Volume 7, Issue 1

March 2013

News from Avon Heath and the East Dorset Sites

Inside this issue:
New Wildlife Area at Avon Heath Nature Nursery gets outstanding Avon Heath Volunteers 1 1

New Wildlife Area at Avon Heath

Work has begun on the new wildlife area at Avon Heath Country Park. The very wet and then snowy weather has slowed down the work but progress is beginning to be made. The pond excavation is now complete, this will then be lined with sand, terram and gravel. A bird hide will allow the public to enjoy viewing the pond and a boardwalk is due to be constructed that will provide access for pond dipping activities with the Rangers. At the rear of the site we will be constructing an artificial badger set, wildflower and bee garden and providing a home for bats in our bat box.
Artificial badger sett built into quiet area to rear of bund. Bat box high on pine stem with clear flight lines Pond dipping area with fence and boardwalk.

Castleman Trailway 2 Work Party and Friends of Inside this&issue: Uddens Cannon Special points of Hill woodlands

interest: Winter Work Upton Trailway

volunteers
Briefly hig hlight you r point of int erest here. Briefly hig hlight you r point of int erest here. Briefly hig hlight you r point of int erest here.

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Slop Bog - extension Photographic Comp3 2 of grazing area

Briefly hig hlight you r point of int erest here.

Why Forthcomingcows are the Events here? Events

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Quiet water area immediately in front of and below hide.

Access to dipping area through hide. Vivarium Disabled ramp rises up behind vivarium to hide.

New stock-proof fence set back 1m from track. Planting in front.

First Nature Nursery in Dorset gets Outstanding

Imagine that your childs day at nursery in a country park starts with baking bread for morning snack. They then use clay and natural objects with an artist and are really excited to take what they have made home to show you. Next is an explorer session off in the country park with the teachers and Countryside Rangers searching for bugs, plants and animal tracks. When they return from their adventures they sit round a campfire and eat their bread and listen to stories. Well, this is just some of the amazing daily experiences children are having at Childrens Nature Nursery at Avon Heath Country Park. They have just been awarded Outstanding by OFSTED in their first inspection. Opened in August 2012 the day nursery for 2 - 5 year olds connects children to nature both out in the country park, in over an acre of secure garden and within 2 custom built classrooms. Daily experiences include den building, pond dipping, mini beast hunting, campfires, outdoor cooking, growing vegetables, nature walks and more! For more information: www.kidslovenature.co.uk or telephone 01425 483449.

Dorset Countryside is the ranger service for Dorset County Council. Working in partnership for the conservation and enjoyment of our unique coast and countryside.

The secure garden at the nature Nursery

News from Avon Heath and the East Dorset Sites

Avon Heath Volunteers

Have you been wondering what these strange objects are that have having to get on and off their horse to do so). They have been constructed using old paving slabs that were surplus to use after the Discovery Centre was extended. Its been a busy winter for our volunteers, appeared at Avon Heath Country Park? Our dedicated group of volunteers have been busy building 6 horse mounts along the bridleway. These are used by horse riders to help them when opening and closing gates (and theyve also been hard at work improving the cattle compound on South Park. New posts were dug in, new rails attached and new metal gates have been installed.
gorse clearance on a burial mound (Scheduled Ancient Monument), lots of pine clearance and invaluable help with running our popular Christmas Tree Event.

Other work carried out on A big thank you to everyone who has South Park included helped us on these work parties. If youd like to get involved please phone Kate or Marco, 01425 478082 for further details, new volunteers are always welcome. The Thursday group meet every week and the dates for Sundays are on the back page.

Castleman Trailway Work Party and Friends of Uddens & Cannon Hill woodlands
An amazing 55 volunteers gave a total of 170 hours of their time in helping to improve the Castleman Trailway and an adjoining bridleway. The work took place in part of the Forestry Commissions Cannon Hill Plantation in Stapehill, Ferndown. Volunteers opened up and widened the bridleway by clearing holly, bramble and rhododendron. Planned surfacing repairs are hoped to be achieved with additional volunteer help during the spring. The Castleman Trailway itself benefited from a much needed surface scrape. Moss and encroaching vegetation were removed thus returning a section of the track to its original width. Due to such a tremendous attendance the volunteers were able to do a good turn for the Forestry Commission by clearing some invasive rhododendron. A bonfire, hot drinks and cakes were enjoyed by all! We would like to extend our special thanks to Andy and Sarah Hartstone, and Andy Wright for their support as volunteer rangers, with Page 2 weekend tasks in particular.

