Hello, winter, we’ve been expecting you. As much of our wildlife hunkers down for the cold season and the park quietens, a hush has descended across the heath. Under the pinks and oranges of early morning sunrises, roe deer graze amongst the fog covered heather. Robins, nuthatches, blue tits, long tailed tits and chaffinches hop on frozen ground about searching for food. Buzzards, sparrowhawks and kestrels survey the ground from lofty treetops. As the late afternoon light begins to dim, the noisy social calls of starlings and fieldfare cut through the quiet as they come together to roost. Winter on the heathland is a truly magical time.
This December has brought a range of weather conditions, from strong winds and rain to glistening frost and thick fog. A few trees fell victim to the powerful winds, which we kept a close eye on and dealt with where necessary. Luckily, the rain held off for our apprentice training days. We welcomed apprentice rangers from across the council to learn from our experienced senior ranger about heathland management. It was a great opportunity for them to understand the complicated nature of managing a heathland. We also put them to work helping us clear invasive pine trees. We’re always quick to put an extra pair of hands to use!
But of course, the most fun has been happening around the Visitor Centre as we prepare for Christmas celebrations. We were visited this month by a very cheeky elf from the north pole who has been getting up to all sorts of mischief around the park. The rangers kept our social media followers informed of their antics every day, which kept everyone amused!
Visitors to the park have been treated to a range of fun activities, including:
- wooden reindeer and snowman making
- Christmas crafts
- silver jewellery making
- willow workshops
We also welcomed back the Bournemouth and District Concert Band, who got everyone in the festive spirit with a fabulous free concert in the run up to Christmas.
But it hasn’t been all fun and games, the rangers have been working heard to plan a refurbishment of our Visitor Centre next month. For 2 weeks in January, the centre will be closed as important repairs and updates are undertaken. This exciting work is the first phase in a refresh of the whole space, improving our visitor experience for everyone. Watch this space!