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 What an odd few months we have had! First we had an early spring, but now winter has well and truly crept up on nature. Here are a few things you might spot this month in your local area or in the beautiful Dorset Countryside.
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 The days may be short but there's still plenty of wildlife to be seen - you just need to get out and look for it. From Goose barnacles to Starlings here are our top wildlife watching tips for January...
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 As I write this in late November, we have just enjoyed an unusually mild month with many wild flowers continuing to bloom, fungi in abundance and common darter dragonflies still on the wing whenever the sun shines.
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 Even though the clocks have been put back and shortening day length heralds the approach of winter, there is spectacular colour to be enjoyed in the tree leaves of late autumn as we experience more than our fair share of mild sunny days.
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 As September gives way to October, we are experiencing an ‘Indian summer’ and a further chance to enjoy the Dorset countryside without pullovers and waterproofs.
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 The heavy rainstorms of August must have disappointed many holidaymakers but have given a further lease of life to many of our flowering plants.
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 Now that the holiday season has arrived and the weather is more settled, there is every reason to visit some DWT reserves in this, our 50th Anniversary year.
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 I realised many years ago that there is no such thing as an ‘average’ year and so far, this one has been far from typical.
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 What an amazing spring we’ve experienced this year! The hot dry weather has meant that many plants have flowered weeks earlier than usual and the number and variety of butterflies have been exceptional.
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 There is so much to see and experience in Dorset this month, it really is difficult to know where to start! From beautiful wild flowers, birds and mammals to dragonflies and butterflies, wildlife really is everywhere...
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 After accepting the 42toDO Challenge as an excellent way to see the variety of wildlife in our county, I’ve just got off the mark by visiting some DWT heathland, woodland and downland reserves near to home.
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 The countryside is starting to come alive in March. Here are just a few of the plants and wildlife to look out for this month.
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 After the coldest month for 100 years, here are the creatures and plants that are making themselves seen and heard this month.
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 With the start of the New Year and increasing day length, have we seen the worst of the winter weather, or is there more to follow?
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 From winter migrants to our native flora and fauna, there's certainly still plenty to see in December...
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 Now that the clocks have been put back and we’ve had a few sharp frosts, winter is fast approaching. Here's what you can see this month...
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 Although day length shortens through October, the weather can be anything from sunny and settled or windy with showers to misty and damp. Whatever the weather, there is plenty to see in October...
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 Changeable weather through August and more rain than usual must have disappointed some of our holidaymakers but has given a new burst of life to our native plants.
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 Plants and the insects associated with them are favoured by different conditions but somehow adapt to survive our unpredictable climate. If you are interested in nature in Dorset, then you will never be bored!
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 In July, you might think that the pace of change is slowing down as temperatures rise, some bird song decreases and the meadows and hedgerows show off their stunning variety of flowers. But look again...
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 June is a month when natural events progress at such a pace that there is never enough time to take them all in!
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 Although most flowers are appearing later than usual and some migrant birds are slow to reach our shores this year, spring really has arrived, so make sure you enjoy this very special time when every week brings an abundance of new sights and sounds!
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 Every year is different and this one will be remembered for the cold winter and slow start to spring. Over the past three months these articles, written without prior knowledge of the weather, have been rather optimistic and in reality most frogs spawned in early March, toads later in the month and only now are sweet violets in full bloom. See what you should be looking out for in April...
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 March winds may blow, but this month will also bring numerous early signs of spring. Find out what to look out for...
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