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benjmatkinson.bsky.social

@benjmatkinson.bsky.social
126 followers 133 following 57 posts

Lyscombe ranger for Dorset Wildlife Trust (views on here are my own). Interested in all things nature conservation, but especially birds, botany, butterflies, coppicing and rewilding.

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Dorset Wildlife Trust @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
A major milestone for nature recovery in Dorset! 🎉 Lyscombe nature reserve has been designated a King’s Series National Nature Reserve (NNR), in partnership with Natural England. 🌿
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Dorset Wildlife Trust @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
✨ A very successful morning searching for marsh fritillary larval webs! ✨ We spent the morning surveying Lyscombe nature reserve for the larval webs of this rare and threatened butterfly. 🦋 And we were absolutely thrilled with what we found…
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benjmatkinson.bsky.social @benjmatkinson.bsky.social · 24/07/2026
Their cowpats are teeming with dung beetles! 😀
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benjmatkinson.bsky.social @benjmatkinson.bsky.social · 24/07/2026
The Lyscombe longhorns enjoying an area known as the coombe today. @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social
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benjmatkinson.bsky.social @benjmatkinson.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
Stumbled across another larval web today in a different area. This time on small scabious
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benjmatkinson.bsky.social @benjmatkinson.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
They're still looking good here. These pics are in a fairly short sward. The webs were in longer stuff near the bottom of the down.
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benjmatkinson.bsky.social @benjmatkinson.bsky.social · 22/07/2026
Hummingbird hawkmoth enjoying the downland flowers today at Lyscombe. Seems like a fantastic year for them and other migrant species. Clouded yellows absolutely everywhere this week! @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social @dorsetmoths.bsky.social
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benjmatkinson.bsky.social @benjmatkinson.bsky.social · 22/07/2026
Thrilled to find marsh fritillary larval webs at Lyscombe today! Confirmed breeding at the reserve 😀 @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social
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benjmatkinson.bsky.social @benjmatkinson.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
A good day on Cerne Giant today helping the National Trust rangers survey for Duke of Burgundy feeding damage. Plenty found and quite a few marsh fritillary larval webs spotted as well! @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social
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Guy Shrubsole @guyshrubsole.bsky.social · 14/07/2026
Appalling: Church of England votes against plan to rewild 30% of its land by 2030 @wildcard.land have run a noble campaign trying to get the CofE to see sense But this demonstrates exactly why Ministers can't rely on landowners to voluntarily support 30by30: www.theguardian.com/world/2026/j...
theguardian.com
Church of England votes against plan to rewild 30% of its land by 2030
Campaigners criticise C of E for failing to show moral leadership as one of country’s biggest landowners
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benjmatkinson.bsky.social @benjmatkinson.bsky.social · 15/06/2026
A glorious day for a butterfly transect. The meadows in Lyscombe bottom looking incredible. Meadow browns, small heaths and marbled whites most numerous. Common blues, large + small skippers, small copper and small tortoiseshell seen also. @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social
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benjmatkinson.bsky.social @benjmatkinson.bsky.social · 10/06/2026
Wonderful! Thanks for sharing, Anna 😀
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benjmatkinson.bsky.social @benjmatkinson.bsky.social · 28/05/2026
Adonis blue seen at Lyscombe today 😀 @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social
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benjmatkinson.bsky.social @benjmatkinson.bsky.social · 21/05/2026
I'm hoping to spend some time searching at Lyscombe tomorrow 🤞
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benjmatkinson.bsky.social @benjmatkinson.bsky.social · 15/05/2026
Sadly not. Did have marsh fritillary on a transect though.
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benjmatkinson.bsky.social @benjmatkinson.bsky.social · 15/05/2026
A few highlights from this week at Lyscombe. A relatively healthy ash tree, common blues and brown argus butterflies and stonechats feeding chicks. @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social
A large multi-stemmed ash tree in leaf. Growing within a hedgerow into a clear blue skyA newly emerged common blue butterfly nectaring from a yellow bird's-foot trefoil flowerA chocolate coloured brown argus butterfly resting on a pencil within a grassland.A male stonechat with insect prey in it's beak, sitting atop a hawthorn hedgerow.
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benjmatkinson.bsky.social @benjmatkinson.bsky.social · 08/05/2026
6 marsh fritillaries seen at Bracketts Coppice today. One reported at Lyscombe yesterday as well 😀 @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social
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benjmatkinson.bsky.social @benjmatkinson.bsky.social · 22/04/2026
First small copper of the year at Lyscombe today 😊 @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social
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Dorset Wildlife Trust @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social · 17/04/2026
Don't forget - we will be at the Dorchester Corn Exchange tomorrow from 9am-4pm to chat about all things beaver related! 🦫 Have your say about beaver reintroductions on the River Frome, and enjoy family-friendly activities and displays. ~ Jack
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Butterfly Conservation (Dorset Branch) @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social · 17/04/2026
Do you live in east Dorset and like butterflies? We urgently need someone to take over a vital transect at Hod Hill that has been running for 44 years. See our website for details www.dorsetbutterflies.com/2026/04/coul...
dorsetbutterflies.com
Could you head up Hod Hill?
