on Web site.

Guided Walk - Cashmoor Down North Dorset Thursday 25 May Target species include Dingy Skipper, Small Blue and Green Hairstreak. Meet 1.00 pm. Guided Walk - Lydlinch Common North Dorset Monday 29 May This is a key site for the Marsh Fritillary and our winter work programme here is designed to maintain the habitat for this species. Meet 2.00 pm. Guided Walk on Broadcroft Quarry Reserve Portland Sunday 25 June At this time of year there should be plenty to see! An impressive colony of Silver-studded Blues can be found in this quarry reserve. Meet 11.00 am for approx. two hour walk. Guided Walk - Piddles Wood near Sturminster Newton Saturday 15 July This is our first visit in some time to this ancient woodland, traditionally a good site for White Admiral and other woodland species. Meet at 1.00 pm http://butterfly-conservation.org/ https://www.dorsetbutterflies.com/events/

Find that task site

The task maps have both Ordnance Survey grid reference for those of us with maps and Lat/Long co-ordinates for those that have Sat Nav. Most sites do not have post codes and if we were to put the nearest one it could take you to a farm a couple of miles away. If you need to convert to Post Code you could start by using http://www.gridreferencefinder.com/ or choose from one of the many on the web. For ease of use you can bring up the DCV newsletter on the web and copy and paste from that.

Lulworth 50.623799, -2.250377

Higher Hyde Heath 50.708889, -2.207667

Studland 50.656760, -1.961382

Powerstock 50.774437, -2.644070

Tyneham 50.621385, -2.168448

Seacombe 50.598597, -2.037674

Swyre 50.691685, -2.670085

Studland 50.641250, -1.958012

Loscombe 50.778519, -2.708167

South Poorton 50.776582, -2.694662

Lankham Bottom 50.801384, -2.559865

Species Recovery Trust

The Species Recovery Trust, based in Salisbury, has a core aim, “to remove 50 species from the

edge of extinction in the UK by the year 2050 through effective conservation strategies informed by

detailed scientific knowledge”.

There are over nine-hundred native species in the UK which are currently classed as under threat,

with several hundreds more widespread but known to be in significant decline. The countryside is now

bereft of many species which were a familiar sight a mere generation ago.

A small number of these species are on the absolute brink of existence, poised to become extinct in

our lifetimes.

The Species Recovery Trust is committed to halting the loss of some of the rarest species in the UK.

Through our targeted recovery work many species are showing an increase in their population

numbers for the first time in decades and now face a more secure future.

We also run a range of training courses, aimed at giving people the skills to become the

conservationists of tomorrow.

In Dorset at the Hengistbury Head Visitors Centre wildlife garden there is the rare Deptford pink,

Dianthus armeria, which is now on their list. Recently they have sown another rarity, Upright

Goosefoot, Chenipodium urbicum, whose seeds will be collected and sent to the Millenium Seed

Bank.

You can look at their web site: http://www.speciesrecoverytrust.org.uk/Index.html

D C V TASK PROGRAMME : May - July 2017 6 & 7 May: Bindon Hill, West Lulworth, Purbeck This weekend we visit a spectacular part of the Purbeck coast. At Lulworth a high chalkland ridge, the backbone of the hills across Purbeck, meets the sea. The ridge ends abruptly in a rolling series of vertical, sheer white cliffs. The sea slowly eats into the chalk, eroding the bottom, causing sections of cliff to collapse. That is how at Lulworth the sea has extended a cove back into Bindon Hill, creating a high, white backdrop to this much visited part of the coast. This task takes us to a quieter spot, up on Bindon Hill itself. Here we have been asked to reposition and extend a series of stone steps leading up from West Lulworth on the ‘rear’ side of the hill to the sea. NB: The work site is on a path leading off Bindon Road. Please try and park along Church Road from the church to the village hall. Extra parking at the Lulworth Cove car park (refund from task leader). If late look out for instructions on the DCV sign board at Bindon Road track entrance and follow our distinctive yellow arrows to the task site on the path up from West Lulworth on the north side of Bindon Hill. Do remember to bring stout footwear, and suitable clothing just in case the weather is out to test our resolve.

