Autumnwatch 2008 : Brownsea Island, Dorset

[sarah64]

Originally Posted by Dan Salter

I wasnt bowled over but it was only the first program....no wildcats though so it will never compare!

I think i want to move to poole though (shame about the ugly modern high rise flats in the harbour though)

Your right, it is a shame about the high rise flats. My parents were reminiscing just last week about what Poole used to be like. Apparently it was all little lanes (like Brighton) and there were rows of cottages (my parents lived in one) and there were big Georgian houses like the ones around St James' Church. Guess what, the Council said they were slums and demolished them in the late 60s/early 70s. They even had the rooves off the houses around St James' Church ready for demolition (they go for a tidy price now), but my parents said someone must have stepped in and stopped them. Then they proceeded to build the monstrous high rise blocks and the Dolphin Centre and bus station (nee Arndale Centre).

My parents said the houses they demolished weren't slums, they just needed modernising. Such a shame. I wish I could have seen it back then.

Sorry, I didn't even mention Bill Oddie here. I hasten to add though that Poole still has some really beautiful spots and a lot going for it.

[Bwrack]

Does anyone live on Brownsea Island or is strictly a reserve ? Much as I love everything
about Simon< his delivery,charm,expertise etc...my heart sinks at the prospect of yet more
rutting

[sarah64]

Originally Posted by Bwrack

Does anyone live on Brownsea Island or is strictly a reserve ? Much as I love everything
about Simon< his delivery,charm,expertise etc...my heart sinks at the prospect of yet more
rutting

Brownsea is owned by the National Trust. No public live on Brownsea but don't know whether they have caretaker types living there.

Here's the NT link: National Trust | Brownsea Island

P.S. The island was privately owned by a lady years ago and my father said she used to have trespassers chased off. There was also a big fire on the island many years ago.

[Susie]

It is a shame they don't show you a bit of the area around Petworth.

[Dan Salter]

Originally Posted by Bwrack

Does anyone live on Brownsea Island or is strictly a reserve ? Much as I love everything
about Simon< his delivery,charm,expertise etc...my heart sinks at the prospect of yet more
rutting

I agree, although it is interesting to finally see them mention that there are infact other species of deer than just the Reds i think i have seen enough deer rutting over the last few years to last me a lifetime....its kind of like watching JAWS 17 the movie......you kind of get the idea of what its going to be about and what is going to happen.

[Jez]

Maybe a new thread should be started with Autumn Watch suggestions other than the rut?

[Highlander71]

I'm glad they've changed venues, was getting a bit bored with the same place.....oh and Bill Oddie.....just anoying! More of Simon King out in the wilds please!

[Billy Wobble Dagger]

I really enjoyed last nights programme. Great little piece about the wasps. A good point brought up about the green wall lizards. Surely thay need to be caught and removed before they wipe out our own native lizards, however nice they look.

Great programme and I'm looking forward to the next two weeks

BWD

[Adam Cheeseman]

Originally Posted by Dan Salter

I wasnt bowled over but it was only the first program....no wildcats though so it will never compare!

I think i want to move to poole though (shame about the ugly modern high rise flats in the harbour though)

You can afford to move to Poole, Dan? Lend us a million or two.

Cheers,

Adam

[aeshna5]

Originally Posted by Billy Wobble Dagger

I really enjoyed last nights programme. Great little piece about the wasps. A good point brought up about the green wall lizards. Surely thay need to be caught and removed before they wipe out our own native lizards, however nice they look.

Great programme and I'm looking forward to the next two weeks

BWD

Actually 2 species of alien lizard- Wall + Green. The former have existed in quite a few locations for many decades. The Western Green lizards are a much more recent introduction. I think it's unlikely they will spread too far as they need the extra warmth. I don't think they would wipe out our native lizards as all these species occur together in parts of mainland Europe.

For me the Green Lizards, the wasp colony + the Fallow Deer rut were stunning.