Our regular butterfly counting (transect) walk on Hod hill has been going for 44 years, but needs more walkers if we are not to lose the value of the data already gathered.
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benjmatkinson.bsky.social @benjmatkinson.bsky.social · 16/04/2026
A grasshopper warbler singing at Lyscombe today 😀 @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social
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benjmatkinson.bsky.social @benjmatkinson.bsky.social · 10/04/2026
gorgeous photo!
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benjmatkinson.bsky.social @benjmatkinson.bsky.social · 10/04/2026
A brilliant morning for a Lyscombe breeding bird survey. A good variety of birds seen including a ringtail hen harrier, wheatear, male redstart, willow warbler, corn bunting, lesser and common whitethroat. @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social
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benjmatkinson.bsky.social @benjmatkinson.bsky.social · 09/04/2026
I think the reintroduction of grazing over the winter, reducing the sward height and creating patches of bare ground, created the ideal conditions for the seed to germinate. Without the grazing, I don't think we would now have so many flowering.
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benjmatkinson.bsky.social @benjmatkinson.bsky.social · 09/04/2026
Hundreds of cowslips are now flowering at Lyscombe, with even more still to flower! From a few dozen last spring to this, a great indication that the grazing is working. All we need now is some Duke of Burgundy's to find them 🤞 @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social
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Guy Shrubsole @guyshrubsole.bsky.social · 22/03/2026
This April, some of England's largest landowners are obliged to publish estate management plans, through being members of the National Estate for Nature. The privately-owned Clinton Devon Estate has published its plan early, and it looks really good: 1/ clintondevon.com/wp-content/u...
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benjmatkinson.bsky.social @benjmatkinson.bsky.social · 16/03/2026
Did you watch Dirty Business? I can't believe how much water companies have gotten away with. They're putting profit before public health - it’s a scandal and the Government MUST take action! Sick of sewage? Add your name to the petition today: you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/en...
you.38degrees.org.uk
End the sewage pollution scandal
We're sick of it. Sick of the lies, sick of the greed, and sick of a system rigged against us. This is a scandal and this dirty business must end. For more than 30 years water companies have put corpo...
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Dorset Wildlife Trust @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social · 01/03/2026
Don’t forget - you have until midnight tonight to place your Teemill order and get FREE UK delivery! 🙌 Browse our new wildflower designs, along with the rest of our beautifully illustrated clothing range, here 💐👉 bit.ly/4b0EEw3 ~ Jack
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Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland (BSBI) @bsbibotany.bsky.social · 03/02/2026
Can you find, identify & record 100 wild plants in 2026? BSBI is confident that (with our support) yes, you can! Beginner botanists, will you accept the challenge? Sign up today for #100Plants2026 challenge: bsbi.org/take-part/ac... Check out the webinars & #WildFlowerID help we've prep'd for you!
Young man sitting in field with plant ID books, recording wild flowers in the sunshine
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Dorset Wildlife Trust @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social · 29/01/2026
⏰ LIMITED OFFER ⏰ The first 2 people to join Dorset Wildlife Trust for half price will receive a signed copy of The Good Bug by @georgemcgavin.bsky.social 🐞📖 Join here 👉 dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk/halfpriceoffer Then DM us on Bluesky to claim your book! Remember, once they're gone, they're gone!
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Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland (BSBI) @bsbibotany.bsky.social · 19/01/2026
Are you planning to undertake a project in 2026 which involves collecting plant-related data? Would you like <£1,000 towards your costs? Apply for a #BSBIPlantStudyGrant! Here's how: bsbi.org/learn/grants... Read how a #BSBIGrant helped Katherine research ancient meadows: bsbi.org/blog/2026/01...
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benjmatkinson.bsky.social @benjmatkinson.bsky.social · 29/10/2025
Some fantastic fungi have appeared at Lyscombe recently. White coral, masses of honey fungus, fairy ink-caps and the gorgeous coloured, and quite rare, splendid waxcap! @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social
white coral fungusThe fruiting bodies of honey fungus. Not good news for this ash tree.The delicate, fairy inkcapsThe splendid waxcap, quite a rarity in Dorset. This one seems to have folded over for some reason.
