You don’t reach 40 years on planet earth everyday. So having completed 4 decades just about intact and with two offspring who will no-doubt be running circles around me very soon, I decided to take a leaf out of my dear sister’s book and stretch the celebrations out over several months!
The culmination of which was an autumnal week’s stay in Arne, Dorset with (and gifted by) my parents.

Dorset has always been a special and magical place for me. There weren’t many years growing up without a holiday or visit to Thomas Hardy land and it was also the county I spent my 30th year on planet earth.
Despite circumnavigating the natural wonderland for decades, I’d never made it over to Arne and this was the perfect opportunity to right that wrong.
There are a number of very exciting species to be found on Arne, though many, like the dartford warbler, sand lizard, raft spider and the almost unbelievable ladybird spider are easier to spot at other times of the year. However species like the Sika Deer and extraordinary waders like spoonbills offer some spectacular viewing opportunities in Autumn.
Sika Deer at Arne
Sika deer originate from the far east and were introduced to the UK in the 1860s. Dorset’s own population were originally brought to neighbouring Brownsea Island and if you’re wondering, yes, they can swim! Today, Purbeck holds one of the largest sika deer populations in the UK. With no natural predators the population growth of these deer is unsustainable and if left unchecked (uncontrolled) would impact on the habitat and in turn the biodiversity of this exceptional landscape.
That said, there is no doubt that this introduced species is an essential part of Arne’s identity and character. Over the week, many early morning, pre-visitor scrambles on the reserve produced some enthralling eye-to-eye encounters with these successful mammals.
Wonderful photos – thanks for sharing!