About 20 members were met by Jonathan Thompson and Matt Somerville and ushered into the classroom, where Jon gave us a brief overview of the nature reserve.

After buying the 30 acres of newly-planted deciduous plantation, Jon has been working hard to increase the diversity of habitats with small-scale re-wilding. Jonathan explained that, at Underhill, this means mimicking the effects of the large native animals currently missing from the local environment, such as wild boar, beaver and wild cattle. For example, ring barking trees to create dead-wood habitats and opening the woodland, to let light penetrate the forest floor.

We then split into two groups; one led by Matt and the other by Jonathan, before a half-time change over. Matt started by showing us the inner workings of a natural beehive, teaching us about Propolis, which is like a bee glue, with amazing qualities, which bees use to fill holes with and prevent pests taking over. Matt makes something like a hundred natural hives each year, in two styles: Rocket and Log types. We walked onto the reserve to look at several of the log hives, one of which was humming with bees. Wild honeybees have recently been classified as endangered, and it was terrific to have a deep dive into their life and ecology by a real expert.

Jonathan took his group to see newly dug ponds and scrapes which had just started re-filling with water after the summer’s drought. Holding water year-round, whatever the rainfall is, the lake has a large population of amphibians and lots of other wildlife, Jonathan has even seen otters. Near the lake is an example of ‘conservation hedge-laying’, a really thick, wide and tall hedge, where each stem has been cut half-way through at the base and pushed over to forty-five degrees. One of Jonathan’s students has surveyed the invertebrate community in this one hedge and has written a paper on it. Also, a book has been written about it, by a local author!
​
Finally, Jonathan took us down to a small stream where the students of the John Muir award scheme made dams, to simulate the activities of beavers. These dams hold up the water, creating pools, which clean the sediment and enable a new community of wildlife to exist.

​Peter Shallcross

On the 3rd September, a group of about 15 members visited Rachel Hall at Gutchpool Farm, Gillingham.

After an introduction to the farm’s history and the management changes that Rachel had carried out since taking charge, about 10 years ago, we were taken on a walk to see for ourselves.

The first thing that is striking is the variety of habitats that have been created. Firstly, a beautiful stream, lined with alders and willows is crossed, leading to a newly created wetland corridor in a grassy field. The corridor has been re-created using old maps and LIDAR remote sensing so that instead of water run off from the top of the farm rushing through large drains into the river, it now gently meanders its way above ground, getting caught up in woody obstacles and long grass until it eventually emerges into a small pond. Only then is it allowed into the stream, without causing a flood.

In the next field, Rachel has planted wide rows of trees in lines separated from each other by wide strips of grass. This agro-forestry benefits the sheep that Rachel farms, giving them shade and leaves to eat, in addition to the usual grass. Rachel explained how the tree leaves have medicinal properties and help keep the sheep healthy by natural means.

Just beyond was a spring-sown ‘herbal ley’, which is a planted mixture of grasses and herbs such as plantain, chicory, birds-foot trefoil and several clovers. Despite the drought, and very little rain since sowing, the herbage was growing really well.

The contrast between the arable farming just 10 years ago and Rachel’s regenerative methods of farming is transformative for the soil. The sown herbs are deep rooted, helping drainage and leading to the build-up of organic material.

Next, we walked through a surviving part of the ‘Park Pale’; a bank and ditch enclosure surrounding what used to be the royal deer park of Kings Court. This remarkable survivor features rare flowers and many old and veteran trees, a brilliant corridor for wildlife.

Approaching the top of the farm, we stopped to admire the expansive views towards Alfred’s Tower and Silton. The field here is the most difficult to farm, with deep sticky clay, ruined by arable farming, with the topsoil ploughed under. Rachel has had success establishing another herbal ley and already the soil is improving. Future plans include reinstating more hedges to create more wildlife habitat, as well as making it easier to graze the sheep.

