Weekend Walks at Arne RSPB Reserve, Dorset

Here in Dorset we have some incredible scenery - sandy beaches, lush countryside, wonderful woodland and much much more. Last weekend we decided to visit somewhere that combined all of these...

Arne RSPB Reserve is located near Wareham in Dorset and is a place I've been visiting since I was a child. It's a beautiful nature reserve covering over 1,300 acres of land and if you're lucky you might even spot the large herd of Sika deer.

We had an early start with a football class for Elliot first thing so we arrived just after 10am which is unusually early for us to be out and about! The sun was shining and the carpark already busy but we managed to get a spot. Our first stop was the information hut where Elliot was very interested in all the animal bones that had been found on the reserve. There was also a viewing window in the hut which had floor to ceiling glass and overlooked the bird feeders. We spotted lots of birds, a couple of squirrels and even a rat who kept popping his head out of a hole in the ground!!

A brand new cafe has recently opened so we made a quick pitstop for breakfast and enjoyed the morning sunshine. Elliot was itching to get on the new play equipment though!

There are lots of different routes to take around the nature reserve but we decided to head down to the beach, this walk goes via the woodland. Elliot enjoyed stomping across bridges, jumping off logs and squelching in mud!

We didn't see any of the deer herd on our way down to the beach but the trees were alive with the sound of birds singing and chirping. It was very peaceful!

We soon arrived at the beach and it felt like Summer! The sun was shining, there were children paddling and sea was sparkling. It's only a small beach but the views are amazing, you can see all across Poole Harbour with Brownsea Island and Poole in the distance. I have fond memories of coming here with my family when I was a child, we used to go swimming and I remember it was so muddy!

We followed the path along the beach and back onto the Heath. There is a bird hide along the route, we popped our head in but there were some serious birdwatchers in there and they probably wouldn't appreciate a noisy 3 year old scaring away the wildlife ;)

Elliot was flagging abit by the point but we carried on with the promise of a lolly back at the cafe. He eventually ended up on my husband's shoulders!

The walk took us through the heath and back onto the fields and then eventually back to the beginning of the route. It was around 4 miles in total and very pleasant, not too hilly or uneven!

I say it all the time but I feel very fortunate to live in Dorset, we have some beautiful places to visit such as Arne and it's great to get out into the countryside to enjoy the scenery.

Where have you been this weekend?

Linking up with the following:

Spring Essentials for Toddler Boys

We have had beautiful weather here on the South Coast this week - the sun actually made an appearance and it was warm! Warm enough to ditch the coats and dig out the shorts and t-shirts too. I wasn't very prepared though, Elliot had no shorts that fitted so we had to make a mad dash to Asda and pick up a couple of pairs so we could at least make the most of this lovely weather.

This inspired me to have a look online at all the cute summery boys outfits so here are my faves: 

1. Tongue Monster T-Shirt £7-£8 - Next

2. Navy Canvas High Tops £8 - Matalan

3. Long Sleeved Tshirt £5.99 - H&M

4. Navy Cargo Pants £9.99 - H&M

5. Denim Shorts £6 - George Asda

6. Coral and Blue Plaid Check Shirt £9.99 - TK Maxx

7. Denim Jacket £22.95 - Gap 

8. Dinosaur Polo Shirt £5 - Matalan

I love all these items and could quite easily buy them all for Elliot - my absolute favourite is the blue long sleeved t-shirt from H&M. It looks cool, comfy and perfect for the changable weather. I'm a recent convert of H&M - they always have a really great kids section with so many nice things to buy. Good value too! 

What are your wardrobe essentials for your children now Spring has sprung? 

Reasons To Love Spring

Now the clocks have gone forward and we are officially into British Summertime, it made me think of all the reasons why I love Spring!

• Easter - For us Easter means quality family time, egg hunts, chocolate, hot cross buns and a long weekend off work! 
• Lighter evenings - I don't know about you but the long dark winter evenings just make me want to get under a duvet and hibernate. I love when the clocks change and the evenings stay lighter and lighter. It makes me more inclined to get outside whether that's going for a walk after dinner or even just sitting out on the decking with a glass of wine!
• Picnics - It's a well known fact that food tastes better when eaten outside (probably...!) and the longer days and warmer weather just make me want to grab the picnic blanket, pack a cool bag and find a picnic bench with a view! We've managed a few picnics so far this year and it certainly beats eating in the car. 
• Cute baby animals - What says Spring more than cute new arrivals! Our local farm and favourite place Farmer Palmers  have recently welcomed new piglets, lambs and ducks to name a few and we've enjoyed going to see them, the piggies were SO cute! 
• Warm weather - probably the best thing about Spring! It means we can ditch the winter coats and boots and bring out the flip flops from hibernation - yay!
• Blooming flowers - everything is so colourful at this time of year and you know when you see those first daffodils that Spring is here!
• Washing - I know this is a bit sad but I love being able to hang the washing outside in the Spring when it starts to get warmer! 

What do you love most about this time of year?

Exploring the Purbecks, Dorset

We have been so lucky with the weather recently and although it's still on the chilly side, our weekends have been lovely and sunny! We like to try and get out, even if it's just for a few hours and we have such beautiful surroundings here in Dorset to explore.

This weekend we decided to venture over to the Purbecks which is a short drive from where we live. Elliot fell asleep on the way there so we parked up for a bit and let him snooze - I caught up with my book and my husband took his drone up in a nearby field!

Margaret Green Animal Sanctuary

Our first port of call was the Margaret Green Animal Sanctuary  , the oldest and largest animal welfare organisation founded in Dorset. Each year they take in hundreds of unwanted and mistreated animals and rehome them to loving owners. They look after a whole variety of animals including pigs, donkeys, goats, cats and ducks!

Not alot of people know the animal sanctuary is there but it's such a lovely place, and it's free to get in! We took a picnic and it was so nice sitting outside with the sun beaming down on us. It was great for Elliot being able to run around and us not having to worry about cars or busy roads.

There were lots of animals for us to see when we visited and Elliot took a shine to the goats! He kept laughing at their billy goat beards :) I loved the pigs, their faces were so squishy and cute and they kept sticking their teeth out every time I tried to take a photo!! The turkey seemed to like us, he fluffed up his feathers and followed us up and down the fence. Funny looking things though aren't they?!

Corfe Castle

A 5 minute drive up the road and we were at Corfe Castle, one of Elliot's favourite places to visit. Corfe Castle was built over 1000 years ago for King Henry I, William the Conqueror's son - it certainly has a colourful past, more of which can be found here. And for those that remember Enid Blyton's Famous Five, well it is rumoured that Kirrin Castle was based on Corfe Castle!

The views from the top are spectacular and on clear days you can see for miles. When Elliot was younger I think he thought all the cars and trains below were toys because he'd reach out to try and grab them!

We had a great time exploring the nooks and crannys of the castle and Elliot even had a go at rolling down the hills! We picked up an activity sheet on the way in and we had to answer questions on the way round - at the end Elliot got a medal for taking part. Another one to add to his collection ;)

Corfe Castle belongs to the National Trust and we have a family membership so we were able to visit for free. The cost of belonging to the National Trust might seem a little steep but there are so many lovely places to visit in the UK and you'll definitely get your money's worth if you get out and explore. And if you're ever in this part of the world, a visit to the Purbecks is a must!

Linking up with...

Drone Testing and Seashell Collecting!

The weather has been beautiful here today and it really feels like Spring is on it's way. My husband finished work early so we decided to make the most of the nice weather and head out to our local park with Elliot...and a new drone!

My husband Paul was lucky enough to attend the Las Vegas Consumer Electronics Show in January, which is the biggest of it's kind in the world. He saw all kinds of new innovative technology but it was unmanned vehicles/drones that really caught his eye. Paul owns two computer/gadget shops (The Laptop Fixers) in our local area Poole and he couldn't wait to get his hands on some drones to sell in the shop....and test out! 

The drone Paul was testing (Parrot Bebop Drone) has an onboard camera and you can even control it using your smartphone or tablet! It took some amazing pictures and video of our local park...

Whilst Paul was playing with his new toy, Elliot was having fun down on the beach collecting seashells and seeing how far he could throw them. It was such a simple thing but he was having so much fun and in a little world of his own! He was even brave enough to paddle into the water, thank goodness for wellies!

We spent many a school holiday down on this beach when we were kids and I have very fond memories of swimming and splashing about with my sisters and cousins. Yesterday wasn't quite swimming weather but the sea looked so clear!

We are so lucky to have this beautiful coastline right on our doorstep!