Volume 7, Issue 1

Upton Trailway Volunteer Works

Dorset Countryside has been working with local community group The Upton Beacon Project to improve the Upton Trailway. The Upton Trailway follows a section of old railway line from Poole Road (former Lytchett Level Crossing) to Allens Road. The northern section is owned and managed by Dorset County Council as a public bridleway whilst the southern end links into the Borough of Poole public footpaths. A central piece is in private ownership and this prevents us from improving the Trailway as a whole at present. The Trailway serves as a green corridor and an access route between Upton, Upton Country Park, Hamworthy Station and Upton Industrial Estate. During September 2012 Dorset Countryside was supported by 26 volunteers whom helped to clear bramble and scrub so as to open up the Trailway. Members of Keep Upton Tidy undertook a separate litter pick through out Upton. These 26 volunteers collected 27 bags of rubbish from the Upton Trailway alone. In November, 8 volunteers assisted Dorset Countryside in clearing scrub from a very narrow footway which connects the Trailway to the Upton Industrial Estate. Dorset Countryside has installed a new bridle gate near Poole Road entrance and we hope through the Beacon Project to surface 532 metres of the trailway and provide some interpretation.

Slop Bog extension of grazing area

As reported in Julys newsletter Natural England who guide our management of Slop Bog have requested that we graze the area of heath to the east of the boardwalk. This is presently a small area of heath and scrub much of it is dominated by Vigorous Purple Moor grass which the cattle will graze upon allowing more delicate species to flourish. As a consequence, we need to install extra fencing. Where will this fencing be? The most obvious section will be along the presently unfenced edge of the boardwalk. This will prevent cattle from damaging the structure and prevent conflict with people. A double gate system for the cattle will allow us to move them from one side to the other when needed leaving public access to the boardwalk unhindered for the bulk of the time. How will the extra grazing affect you? As little as possible we hope as the boardwalk was always built with the intention of allowing access out onto the bog. However, there may be times both during fencing works and when cattle are grazing that we need to temporarily close the boardwalk, for example when moving cattle from one side to the other. At the time of writing the bulk of the tree and scrub clearance needed to make way for the fence has already been done much of it with the help of volunteers. Please take note of any site Page notices3during the work. If you have any questions please contact Will Holland on 01425 483809, 07827 820465 or e-mail w.holland@dorsetcc.gov.uk

Rangers Office: 01425 478082 Discovery Centre: 01425 478470 Eastern Area Sites/Castleman Trailway/ Slop Bog rangers: 01425 483809 www.dorsetforyou.com/avonheath Facebook: Avon Heath Country Park

Forthcoming Events
Sunday Volunteers at Avon Heath Country Park 7th April 5th May 2nd June 22nd Sept 20th Oct wildlife area maintenance weeding heather beds footpath maintenance pine clearance & bonfire pine clearance & bonfire

Dorset Countryside is the ranger service for Dorset County Council. Working in partnership for the conservation and enjoyment of our unique coast and countryside.

(all tasks are subject to change, please phone nearer the time for more details) All Sunday tasks are from 10am to 2.30pm (ish) Family groups are welcome to most tasks, but all children must bring an adult. Please phone ahead for details. Please wear old clothes (we often have a bonfire so please bear this in mind when choosing what to wear), waterproofs, sturdy boots, shoes or wellies, drinks and snacks, picnic lunch if staying all day, suncream, insect repellent and a sense of humour! We will provide tools, instructions, gloves, biscuits, and hot and cold drinks. Booking in advance is essential for all tasks. Please contact Kate to see where we are going to meet on (01425) 478082.

Spring Events 2013

Sat 30th MarchSun 14th April Easter Egg Springtime Trail Follow in the footsteps of Avon Heaths Easter Rabbit, solving the riddles and claiming your chocolate prize at the end. All children should bring an adult. Anytime between 11am and 3pm. 2.j80 Monday 1st April Den Build Construct secret hideouts in the woods with the rangers. Elaborate entrances, invisible trapdoors, leafy cabins - its up to you. Children must be over 6+ and all should bring an adult. Booking essential. 11.30 - 12.30pm 4.50 Thursday 4th April Bee Crafty - Kite Making Bees need to forage however windy the weather. Join our local bee keeper in making bee kites and wind socks. Discover top tips on encouraging these beneficial insects to feed in your garden and learn about their fascinating lives. Anytime between 11am and 3pm. Prices from 3. Donations welcome towards new hives at Avon Heath. Sunday 7th April Avon Heath Sunday Volunteers (see above) Tuesday 9th April Prints and Plastercasts Disover more about tracking animals and make a plastercast of an animal print on the park to take home. All children should bring an adult. Booking essential. 11.30 - 12.30 3.50 (Collect plastercasts later) Friday 12th April Ladybird Box Building A single ladybird can eat over 4000 greenfly a gardeners best friend! Make a hibernation box to take home and learn about other insects using your garden. All children should bring an adult. Booking essential. Anytime between 11am and 3pm 4.50 Monday 15th April Mini Explorers Ignite your toddlers interest in nature with Avon Heaths rangers through inspiring activities, games and trails such as wildlife cookery, animal hide and seek, bug snap etc. Free hot drinks for adults in the after the session. For 2 - 5 year olds (with an adult). Booking essential. 10am - 11.30am 4 per child.