As we started to return, we talked about the several ponds which are home to Great-Crested Newts and many other species of birds and animals. Finally, we passed through a path with young trees on either side, which soon become a small copse, creating more wildlife habitat.

As the light faded, we all sat down to tea or coffee and ate home-made cakes Rachel had baked and had a lively discussion about the problems of modern farming and solutions, as demonstrated to us.
Thank you, Rachel, for an engaging and fascinating afternoon.

​Peter Shallcross

​© Fera

This field trip is not suitable for those who are allergic to bees.

We are fortunate to have the opportunity to meet Matt Somerville and fit one more field trip into our calendar. Matt's passion is making beehives, supplying them all over the country to establish colonies of wild bees. This event will cover the ecology of wild bees and their importance as pollinators. Jonathan Thompson has several of Matt's hives on his nature reserve, which is worth visiting in its own right. View the fascinating short film about Matt's way of making the hives here.

Please contact us to book a place and tell us whether you'll meet us at the Nadder Centre, Weavelands Road, Tisbury for car share or meet at the Underhill Nature Reserve. Details below.

Visit to Underhill Nature Reserve. Organised by Peter Shallcross.  
Meet at the Nadder Centre car park for 3:30 pm departure or at Underhill Nature Reserve, East Knoyle, SP3 6BP at 4 o'clock.   What3words //bearable.whispers.echo

Anticipated end time: Concluding at 6:30 to 7.00 pm with return to Nadder Centre by 7:00-7.30 pm. 

Distance, Difficulty and Footwear: There will be less than ½ mile of walking, some of it uphill. The walking could be very uneven and wet. Walking shoes/boots are advised.

Our apology that Focus September magazine has the wrong date. We are going on Sat 27th September! 

Rachel Hall has revitalised the wildlife on her farm with re-wetting a corridor, dug ponds, agroforestry, plus field corner and corridor tree planting. Refreshments afterwards. No dogs. Please contact us to book a place. More information about the farm here.

Meet at the Nadder Centre car park for 5:30 pm departure or at Gutchpool Farm, Gillingham SP8 5QP at 6:00 pm.  What3words ///tonality.gossip.envy
 
Distance, Difficulty and Footwear: There will be ½ mile of walking, some of it uphill. The walking could be very uneven and wet. Walking shoes/boots are advised.

Anticipated end time: Concluding at 7:30 to 8.00 pm with return to Nadder Centre by 8:00-8.30 pm.

Andrew Graham will be our guide around Hengistbury Head, a spit formed on the coast where the rivers Stour and Avon discharge into Christchurch Harbour and so into the Channel at Mudeford. A walk around the head provides fabulous views across the harbour as well as diverse habitats to explore.  

Meet at the Nadder Centre car park at 9:30 am or outside the Hengistbury Head Visitor Centre at 11:00 am   OS: SZ 164 911
What3words ///fled.these.united
 
Distance, Difficulty and Footwear: We shall take an approximately 3.5 mile walk around the head at a leisurely pace on informal paths and mostly gentle slopes. Walking shoes/boots are advised. Bring a packed lunch and refreshments.

Anticipated end time: Conclude at 3:00 pm returning to Nadder Centre by 4:30 pm.

 More information Visit Hengistbury Head

We have sent out an email to members to advise that we have had to cancel the Vernditch field trip this Sunday due to the high temperatures forecast. An alternative trip to Vernditch is being offered for Sat 19th July with Wiltshire and Dorset Butterfly Conservation group. This visit will also be led by Andrew Graham. Please get in contact if you are interested in finding out more information.

​Andrew Graham will be leading us on a field trip to Vernditch Chase on the northern part of the Martin Down reserve on Sunday 13th July.  With plenty of sheltered areas and rich flora, the area is usually home to many species of butterfly at this time of year. No dogs.

