Friends of Wildern Local Nature Reserve

Lovely Gossamer hoverfly at Wildern LNR, 5/4 @bigmeadowsearch ,@DorsetWildlife @GreenHampshire

A first of the season, a Batman hoverfly,spotted at Wildern LNR on 2/4 @bigmeadowsearch @DorsetWildlife @GreenHampshire

New life at Coltsfoot Pond on 3/4. It always warms the heart. Thanks for a great shot Alison Shawyer @bigmeadowsearch @DorsetWildlife @GreenHampshire

Getting out into natural light each morning can improve mental and physical health in a number of ways. And it’s a good way to connect with nature - by listening to birdsong, for example 🐦‍⬛ More natural wellbeing ideas: littlegreenspace.org.uk/features/natur…

Did you know it takes at least five years for a bluebell seed to grow into a bulb? In the coming weeks, seas of violet will appear across ancient and semi-ancient woodland.⠀ ⠀ To help look after these beautiful flowers please remember to stick to paths 💜 📸: Ian Micklewright

A patch of nettles can support over 40 insect species. They’re a vital source of food for the caterpillars of peacock and small tortoiseshell butterflies - so please let a few nettles grow! More: littlegreenspace.org.uk/features/wildf…

Please consider letting a little patch of garden grow wild, as this allows wildflowers to grow. Some wild plants - like dead nettle, nettles and cuckoo flower - are vital food plants for moth and butterfly caterpillars. More: littlegreenspace.org.uk/features/wildf… #wildlifegarden

Orange Tip and Peacock butterflies on Wildern Moor yesterday afternoon. The Orange Tip was one of three seen across the reserve @bigmeadowsearch @DorsetWildlife @GreenHampshire

Please don't kill moles, let them do their valuable work. 💟

In case you needed a little bit of joy #foxoftheday

Lovely picture of a Squirrel from 28th March. Shot by Sheila-Anne Williams @bigmeadowsearch @DorsetWildlife @GreenHampshire

Another superb Sheila-Anne Williams picture of a Speckled Wood on 27th March @bigmeadowsearch @GreenHampshire

Brilliant Sheila-Anne Williams shot of a Great Spotted Woodpecker on 27th March at Wildern LNR @bigmeadowsearch @DorsetWildlife @GreenHampshire

If 1 million of us each planted just ONE native flower this spring, we would feed half a BILLION pollinators across hundreds of species: bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and more. 🌻

We have another new species in Wildern LNR, this Orange Underwing butterfly, an uncommon species. It was seen in Reedmace in Coltsfoot Pond on 26/3 @bigmeadowsearch @DorsetWildlife @GreenHampshire

This Leopard Bear Spider is our second record, the first was in 2025. This one was seen at Coltsfoot Pond on 21/3. We're advised that it's usually very local and few in number @GreenHampshire @DorsetWildlife @bigmeadowsearch

Moorhen at Coltsfoot Pond on 20/3 @bigmeadowsearch @GreenHampshire @DorsetWildlife

Another new species for Wildern LNR, a Water Tiger, Dytiscus. It's a diving beetle and it was spotted in the Fen Swamp pool on Wildern Moor on 19/3 @urbanponds101 @GreenHampshire @DorsetWildlife @bigmeadowsearch

More butterflies from 19th March at Wildern, a Brimstone at Coltsfoot Pond and a Comma and Peacock from Wildern Moor @bigmeadowsearch @DorsetWildlife @GreenHampshire

Our 1st Speckled Wood of 2026 on 19th March @bigmeadowsearch @DorsetWildlife @GreenHampshire