THE National Trust is running a series of supper and safari evenings on Brownsea Island in Poole Harbour on Thursday evenings throughout June. The aim is to give people a closer view of nature in a truly beautiful and tranquil setting.

The evenings begin with a boat ride over to the island from Sandbanks, followed by a tasty home-cooked meal in the Villano Café. After dinner, participants will be taken on a guided walk to meet the wildlife that call Brownsea Island home, including secretive nightjars and many species of bats.

Visitor experience manager Olivia Gruitt says: ‘We love seeing lots of happy visitors coming out on these special nighttime adventures. Seeing and hearing the excitement of someone’s first sighting of a nightjar or watching the terns settling down to sleep are magical moments made on Brownsea Island that will stay with visitors forever.’

The events run from 6pm to 10.30 and are jointly led by experts from the National Trust and Dorset Wildlife Trust. Booking is essential via the National Trust website.

Images: Birdwatching © National Trust, photograph by John Millar; Evening meal © National Trust, photograph by Olivia Gruitt; Nightjar © National Trust, photograph by Jess Dibden.