Thorncombe woods experience

We had a very hot few days and yesterday we decided to visit a favourite place of ours close to Thomas Hardy's cottage.  IT was really hot and sticky. I struggled a bit with the heat but what we saw was well worth it.
                                                           THORNCOMBE WOODS

A 26-hectare site, close to Dorchester, incorporating broadleaved and mixed woodland and Black Heath, a mosaic of birch and heath.  Listed on the Ancient Woodland Inventory, Thorncombe Woods has great habitat diversity with mature oak, sweet chestnut, beech and mixed woodland. The woodland gives way to Black Heath an area of birch and open areas of bracken and heath as well as a small pond. Dormice have been recently recorded and Song Thrush, Marsh Tit and Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, all red listed birds of conservation concern, breed in the wood. On Black Heath it is possible to see Dartford Warblers, Yellow Hammers and Nightjars. There are also rare invertebrates associated with both the woodland and heathland.

Running through the site is a well preserved Roman road which is a Scheduled Ancient Monument (SAM). There are a variety of paths to explore throughout the site linking in with local rights of way to Puddletown Forest and Dorchester.

                                       We had just made it to the pond known as Rushy Pond

When we heard a bit of rustling.  We turned to look and to our amazement and delighted shock 4 horses came trotting up to the pond.  Obviously they were as hot and thirsty as we were.

They munched, drank and nibbled before getting curious.  They came right up to us

and

It was such a surprise.  Apparently they are Dartmoor Ponies that Thorncombe woods have acquired for forest Conservation.  For us it just made our weekend