20 & 21 May: Twelve Acre Wood, Studland, Purbeck This weekend we have two tasks. Some of us will be in France working with our friends from Orchis. For those that could not make this trip we have another task closer to home in the lovely surrounds of Studland. Some volunteers may remember this site from 2014 when DCV were coppicing hazel trees. This task will be to construct a boardwalk to improve access to a bird hide. This may seem rather complicated, but it’s really a sequence of jobs that are quite easily mastered. Digging post holes, laying the stringers and banging in a very large number of nails. Experienced volunteers will be on hand to guide us and you will soon be admiring your handiwork. NB: Limited parking on roadside, extra parking will be just inside an access gate. Danger, site access on a bend with fast moving traffic.

West Lulworth OS 194

Studland OS 195

Sunday 14 May: Higher Hyde Heath, Purbeck Way back last year we started a major fencing task at this heathland reserve. The fence is being erected along the edge of the reserve, below an area of old mineral workings and landfill restored to a mix of heath and pine woodland. The fence will enable grazing across a wider area of the reserve which should reduce the dominance of purple moor-grass, creating a more open sward suitable for bog mosses, sundews and other wetland plants. Now, many tasks later, the fence runs off into the distance, through pines and across heath, but there is still more to do. We shall be digging in a few more enormous straining posts, banging in intermediates and stringing up wire with hammers and staples. Some of the jobs require serious muscle power but there are lighter jobs, and we work in small groups to share the load and allow plenty of time for rest and chat. NB: Park in reserve car park through gate beyond old parking area for the quarry. The task is on the other side of the adjacent minor road to the golf course – follow DCVs distinctive yellow arrows. In places the fence takes us into some very wet ground, so bring wellies for jobs in these parts.

Higher Hyde Heath OS 194

Park through gate behind works SY 855 900 50.708889, -2.207667

Work site

Parking on Ferry road SZ 028 842 50.656760, -1.961382

Park on Church Street

Gate entrance on Bindon Road 50.623799, -2.250377

D C V TASK PROGRAMME : May - July 2017

Sunday 28 May: Powerstock Common, West Dorset Our visits to this large nature reserve are usually in the winter, cutting and burning scrub. So this summer visit will be something of a treat, hopefully with a warm sun and plenty of flowers to admire across the grasslands. In recent years the management of the reserve has been transformed with increased funding. Dark plantations of spruce and pine have been removed, dense scrub has been cut back and livestock now graze extensively across rough, tree dotted pastures. Elsewhere there are woods fenced off from the grazing animals and from time to time they require repair to keep the cattle out of woods and from exploring neighbouring farms. Our task is to make repairs along a section, replacing posts that have weakened or rotted through. There is fiddly work extracting wire staples and removing the old posts, some heavy thumping in of the new posts, then more fiddly work tightening the wire and stapling it to the new posts. So there are lots of jobs to share around, and the day will be punctuated by chat, breaks and stove brewed teas and coffees, accompanied by the task leader’s choice of biscuits. NB: Look out for DCVs sign board for directions to the task site then follow our distinctive yellow arrows. The task may take us into wet ground, so bring your wellies just in case.

