A new Poundbury Nature Project activity for 2026, clearing the Bramble (including the invasive Himalayan Blackberry) from the land beyond Peninsula Way. This area will eventually be grazed to create new chalk downland.

Weirdly, a Cowslip is flowering in The Swale, next to the Great Field, Poundbury.

The seasons have succumbed to climate change.

The Middle Farm Way verges have now all been cut and raked. A solitary Field Scabious was flowering - I think this is a new species for Middle Farm Way.

A nice patch of Witches Hat/Darkening Waxcap, on Fire Station Green. #PoundburyNatureProject.

Main section of the Middle Farm Way slope in Poundbury has now been mown and raked, with the arisings removed.

An impressive Bolete has turned up - possibly Gyroporus cyanescens the bluing Bolete. #PoundburyNatureProject

Stone Parsley on the Middle Farm Way slope looking very dramatic in its late Summer/early Autumn colour.

Bit of a mammoth effort but this large patch of uncut meadow, on the Middle Farm Way slope, has now been cut and raked. Surprised to see some whopping ant hills in amongst the grass. Wall Brown still on the wing, and about 20 House Martins feeding over the meadow. #PoundburyNatureProject

A rather lovely patch of old fashioned fallow, with Fat Hen, Redshank and Knot-grass, and a whole host of other arable weeds. Peninsula Way, Poundbury

Dramatic skies this afternoon, on Middle Farm Way, Poundbury. Invasive Himalayan Blackberry on the wildflower verge.

The Great Field, Poundbury. The "new" meadow (created in 2020) has been mown, and the two slightly "older" meadow areas, still have a few things flowering in them - in particular Wild Carrot. Dorchester Town Council manages the Great Field; the combination of short mown grass and meadow works well.

The other new arrival this year, on the same verge on Middle Farm Way, Poundbury, is Burnet Saxifrage. This one just escaped the mower’s attention.

A new species for Middle Farm Way, on a closely mown road verge. Stemless Thistle

Removing the regrowth of Dogwood from the Middle Farm Way slope. Previous mismanagement- cutting stems a foot high and treading cut stems down (which encourages them to root) led to rapid spread from the hedge down the slope. Repeatedly cutting off the regrowth through the growing season is working.

Clearing the big Teasel patch on the slope next to Middle Farm Way, Poundbury.

Definitely worth removing this year's runners from the Himalayan Blackberry before mowing the rest of the vegetation. Otherwise the thick stems make mowing and raking difficult, and the thorns are vicious. Back of Fire Station Green, Poundbury.

Mowing some rank grass and thistles on Fire Station Green. #PoundburyNatureProject.