Nature

Visitors admiring the Christmas tree at Kingston Lacy, Dorset

What's on this Christmas with the National Trust across Dorset

Residents at Trinity Manor Care Home were pleasantly surprised to see birds of prey home as Owl Obsession paid a visit.

Residents at Trinity Manor Care Home were pleasantly surprised to see birds of prey home as Owl Obsession paid a visit.

Barchester Healthcare

Animal mischief aplenty as Dorset care home residents enjoy visit from owls

Aerial view of the archaeological site excavated at Bar Hill

Aerial view of the archaeological site excavated at Bar Hill

Bournemouth uni scientists uncover Roman period secrets in ancient animal discovery

Work is underway to restore 80 hectares damaged by the wildfire

Work is underway to restore 80 hectares damaged by the wildfire

How fire-ravaged New Forest is being brought back to life after summer wildfires

Sandi Marshall with award and Cherry Tree team

Sandi Marshall with award and Cherry Tree team

Bournemouth mental health charity wins top award for the second year running

A sparrow hawk, an osprey and a buzzard were all spotted at Testwood Lakes

A sparrow hawk, an osprey and a buzzard were all spotted at Testwood Lakes

Three rare birds of prey spotted soaring through New Forest in one day

Operation Mountie, a police-led scheme launched in 2021, was set up to tackle the high number of animal collisions in the area and has since helped drive down incidents involving livestock.

Operation Mountie, a police-led scheme launched in 2021, was set up to tackle the high number of animal collisions in the area and has since helped drive down incidents involving livestock.

Operation marks five years of reducing animal collisions in the New Forest

The smooth-hound shark beached at Sandbanks Beach

The smooth-hound shark beached at Sandbanks Beach

Astonishing afternoon beachgoers dropped everything to rescue stranded shark

Operation Mountie catches 500 speeding drivers over five years

Operation Mountie catches 500 speeding drivers over five years

500 drivers stopped for speeding in New Forest animal safety campaign

RSPB Arne’s Pull a Pine weekend to return

RSPB Arne’s Pull a Pine weekend to return

RSPB Arne invites visitors to cut down pines and take home a Christmas tree

New Forest National Park takes the crown as the UK’s best stargazing spot

New Forest National Park takes the crown as the UK’s best stargazing spot

New Forest National Park

New research crowns New Forest National Park as the UK's best stargazing spot

There are various types of fungi to find in Dorset and the New Forest

There are various types of fungi to find in Dorset and the New Forest

Featured on Instagram

The 11 major mushrooms and fungi people can spot in Dorset and the New Forest

Rare oceanic pufferfish washes up on Dorset beach after storms

Oceanarium Bournemouth has earned accreditation from the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA), placing it among the top zoos and aquariums in the UK and Ireland.

Oceanarium Bournemouth has earned accreditation from the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA), placing it among the top zoos and aquariums in the UK and Ireland.

Oceanarium Bournemouth

Oceanarium Bournemouth achieves national mark of excellence for its animal care

BU Scientists solve a mystery which has been puzzling researchers for 150 years

Collaborative community wildflower planting in Verwood

Collaborative community wildflower planting in Verwood

Thousands of bulbs and wildflowers planted in Verwood project

Six people in Dorset issued with community resolutions resulting in fines of up to £2,000 in relation to bat offences.

Six people in Dorset issued with community resolutions resulting in fines of up to £2,000 in relation to bat offences.

Six people fined up to £2,000 for Dorset bat-related offences

Rosanna Dean from The Tank Museum and Leif Mann from Forestry England receiving the award

Rosanna Dean from The Tank Museum and Leif Mann from Forestry England receiving the award

Dorset Tourism Awards

Dorset museum awarded tourism award for its work to help restore Dorset woodland

House martins using nest cup

House martins using nest cup

Residents in the New Forest offered free artificial nests to help house martins

Residents at Moors Manor Care Home in St Leonards, near Ringwood, enjoyed a close encounter with the animal kingdom when Creature Teachers visited with a fascinating selection of animals, including snakes.

Residents at Moors Manor Care Home in St Leonards, near Ringwood, enjoyed a close encounter with the animal kingdom when Creature Teachers visited with a fascinating selection of animals, including snakes.

Barchester Healthcare

Residents at Dorset care home enjoy close encounter with the animal kingdom

Highcliffe and Walkford is to host its first Festival of Nature next year

Highcliffe and Walkford is to host its first Festival of Nature next year

First-ever Festival of Nature announced for Highcliffe and Walkford

Wetland at Wild Woodbury

Wetland at Wild Woodbury

Dorset Wildlife Trust

Dorset Wildlife Trust launches new appeal to drive nature recovery across Dorset

Jessica, from the New Forest, is aiming to raise £4,300 to volunteer with Projects Abroad in July 2027, and has raised more than £1,700 so far.

Jessica, from the New Forest, is aiming to raise £4,300 to volunteer with Projects Abroad in July 2027, and has raised more than £1,700 so far.

New Forest teen raising funds to travel to Kenya to protect endangered giraffes

Monkey World in Dorset has been named among the UK’s five best-rated zoos by visitors.

Monkey World in Dorset has been named among the UK’s five best-rated zoos by visitors.

Dorset's Monkey World named among UK's five best-rated 'zoos and safari parks'

Golden Waxcap (Hygrocybe chlorophana) mushroom. Lawn experts explain why they grow, how to remove them and the common cleaning product to avoid.

Golden Waxcap (Hygrocybe chlorophana) mushroom. Lawn experts explain why they grow, how to remove them and the common cleaning product to avoid.

Why mushrooms are suddenly growing on your lawn – and how to tackle them

Golden Waxcap (Hygrocybe chlorophana) mushroom. Lawn experts explain why they grow, how to remove them and the common cleaning product to avoid.

Golden Waxcap (Hygrocybe chlorophana) mushroom. Lawn experts explain why they grow, how to remove them and the common cleaning product to avoid.

Why mushrooms are suddenly growing on your lawn – and how to tackle them

Mothers, grandmothers, aunties, sisters, daughters and allies will come together on Boscombe High Street from midday on October 25 for a peaceful, creative demonstration as part of the international Mothers’ Rebellion for Climate Justice movement

Mothers, grandmothers, aunties, sisters, daughters and allies will come together on Boscombe High Street from midday on October 25 for a peaceful, creative demonstration as part of the international Mothers’ Rebellion for Climate Justice movement

Extinction Rebellion

Demonstration organised by Extinction Rebellion coming to Boscombe next week

A new study has revealed that the first people to arrive in the Americas had to adapt to several extreme changes to the environment during the last ice age, over 20,000 years ago.

A new study has revealed that the first people to arrive in the Americas had to adapt to several extreme changes to the environment during the last ice age, over 20,000 years ago.

Ancient footprints reveal early humans lived through dramatic climate change

Merley House near Wimborne

Merley House near Wimborne

Dorset bird gardens that enchanted generations closed in the 1990

New Forest Butterfly Farm closed after 14 years as attraction changed direction

Mushrooms foraged at the festival

Mushrooms foraged at the festival

Secret Fungi Festival returns to Dorset with foraging, UV trails and live music

Dead fish from Sopley Brook

Dead fish from Sopley Brook

Fish found dead in stream after suspected chemical spill

Rutting season is underway in the New Forest

Rutting season is underway in the New Forest

Stunning photos show New Forest deer battling as rutting season in full swing

The slow worm was spotted at Moors Valley Country Park

The slow worm was spotted at Moors Valley Country Park

Slow worm spotted slithering through grassy field in the New Forest

Bournemouth man stunned by ‘enormous’ jellyfish washed up on beach

House sparrow Passer domesticus, adult male and female perched in bush in new build housing estate, Bedfordshire, December

House sparrow Passer domesticus, adult male and female perched in bush in new build housing estate, Bedfordshire, December

Big Garden Birdwatch

Dorset residents invited to sign up for the UK's largest garden wildlife survey

Children aged 8 to 14 can enjoy adventure, creativity and outdoor learning this October half term at The Treehouse in Hurn, near Bournemouth Airport.