Sunday 4 June: Tyneham, Purbeck We begin the month with another welcome return to this abandoned village in the Lulworth firing ranges. The village and surrounding farm was requisitioned in 1943 for use by British forces. Peace came but the army stayed. On days when the ranges are open there is a nostalgic glimpse into the past - of everyday village life before the changes brought by the second half of the 20th century. On this visit the priority is to finish the stone paving that we have been laying along routes eroded by visitors between the village cottages and also around the old telephone kiosk. This is fiddly work jig-sawing the stones together and getting the levels right. There will also be seasonal jobs in the grounds and wild habitat areas around the farm buildings at the other end of the site - what needs to be done will be decided closer to the task date. The old barn can provide shelter if we need it and we have the luxury of picnic tables at which to socialise during our breaks for hot drinks and for our planned bring-a-dish shared lunch. NB: Park in the main car park and look out for the DCV notice board. Our ‘basecamp’ will be at the old farmyard – follow the track at the end of the car park across the bridge and then turn left. Do remember to bring one or two of your favourite dishes (savoury or sweet) to share around for lunch. Our trusty stoves will do the drink - hot teas and coffees.

10 & 11 June: Higher Hyde Heath, Purbeck This weekend we may finally reach our destination for the far end of the long, long fence that we have been erecting on the boundary of this heathland reserve. The fence goes through pines and gorse, across open heath, and into some very swampy ground where posts just vanish into the peat with one push. The fence will enable grazing across a wider area of the reserve. This should reduce the dominance of purple moor-grass, creating a more open sward suitable for bog mosses, sundews and other wetland plants. As on previous tasks we shall be digging holes for a few more enormous straining posts, banging in intermediates and stringing up wire with hammers and staples. NB: Park in reserve car park through gate beyond old parking area for the quarry. The task is on the other side of the adjacent minor road to the golf course – follow DCVs distinctive yellow arrows. See map 14th May on previous page.

Powerstock OS 194

Tyneham OS 194 & 195

Parking at reserve entrance and further along track SY 547 974 50.774437, -2.644070

Car park 50.621385, -2.168448

D C V TASK PROGRAMME : May - July 2017

17 & 18 June: Seacombe, Worth Matravers, Purbeck High on the Purbeck limestone a plateau of hard rock pushes out to sea. St Alban’s headland is an exposed landscape, a place of open fields and drystone walls. A few valleys cut deeply down to the sea, from Worth Matravers situated high on the plateau, they provide routes to the coast and today are popular links to the coast path. But on the steep slopes the paths are easily eroded, pounded by passing feet, the soil washed away by run-off when it rains. Our task is on the eastern side of the headland, on the route down into Seacombe Bottom. We shall be tackling path erosion by constructing and repairing steps. This involves lots of jobs, digging and placing the step, getting the step level, backfilling the earth and levelling the path surface. Some heavy work is needed but not all and we usually work in pairs providing lots of opportunity to share the jobs and admire the scenery. This will be a sociable task with plenty of breaks and fresh brewed drinks from our trusty stove. NB: Rendezvous at Worth Matravers car park for possible onward travel closer to the task site - the task leader will refund any parking charge. If late look out for the DCV sign board. Bring stout footwear for scrambling around the steps on steep slopes. Bring a hat and sunscreen. Weather conditions here can change, do bring suitable attire for all weathers.

Sunday 25 June: Swyre, West Dorset We are making a further two visits to this village location during the summer. The landscape is distinctive, characterised by drystone walls, and the village by limestone buildings. The walls are strong and can last for centuries, but over time parts crumble and collapse as the weather and livestock rubbing up against the stone take their toll. We have been visiting this site for over a decade, rebuilding collapsing sections in the valley behind the village. Now we have a new location - the walls bounding a field a little further on. Here several sections are in a poor state and require clearing out and rebuilding, often right from the foundation stones. The art of drystone walling is easily picked up and there will be some experience DCV wallers on hand to show how it’s done. Even on a busy weekend the fields have an air of quite tranquillity. Come along, enjoy the setting and help restore a landscape that will last for centuries. NB: Park in Swyre village centre near the church (SY 528 883) just off the main road and look out for our distinctive DCV signs taking you through the farmyard to the task site.

