Weird and wonderful wildlife is waiting to be discovered in the New Forest National Park.

Over half of the unique landscape is internationally important for wildlife – a higher proportion than in any other English National Park.

Now a raft of experts will be available to help nature enthusiasts of all ages discover its secrets with the New Forest Bioblitz – a series of free events over 24 hours to record as much wildlife as possible.

Nail Fungus Poronia punctata

The New Forest is a unique mosaic of habitats which combine to make one of the best places for wildlife in Britain. Much of the landscape is lowland heath – a habitat which is rarer than rainforest – and it also contains the greatest concentration of ‘veteran’ trees in western Europe. The National Park is home to 90 out of the remaining 120 extremely rare boggy valley mires left in Europe which are vital for insects such as dragonflies and breeding wading birds.

Among the rarities which can be found in the New Forest are the nail fungus which grows on pony dung; the New Forest Cicada – the UK’s only cicada – found in the pasture woodlands; the UK’s largest breeding population of the rare Dartford warbler; the extremely rare smooth snake; and the New Forest is the most important place in Britain for the rare Southern Damselfly with 30 colonies.

Jim Mitchell, Interpretation Officer at The New Forest National Park Authority, said: ‘The Forest’s rich variety of habitats has been created by a unique grazing system of ponies, donkeys, cattle and pigs stretching back a thousand years. There really is no other place quite like it.

‘People head off to Africa on safari to experience glorious wildlife and landscapes. We have it here in the New Forest in abundance, but just on a miniature scale. The trick is knowing how and where to look for it.’

The National Park Authority is inviting people to join in its annual Bioblitz on May 25 and 26 which attracts some of the top wildlife experts in the region and beyond. Events are free (although some must be booked) and include a seashore safari, dawn chorus experience, moth and bat walk.

Jim said: ‘Having the experts with us to share their passion and expertise really brings the wildlife and the secrets of the New Forest alive. We might even find some of the rarities which the New Forest is renowned for. An added incentive is that this year we are part of the Cultural Olympiad event called ‘Meet the Species’. Our results are going towards the aim of finding over 2,012 different species- it would be great to have some New Forest specialities in there.’

As well as a fun day out, there is a serious purpose behind the Bioblitz.

Ian Barker, the New Forest National Park Authority’s Ecologist, said: ‘Bioblitz helps us find out about and look after our wildlife. All the records are carefully recorded and go to the Hampshire Biodiversity Information Centre – providing a baseline to help the National Park Authority and its partners like the Forestry Commission and Hampshire County Council manage this iconic landscape.’

Find out more at www.newforestnpa.gov.uk

New Forest Wildlife Facts

• The New Forest is the only place in Britain where the wild gladiolus grows

• · Thirteen of the 17 native species of bats in Britain have been recorded in the New Forest
• · Sand lizards were extinct in the New Forest in 1970, but they were successfully re-introduced in 1998
• · The silver-studded blue butterfly is a heathland specialty and the New Forest is one of its strongholds
• · Insect-eating plants such as the sundew and butterwort are common in the New Forest.

• All three species of British newt are found in the New Forest: smooth, palmate and great-crested

Bioblitz events

Friday 25 May 2012

• · 6pm: Shoresearch beach safari, Lepe Country Park. Just turn up
• · 8.30pm – 11pm: Bat and moth night-time wander, New Forest Reptile Centre, near Lyndhurst. Booking essential – call 023 8028 3141

Saturday 26 May 2012

• · 6.30am – 8.30am: Early morning birdsong walk, New Forest Reptile Centre, near Lyndhurst. Booking essential – call 023 8028 3141
• · 10.30am – 4pm: Bioblitz Activity Day – Join forays to nearby woods, heath and streams with a team of naturalists specialising in trees, flowers, birds, bugs, freshwater creatures, fungi and much more. New Forest Reptile Centre, near Lyndhurst. Just turn up

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WalesOnline have chosen their top 20 beaches to visit in Wales – read more….

This is an award only handed out to beaches with the highest level of safety standards, water quality, and environmental management.