Meet at the Nadder Centre car park for 10:30 am departure or at the Vernditch/Martin Down car park for 11:30 start.
OS: SU 037 201
What3words ///workloads.spoils.monkeys
 
Distance, Difficulty and Footwear. A gentle walk mostly on level paths but occasionally off into adjoining grassland. Walking at a gentle pace to observe insects and flora. Walking shoes/boots are advised. Bring a packed lunch and refreshments.

Email us to let us know if you're coming and whether you'll meet us at the Nadder Centre or at Vernditch.

UPDATED 
​On 31st May 15 members were met at Falconers Gate by David Scales representing the Mole family. We were given an introduction to the history of the farming business and an understanding of focus on the environment at its core.

We were interested in how the farm had evolved since we last visited in 2019, knowing that there has been a plan to restore the whole farm to a more natural state.

This was the press release from February 2024:
"Key objectives of this strategy:
1. Re-establishment of Native Species-Rich Calcareous Grasslands, reminiscent of the Salisbury Plains, over the coming years.
2. Structural Complexity Restoration, bringing back the mosaic of woodland, gorse, scrub, and hedgerows to activate bio-abundance and enhance the variety and availability of habitat for all tiers of the ecosystem.
3. Naturalistic Woodland and Open Plain Grazing, whereby livestock will become a more important component of the farm’s production, as well as to the maintenance of the grassland biome and lowland wood pastures.
4. Reintroduction of Iconic Downland Wildlife, expanding and doubling down on our longstanding interest in conserving at-risk species including Corn buntings, Whinchats, Cuckoos and the Great Bustard, as well as a wide range of insects and micro-organisms.

To facilitate this ambitious project, we will be collaborating with a specialist partner on strategic, planning, management and executional elements. At the same time, we hope to continue our work with longtime conservation volunteers who have helped pave the way in making Pertwood the exciting ecological opportunity it is today."

In fact, this was not to be, in part due to potential funding streams unforthcoming. Instead, as we were to see as we were led on the walk by Nick Adams (Ecologist), a more pragmatic approach is being followed. This is to ensure the farm returns to profitability with a mix of conventional and organic land whilst being sensitive to the wildlife. Nick Adams is continuing to give expert advice in
this regard and the continuity this brings is invaluable. 

Nick showed us the ‘butterfly bank’ which was buzzing with insect life due to it having some important butterfly food and nectar plants growing on its chalk slopes.

We had lunch on a long barrow (actually a more complicated structure) with tremendous views to the West and North. We retraced our way back, passing through an area of gorse, noisy with the song of Linnets and Yellow Hammers. In the distance we could see the barn where Barn Owls regularly nest, and the field margins where Harvest Mice nests can be found.

Lower Pertwood is in good hands; it is an oasis of serenity and there's hope for the future.

Peter Shallcross

For those of you driving to the Whitesheet Hill car park on Sunday, please note that you'll need //sheets.strikers.paying.

Thank you to Matthew for spotting that sheet needed to be plural, otherwise you'd all be going to Perthshire!

Updated to Sunday. Apologies from Julia!

Our field trip for June is early in the month, so don't forget! Andrew Graham will lead us on a walk over Whitesheet Hill (also spelt White Sheet Hill on OS map) starting at 11am from the car park. 

This prominent hill just to the north of Mere has some unimproved downland which is good for spring butterflies and flowers. We will hope to find the Glanville Fritillary which appears to have a self-sustaining population there. Bring close focus binoculars if you have them. No dogs.

Meet at the Nadder Centre car park  for 10:30 am departure or at 11:00 at the Whitesheet Hill car park at OS: ST 797350 (Map 142).
What3words  ///sheet.strikers.paying 
 
Distance, Difficulty and Footwear: – In places steep downland and depending on conditions paths may be slippery. Essential therefore to wear good stout shoes or boots rather than wellingtons. Bring your own refreshments.

Anticipated end time: Departing Whitesheet Hill at 2:00 pm to arrive back at the Nadder Centre by 2:30 pm.