Swyre OS 194

Worth Matravers OS 195

Car Park SY973777 50.598597, -2.037674

Work site at Seacombe Bottom

Park near Church 50.692120, -2.6697528

Work Site

D C V TASK PROGRAMME : May - July 2017

1 & 2 July: Studland, Purbeck This weekend we start our regular seasonal tasks of cutting and pulling unwanted plants from pastures and meadows. We begin with the all too familiar ragwort. The task is a repeat of last summer, clearing fields behind Studland village. The fields are on poor soils and ragwort in particular seems to do well. Brightly coloured cinnabar moth caterpillars can be found feeding on its leaves, protected by poison, just like the plant. Cattle and horses will generally avoid eating ragwort, so the grassland can appear as a mini savannah of short grass with ‘trees’ of flat topped yellow flowers. Grassland needs to be managed by grazing and sometimes cutting. But ragwort when cut can be attractive to eat and fatal to livestock. So its spread by seed needs to be controlled. We shall be pulling up the flowering ragwort, shaking off the caterpillars to feed on rosettes of young ragwort among the grass and stuffing into bags for safe removal. NB: The task is near the end of Heath Green Road which branches inland opposite the PO in the village centre. We may be able to park in the field, otherwise park on the lane being respectful to local residents, or in NT’s Middle Beach car park and walk back. If the weather is fine on Saturday we hope to organise a BBQ after the task back at Middle Beach car park. Look out for an email close to the day for details.

Studland OS 195

8 & 9 July: Loscombe, West Dorset This reserve is aptly named, being tucked away in a deep valley that is perhaps largely unchanged since the days of Thomas Hardy. Even getting there is an adventure through winding, hedge-lined lanes. At the reserve there are precipitously sloping pastures full of anthills, a hay meadow and marshy grassland, all bordered by hedgerows. Our task is to cut thistles as they have become rather too abundant in some of the fields. Grazing livestock avoid the prickly plants and this enables tussocky grasses to grow up around them to the detriment of other grasses and wild flowers. The cut thistles will be either left to dry and break up or stacked in piles off the grassland. On Sunday, if much of the thistle cutting has been done and we have lots of people, we can also make a start on a new fencing job in neighbouring fields on the lower part of the reserve. The job involves replacing posts that have weakened or rotted through and erecting some sections of new fence. We will return to continue this fencing work later in the summer. As usual there will be plenty of breaks for chat, to be enjoyed with an eclectic mix of biscuits and washed down with a choice of cold and hot, stove brewed drinks. NB: Look out for DCV signs on where to park in the hamlet alongside the reserve. Do bring your good gripping footwear for the steep slopes.

Sunday 16 July: Swyre, West Dorset Our task at this tranquil village location continues from earlier visits restoring a drystone wall. The walls are strong and can last for centuries, but over time parts crumble and collapse as the weather and livestock rubbing up against the stone take their toll. We have been visiting this site for over a decade, rebuilding collapsed sections of wall in the valley behind the village. These walls are all now repaired, at least until another old section needs attention. Now we have a new location - the walls bounding a field a little further on beyond the village. Here we are steadily tackling sections that are in a poor state and require clearing out and rebuilding, often right from the foundation stones. The art of drystone walling is easily picked up and there will be some experience DCV wallers on hand to show how it’s done. Come along, enjoy the setting and help restore a landscape that will last for centuries. NB: See map for 25th June. Park in Swyre village centre near the church (SY 528 883) just off the main road and look out for our distinctive DCV signs taking you through the farmyard to the task site.

Loscombe OS 194

Parking & work site SZ 032 824 50.641250, -1.958012

Parking in field SY 502 979 50.778519, -2.708167

D C V TASK PROGRAMME : May - July 2017

22 & 23 July: South Poorton, West Dorset This weekend we travel to a remote area of rolling hills and steep sided valleys, criss-crossed by hedgerows and small woods defining a patchwork of grassland fields. Our task is on a nature reserve near the head of one of the valleys. Here small fields fall sharply down to the stream in the valley bottom. They support a variety of grassland types and wild flowers, drier on the high ground and wet and boggy in the valley bottom. Thistles have become quite abundant on some fields. While the flowers provide nectar for butterflies and other insect life, the prickly plants are avoided by livestock. In abundance the grassland becomes more patchily grazed, allowing tussocky grasses to take over, replacing other grasses and wild flowers. So the thistles need to be controlled. We shall be working across the fields, cutting and pulling patches of thistle. Once wilted they can be left to dry and break down, but any ragwort that may be lurking among the thistles will need to stuffed into bags for safe disposal as they are poisonous to livestock. There are great views to enjoy. NB: Bring stout footwear for scrambling over the steep grassland slopes, and sunscreen too.

