Ranger Joe finds bats in the pits
Buriton’s Chalk Pits Ranger, Joe Williams, led a popular evening walk in the Local Nature Reserve in October.
He explained that at this time of day, in fading light, another side of the Chalk Pits is revealed: tranquil yet alive with leaves rustling, foxes screeching and bats flitting to and fro. Most notably, he continued, is the rhythmic call of the Tawny Owl as it readies itself for night hunting.
Join local Rangers and Volunteers for a family friendly game of ‘bat and moth’ followed by an autumnal evening walk around the chalk pits with bat detectors.
Following the great success of the event in June, QECP Ranger Joe Williams will be leading another one on Friday 27th October.
In June everyone saw scores of orchids, two lovely slow worms and a range of butterflies before everything was released back into the wild.
Joe explains that “October will be the time for pumpkins and golden leaves on trees. The chalk pits will be wearing their autumnal clothes and looking beautiful. All the creatures will be busy securing the last foods available before the hard months of winter ahead.”
Rangers from the Queen Elizabeth Country Park enthralled local families with insights into a wide range of plants, butterflies and creep-crawlies in the Nature Reserve.
There were scores of orchids growing in the small quarry bowl and local ranger Joe Williams was able to identify many other chalk-loving plants for all the visitors.
Joe, and colleague Steve Peach (Head Ranger at QECP), had also brought butterfly nets with them and everyone enjoyed catching a range of species and identifying them.
But the two gorgeous slow worms stole the show and, like all the other specimens, were released back into the wild at the end of the morning.
Another guided walk in one of our Nature Reserves: 6.30pm on Wednesday 24th May
An opportunity to learn about the distinctive bird songs of many of our local species.
Buriton resident and natural history expert Di Mitchell will be leading a guided tour – and there should be opportunities to look at a range of different wild orchids too.
Bring binoculars if you have them but the focus will be on bird calls and songs so don’t worry if you don’t.
Meet at 6.30pm at Buriton village pond – and please remember to wear suitable footwear as parts of the site are steep.
A morning in the Buriton Chalk Pits, with experts showing some of the wildlife that can be found.
As a follow-up to successful Bio-Blitz in previous years, Rangers from the Queen Elizabeth Country Park will be hosting a fun event in the Buriton Chalk Pits on Saturday 17th June: from 10.30am to 1.30pm.
Experts will show people the range of flowers and wildlife that can be found in and around the Chalk Pits Nature Reserve.
There are also plans to have a ‘sensory table’ with things like tree bark as well as food stuffs that can be made from plants such as jams etc.
The BBC spent almost a full day in the parish on Thursday 16th February as part of a programme which is planned to be shown on Sunday March 5th.
The filming was part of a special feature about the Dark Night Skies of the South Downs National Park and Buriton was selected because of the quality of the darkness here.
The BBC team, with presenter Helen Skelton, spent much of the morning in the Chalk Pits Nature Reserve, discovering a range of night-flying moths that had been trapped overnight. As with many other species of nocturnal wildlife, light pollution from a range of sources can cause them to become disorientated, able to collect less food and threatening their chances of reproducing.
Come along and help the Country Park's rangers with some vital habitat management.
Scrub and invasive species can sometimes encroach onto important areas of the Chalk Pits Nature Reserve.
So, now and again, the Rangers have to remove unwanted scrub to let the flowers grow and improve the habitat for insects.
Come along and help the Country Park's rangers with some vital habitat management.
Scrub and invasive species can sometimes encroach onto important areas of the Chalk Pits Nature Reserve.
So, now and again, the Rangers have to remove unwanted scrub to let the flowers grow and improve the habitat for insects.
Come along and help the Country Park's rangers with some vital habitat management.
Scrub and invasive species can sometimes encroach onto important areas of the Chalk Pits Nature Reserve.
So, now and again, the Rangers have to remove unwanted scrub to let the flowers grow and improve the habitat for insects.
If you fancy giving the Rangers a hand and getting a bit of physical exercise at the same time, why not come along and do your bit for conservation.
A small group of bleary eyes but well-tuned ears enjoyed the delights of the Dawn Chorus in the Chalk Pits at the beginning of May.
Almost 20 different species of birds were heard with migrants mixing with reliable favourites and it was encouraging to hear some rarer species in this Nature Reserve such as Firecrests, Goldcrests and Stock doves.
For those who didn’t manage the 5am start, come along to the evening birdsong walk on Thursday 21st May instead:
