At the end of a rather wet dismal winter, 14 walkers plus 2 dogs marked the vernal equinox with a gentle 5 mile weekday stroll round this large nature reserve just north of the Bournemouth-Poole conurbation.

We were lucky to catch the last rays of sun in a spring-like week. Nature was barely waking up, but during our lunch break the peace was broken by the sudden appearance of a couple of curlews.

The walk concluded with drinks outside the Old Inn in the nearby village of Holt.