SOME of Dorset’s most stunning wildlife is being showcased in a calendar for next year and in Christmas cards.

The Dorset Wildlife Trust has teamed up with local wildlife photographers to produce the images.

The photographs for the 2014 calendar were taken by long-standing member and supporter of the Dorset Wildlife Trust, Colin Varndell, from Netherbury.

He has won a few awards himself, including the Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition.

Mr Varndell said: “I never fail to be inspired by Dorset’s wildlife and wild places. I can seldom travel out of the county, as there is so much to photograph and enjoy in Dorset.

“Dorset Wildlife Trust is very dear to me, and I am keen to support the trust with my photography.”

Dorset Wildlife Trust has also asked a selection of well-known Dorset celebrities to tell it about the places and wildlife in Dorset they love and cherish. Their comments have been included in the calendar.

Oscar-winning writer Lord Julian Fellowes selected the wildlife around the three rivers the Frome, the Mead and one of the Winterbournes as his favourite place in Dorset.

He said: “The trio of rivers boasts really wonderful wildlife. We have deer and foxes and herons and egrets and badgers and owls and kingfishers with their piercing pipe.”

This year’s DWT Christmas card collection features a thrush feeding on berries by wildlife enthusiast, Martin Baldwin, a snowy scene of Milton Abbey and Black Hill by DWT trustees Les Bunce and Tony Bates, and an original photograph of a kingfisher by BBC camera assistant and local photographer Sam Stewart.

Mr Stewart has worked on many wildlife-filming projects, including BBC Springwatch and is a camera assistant for wildlife cameraman and broadcaster Simon King.

He said: “I love exploring the countryside in Dorset and every now and then I find a spot I love to work on time and time again. This colourful jewel was taken just near Blandford.

"I had wanted to get this image for ages and spent a long time working towards it. The kingfisher, although common in Dorset, can be a hard bird to spot and photograph.”

The trust wants people to give membership as a Christmas gift as it is its only reliable source of income.

All gift membership receive a special welcome pack, including a free 2014 calendar, latest DWT magazine, events guide, reserve guide and car sticker.

Gift membership and merchandise can be ordered online at dorsetwildlifetrust.org or by phoning Debra Keen on 01305 264620.