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martinswarren.bsky.social @martinswarren.bsky.social · 22/08/2025
HUGE numbers of Adonis Blue at Fontmell Down in North Dorset today, over 200 in 30 mins, one every 5m in places. Just like the old days. Also 4 Silver-spotted Skipper. Grazing looks perfect, but mighty dry. Well done @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social
Adonis Blue on Field ScabiousSilver-spotted Skipper on Field ScabiousView of main slope at Fontmell Down in Dorset looking brown after the long dry spell
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benjmatkinson.bsky.social @benjmatkinson.bsky.social · 23/08/2025
Nice to see a family group of spotted flycatchers at Lyscombe on Friday. There were two wheatear hanging out on site this week as well. @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social
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benjmatkinson.bsky.social @benjmatkinson.bsky.social · 15/08/2025
Have seen a couple at Lyscombe this week 😀
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benjmatkinson.bsky.social @benjmatkinson.bsky.social · 15/08/2025
If there is any horseshoe vetch or cowslip seed left over we could use it at Lyscombe.
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benjmatkinson.bsky.social @benjmatkinson.bsky.social · 11/07/2025
Not as pretty, but just as crucial. The cattle also create bare ground. Great for insects like mining bees and butterflies, and ideal for wildflowers to germinate in. Those cow pats are important too. Full of dung beetles which are food for things like bats, hedgehogs and birds.
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benjmatkinson.bsky.social @benjmatkinson.bsky.social · 11/07/2025
They still have plenty of work to do munching away on the SSSI, but the downland is already benefitting from their grazing. Plenty of wildflowers amongst the grasses.
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benjmatkinson.bsky.social @benjmatkinson.bsky.social · 11/07/2025
The Lyscombe longhorns keeping cool in the shade this week @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social
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benjmatkinson.bsky.social @benjmatkinson.bsky.social · 02/07/2025
Chocks away! A day of drone flying at Lyscombe today. Getting some footage to showcase the reserve and help illustrate our plans for the site. @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social
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benjmatkinson.bsky.social @benjmatkinson.bsky.social · 01/07/2025
A pair of small blues seen mating yesterday at Lyscombe. A potential second brood in a few weeks time? Exciting to find this species already doing well on the reserve, suitable habitat will increase significantly over the coming years 😀 @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social
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benjmatkinson.bsky.social @benjmatkinson.bsky.social · 19/06/2025
A small skipper nectaring on rough hawkbit today at Lyscombe. @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social
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benjmatkinson.bsky.social @benjmatkinson.bsky.social · 13/06/2025
A good moth trap at Lyscombe this week. Some nice finds including a grass rivulet, a rare moth in Dorset whose larvae feed on the seed capsules of yellow rattle. 3 hawk-moths elephant, small elephant and privet 🙂@dorsetwildlife.bsky.social @dorsetmoths.bsky.social @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social
A figure of eighty moth (Tethea ocularis)A privet hawk-moth (Sphinx ligustri) on a common knapweed (Centaurea nigra) flower.Grass rivulet moth (Perizoma albulata)
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benjmatkinson.bsky.social @benjmatkinson.bsky.social · 11/06/2025
Thank you!
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benjmatkinson.bsky.social @benjmatkinson.bsky.social · 10/06/2025
Thank you!
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benjmatkinson.bsky.social @benjmatkinson.bsky.social · 10/06/2025
This moth is proving tricky to ID. Dog's tooth, dusky brocade, alder moth?! Anyone got a suggestion? @dorsetmoths.bsky.social @mothiduk.bsky.social
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benjmatkinson.bsky.social @benjmatkinson.bsky.social · 28/05/2025
I was priveleged to see this calf born last week at Lyscombe. Longhorn's are known for being easy calvers and this first time mum was no exception. Looking forward to seeing this and the other calves grow up and enjoy exploring Lyscombe. @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social
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benjmatkinson.bsky.social @benjmatkinson.bsky.social · 25/05/2025
A short visit to @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social Higer Hyde Heath today. Very pleased to see a couple of silver-studded blues, sand lizards a smooth snake and a hairy rove beetle! @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social
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Dorset Flora Group @dorsetflora.bsky.social · 31/03/2025
Our 2025 Events Programme is out now! Many thanks to Tom Smith for his hours of work in pulling this together, and also to all our event hosts. There's a whopping 29 on the list – for all the important details, please see the full programme here: derc.org.uk/dorset-flora...
Dorset Flora Group Events 2025
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benjmatkinson.bsky.social @benjmatkinson.bsky.social · 29/04/2025
A beautiful day in the sunshine at Lyscombe. Great to spot a green hairstreak, lots of dingy skippers too. Early purple orchids flowering, wild garlic and a spotted flycatcher 😀 @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @dorsetflora.bsky.social
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