Children aged 8 to 14 can enjoy adventure, creativity and outdoor learning this October half term at The Treehouse in Hurn, near Bournemouth Airport.

Diverse Abilities

Charity's outdoor holiday club returns for the October half-term

Rats are attracted to food and the smell of bins so it's worth taking preventative measures like keeping your bins clean and checking them for damage to avoid attracting them

Rats are attracted to food and the smell of bins so it's worth taking preventative measures like keeping your bins clean and checking them for damage to avoid attracting them

Simple kitchen mistake could attract rats amid UK ‘plague’ warning

The Northern Lights over Swanage by Ming Mok

The Northern Lights over Swanage by Ming Mok

Aurora borealis

PHOTOS - Magical scenes captured as Northern Lights dazzle over Dorset

The New Forest in autumn

The New Forest in autumn

The best places to enjoy the New Forest's amazing autumn array of colours

New life in the New Forest

New life in the New Forest

‘Signs of life’- Striking image shows New Forest recovering after devastating fire

From left: Green Ringwood volunteer Bob Wilson, Georgina Wilson, Sue Shepherd from Ringwood Library, Hampshire County Cllr Martin Eyre and a representative from The Fencing Centre.

From left: Green Ringwood volunteer Bob Wilson, Georgina Wilson, Sue Shepherd from Ringwood Library, Hampshire County Cllr Martin Eyre and a representative from The Fencing Centre.

Ringwood Town Council

Student’s eco-friendly wheelie bin store design becomes full-size prototype

Toys R Us on the Nuffield Industrial Estate.

Toys R Us on the Nuffield Industrial Estate.

Inside the demise of the Nuffield Estate toy giant every Dorset child loved

Tarantulas have been spotted in the UK (stock photo).

Tarantulas have been spotted in the UK (stock photo).

Large spiders coming into UK homes as tarantulas confirmed

Sally Laverick and Dexter and Pedro

Sally Laverick and Dexter and Pedro

Woman shares how her horse helped her find joy after breast cancer diagnosis

Youngsters from Parley First School

Youngsters from Parley First School

Year 4 pupils from Dorset primary school enjoy visit to Poole Harbour

Hyacinth House in Wimborne celebrated World Animal Day with a visit from Snake Shack, giving residents the opportunity to learn about snakes and other creatures.

Hyacinth House in Wimborne celebrated World Animal Day with a visit from Snake Shack, giving residents the opportunity to learn about snakes and other creatures.

Residents and staff at Wimborne care home celebrate World Animal Day

Seal bobbing in the water near Mudeford

Seal bobbing in the water near Mudeford

Seals spotted from Avon beach to River Stour as residents share sightings

Phil Wheatley (left), Chairman at Gillshed CIC, with Freddie Toole (right), Sales Executive at Taylor Wimpey Southern Counties.

Phil Wheatley (left), Chairman at Gillshed CIC, with Freddie Toole (right), Sales Executive at Taylor Wimpey Southern Counties.

Handmade bird and hedgehog boxes installed at Dorset housing development

Pest control expert reveals the £1 coin test will help keep rats out of your home

November 1980 the famous dog expert Barbara Woodhouse met up with local entertainer Karen London and her dog Benji when she was in Bournemouth signing copies of her latest book on dog training. Barbara cured Benji of stage fright enabling the duo to have

November 1980 the famous dog expert Barbara Woodhouse met up with local entertainer Karen London and her dog Benji when she was in Bournemouth signing copies of her latest book on dog training. Barbara cured Benji of stage fright enabling the duo to have

1980s Dorset photos capture the county’s enduring love of animals

Fox on a roof, one of the species volunteers might spot during PTES’ Living with Mammals this autumn.

Fox on a roof, one of the species volunteers might spot during PTES’ Living with Mammals this autumn.

Public asked to record mammal sightings in green spaces this autumn

While still rare, health officials are starting to detect them more often, according to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).

While still rare, health officials are starting to detect them more often, according to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).

Disease-carrying ticks surviving into adulthood in UK due to heatwaves

Rare flower may have vanished from southern England due to extreme heat