Beaches in Wales are dotted around our 750 miles of coastline, so you’re never too far from the sea. In summer, the Welsh beaches come alive with activity, so we’ve put together a rundown of some of the country’s top beaches, as well as information on facilities and attractions at each beach…

via 20 beaches in Wales you should visit – Essential Wales – WalesOnline.

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I was lucky to have family in Dorset so could often be found at Poole Harbour, the large natural harbour on the South West coast of England.

Poole Harbour is a great location when the weather is kind, for kite surfing photography! I’ve posted a few of my many images below, hope you like them.

Kite Surfing in Dorset - Poole Harbour

Kite Surfing in Bournemouth, Dorset

Kite Surfing in Bournemouth, UK

Kite Surfing in Dorset, UK

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The silver anniversary edition of the Good Beach Guide launched by the Marine Conservation Society (MCS) has recommended 121 out of 152 Welsh beaches, with Pembrokeshire making up more than a quarter.

The beaches were tested for their quality last summer.

Among the the popular bathing choices were Broad Haven, Little Haven, Marloes Sands, Newgale, Druidston Haven, Martin’s Haven, Freshwater West, Freshwater East and Barafundle Bay.

via County has a quarter of Wales’ best beaches (From Western Telegraph).

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We visited the gardens of the lovely Killruddery House on a sunny Saturday in early May, a wonderful location very close to where we live. I would strongly recommend you visit during late spring when the huge Rhododendrons will be out in bloom.

There are rocks, wooded areas, formal gardens and water features so children will be fascinated but an eye needs to be kept on them.

Killruddery House & Gardens is situated 20 kms south of Dublin, just beyond Bray in Co. Wicklow.

The Gardens at Killruddery are the oldest in Ireland still surviving in their original 17th century unique style together with 18th and 19th century additions. They were designed for the entertainment of a large number of people and therefore the scale is comparable to that of a park and should be regarded as mainly the work of the 4th and 6th Earls. A French Landscape architect named Bonet, a pupil of Le Notre, was known to have been employed by the Earl of Meath in 1682.

Killruddery House is one of the most successful EIizabethan-Revival mansions in Ireland. In the 1820’s the 10th Earl engaged the fashionable architects of the day – Richard Morrison and his son William – to remodel Killruddery. In the 1950’s the house was greatly reduced to its present day proportions, but much of the Morrison’s design and architecture still remain.

The Estate is a popular location for many well known movies and TV mini-series including My Left Foot, Far & Away, Angela’s Ashes, The Tudors and Camelot.

Killruddery — House & Gardens.

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Villarenters are obsessed with helping you find the perfect villa holiday, and we know that sometimes that’s all about getting a great last minute deal. We update our late deals daily to give you access to the latest bargains on villas and apartments. To us a late villa deal is a holiday in the next 8 weeks, so if you are thinking of going away soon be sure to browse our wide selection of villas.

Their late deals pages offer last minute villas holiday deals world-wide; so whether it’s some short-haul sun or faraway shores we’ve got it covered. Use the search facility at the top of the page to find the perfect late deal for you, or simply browse the collections we’ve put together to find your ideal holiday rental.

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Glamping – glamourous camping – is the latest craze to hit the camping world and Rosehearty couple Carole and Matthew Short promise a fantastic new outdoors experience with their truly unique ‘Hobbit House’.  Set in the tranquillity of rural Aberdeenshire the Hobbit is surrounded by dramatic cliff top scenery and stunning views of the Moray Firth, offering a perfect location for camping.

Glamping at The Hobbit House

The Hobbit offers a great alternative to the tent but retains all the ambience of a camping holiday. It is solid and insulated and will accommodate the variable Scottish weather by keeping visitors warm and dry even in the heaviest of rains.  It sleeps up to four people and comes kitted out with basic facilities including a kettle, fridge, microwave and TV.

