Close your eyes and imagine – the sun dappling over you through green fresh leaves, the scent of damp woody earth and spring flowers filling your nose and the sound of birdsong all around.

You could only be in one place, a beautiful British woodland.

This May, Dorset Wildlife Trust is celebrating the Tree Council’s month-long festival ‘Walk in the Woods’ to encourage everyone to venture outside and enjoy our trees and woodlands in springtime.

‘Walk in the Woods’ month aims to get people who rarely venture out to visit their local woodlands to take an adventure on the wild side and enjoy exploring the tree-filled environments and the wildlife they are home to.

Catherine Mason, Community Conservation Officer for Dorset Wildlife Trust said “Spring is a wonderful time to get out and about in your local woods and meadows.

“The birds are singing, and it is a great chance to see them before the leaves have fully covered the trees.”

Dorset Wildlife Trust will be celebrating Walk in the Woods month by hosting a woodland and meadow walk at their Lorton Meadows nature reserve.

This walk is hosted by Wild About Weymouth and Portland, a partnership between Dorset Wildlife Trust, The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, Dorset Countryside and Weymouth and Portland Borough Council.

The project is funded by the Big Lottery Fund through Natural England’s Access to Nature programme, to encourage people to discover, enjoy and help conserve the borough’s wonderful natural environment. The Walk in the Woods event is on Saturday, May 5, from 2pm to 4pm at Lorton Meadows Conservation Centre and Nature Reserve, Lorton Lane, Upwey, Weymouth, DT3 5QH.

The cost is £1, to include refreshments. The Lorton Meadows Conservation Centre will also be hosting an open day from 10am to 4pm. For details, please contact Catherine Mason at cmason@ dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk, call 01305 816546 or visit dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk/events