Volunteer workparty at Alners Gorse Butterfly Reserve with Nick Purdew (BC SW area reserves manager)

Alners Gorse Butterfly Reserve

Drone photo of the southern end of Alners Gorse taken September 2026

An opportunity for volunteers to help with the management of one of Dorset’s richest butterfly and moth sites! We will be using handtools, and an electric chainsaw when necessary. It will be a peaceful day!

The aim will be to reduce a small area of willow and blackthorn scrub which has been gradually expanding over the adjacent clearing for a number of years! We’ll have a fire to burn some of the brash if the conditions allow but stack the rest as a habitat pile.

We’ll aim to start at 9.30 a.m. but please walk down to find us if you arrive later. Bring thornproof gloves and lunch and hot drinks. We’ll provide tools but bring your own loppers, bowsaw, pruning saw etc if you have them.
It is helpful if you let me know if you are going to join us so that I can tell you if there is any change of plan.

Please let us know if you would like to join us. nigelspring@yahoo.co.uk or npurdew@butterfly-conservation.org

Brown Hairstreak, one of the Alners Gorse specials!

And Marsh Fritillary, another threatened species found at Alners Gorse and adjacent sites

Photo: Jackie Walsh