Inside the Hobbit House

The campfire can bring everyone together – spend long evenings having good conversations, relaxing with a book or just watching the incredible night sky.  As the night draws in you can toast marshmallows (or toes) as the flames go down and watch the sun set over the sea.

The Aberdeenshire area is always popular with sea life and wildlife enthusiasts.  Many people are interested in exploring the undiscovered gem of the Moray Firth, the picturesque little fishing villages and gorgeous beaches.

A very unusual outdoors toilet!

High Seas Hobbit offers a great value break, staying here won’t break the bank.  The holiday rates are on a per person per night basis.  There are no minimum stays and the rates remain constant throughout the season.

 1-2 guests just £35pn              3 guests just £40pn                4 guests just £45pn

The Hobbit will be of benefit to cyclists, walkers and families who want to enjoy the outdoors, indoors!  So, whether you are a couple looking to get away from it all or a family of four after some space to run off some energy, then a brilliant break is affordable at any time of year.

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With Spanish invaders, genetic mutants and trampling ponies it’s a wonder that one of Britain’s best-loved spring flowers can survive at all in the New Forest National Park.

Yet native bluebells (Hyacinthoides non-scripta) are now on show in their thousands and the New Forest National Park Authority is encouraging people to get out and about to see their spectacular display before it disappears.

Bryan Wilson, the National Park’s Senior Tree Officer, explained that native bluebells are common throughout the New Forest and most of the UK, but are rarely found in Europe and do not grow naturally anywhere else in the world.

‘They thrive in woodlands and are an indicator of ancient woodlands so if you see bluebells you are looking at land which has been relatively unchanged for centuries,’ Bryan said.

‘Most often they are found under trees and the New Forest has the highest proportion of ancient trees in the country and perhaps in Europe. They flower before the trees come out in full leaf so they can complete their lifecycle while light levels are high. So seeing a magnificent display of bluebells is a sure sign of the beginning of summer.’

Native bluebells can cross-breed with a Spanish variety (H. hispanica) which has been imported over the years by gardeners. The native bluebell flowers are a deeper blue, have a strong scent and have more droopy flower heads than the Spanish or hybrid varieties, but the differences can be difficult to spot. You might also occasionally see white flowers which are the result of a genetic mutation.

However, carpets of bluebells are not particularly common in the New Forest because the commoners’ free-roaming ponies and cattle as well as deer can often trample them so you need to know where to look.

Bryan said: ‘Bluebells can grow quickly in the spring because they store energy in the bulb but if they are trampled by livestock they are less able to take in enough nutrients to keep going through autumn and winter.

‘There is also a concern that native bluebells could be lost altogether as a result of hybridisation with the Spanish variety. But perhaps more importantly we need to protect our ancient woodlands to help them to thrive. It’s important to remember that woodland ‘protection’ doesn’t mean doing nothing. Proper management is essential to prevent less desirable plant species taking hold and this will often involve felling some dense areas of trees to let greater levels of sunlight reach the ground.’

Bluebell flowering times can be used as a powerful evidence of climate change, which is why the Natural History Museum has been asking people to take part in a survey over several years to build a nationwide picture of when both native and non-native species start flowering each year.

You can help ensure a healthy future for the native bluebell, by joining the Natural History Museum’s bluebell search (www.nhm.ac.uk/nature-online/british-natural-history/survey-bluebells).

However, if you can’t get out in the New Forest, you can enjoy photos of bluebells from the comfort of your armchair by visiting the National Park’s bluebell photo gallery on its website: www.newforestnpa.gov.uk/looking-after/landscape/woodland-and-trees/bluebell.

Best places to view bluebells in the New Forest National Park

• · Broomy Inclosure, north of Linwood.
• · Pondhead Inclosure, near Lyndhurst – a well-fenced area which is protected from roaming stock and wild deer.
• · Roydon Woods near Brockenhurst – owned by Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust with a network of paths open to the public.
• · Sandleheath, near Fordingbridge – primroses and bluebells line the public footpaths and bridleways.
• · Exbury Gardens and Summer Lane (the two-mile approach to the Gardens entrance from Hill Top).

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