South Poorton OS 194

29 & 30 July: Lankham Bottom, West Dorset This chalkland reserve was a regular fixture on DCVs task programme, cutting scrub in the winter and pulling ragwort in the summer, but it’s been some years since we last made a visit. The reserve covers a deep bowl at the head of a dry valley. The grassland on the steep chalk slopes escaped agricultural improvement and contains an abundance of wild flowers. These in turn support a rich variety of butterflies that thrive in the warmth and shelter of the valley. One plant occurs in rather more abundance than is wanted - ragwort. It’s poisonous to livestock, especially when cut, and so must be removed from grassland that is cut for hay or ‘topped’ to encourage fresh grass. Here at the top of the valley its seeds could be carried far and wide by the wind to colonise surrounding grass fields. That’s where we come in. We shall be pulling out unwanted plants and stuffing them in sacks for disposal in a safe place. There will be plenty of breaks for drinks and chat, and to take in the local scene. NB: Steep slopes so please bring suitable footwear and on a calm sunny day it can get really hot, so do bring a hat and suitable protection. Lunch time guided walk to look at the butterflies and wild flowers.

Lankham Bottom OS 194

Meet & park at reserve SY 513 977 50.776582, -2.694662

Meet at track ST 606 004 50.803238, -2.552666

D C V DIARY May - July 2017 Date Task Site Client Work

6/7 May

West Lulworth, Purbeck

Dorset Countryside Step maintenance

14 May, Sunday Higher Hyde Heath, Purbeck

Dorset Wildlife Trust Fencing

20 & 21 May Studland, Purbeck

National Trust Boardwalk construction

28 May, Sunday Powerstock Common, West Dorset

Dorset Wildlife Trust Fencing

4 June, Sunday Tyneham, Purbeck

MOD/Tyneham Farm Project

Various

4 June, Sunday Shared lunch at above Bring a main and sweet

10 & 11 June Higher Hyde Heath, Purbeck

Dorset Wildlife Trust Fencing

17 & 18 June Seacombe, Worth Matravers, Purbeck

National Trust Stepbuilding

25 June, Sunday Swyre, West Dorset

Private Dry stone Walling

1 & 2 July Studland, Purbeck

National Trust Ragwort pulling

1 July, Saturday Possible BBQ - Weather dependent

look out for email . . . Make sure you’re on DCV

members’ email list!

6 July Thursday

DCV planning meeting At Viv’s 7:45pm

8 & 9 July Loscombe, West Dorset

Dorset Wildlife Trust Thistle bashing and fencing

16 July, Sunday Swyre, West Dorset

Private Dry stone walling

20 July Thursday

Evening glow worm walk

and picnic 6:30pm Compton Down

22 & 23 July South Poorton, West Dorset

Dorset Wildlife Trust Thistle bashing

29 & 30 July Lankham Bottom, West Dorset

Butterfly Conservation Trust

Ragwort pulling

Advance notice 5 & 6 August

Tyneham, Purbeck

MOD/Tyneham Farm Project

Various

29 &30 July Lunch time guided walk at Lankham Bottom

To see butterflies and wild flowers

Weather and temperature dependent

21 June, Wednesday

Celebrate longest day by climbing to the bells in Sturminster Marshall church tower

followed by a meal at The Red Lion pub

Please book with Helen well in advance for numbers for the tower and also pub meal