It would appear that Squirrel Nutkin is not feeling very well. He's got leprosy apparently and must go around ringing bells and things. So if you want to dine on squirrel stick to the grey variety, they're pests and abundant and they've only got squirrel pox which is not transferable to humans, I think.
But I was struck by the location which is on Brownsea island which looks very funny. Nearby there is a Green Island. So somebody likes their colours down there.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/11 ... -as-peopl/It appears to be well connected with the saintly crowd or perhaps hedging its bets with an original St Andrew with resident hermit in the ninth century.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brownsea_IslandIt certainly attracted the powers that be. Probably because of its strategic location.
The first records of inhabitants on Brownsea Island occurred in the 9th century, when a small chapel and hermitage were built by monks from Cerne Abbey near Dorchester. The chapel was dedicated to St Andrew and the only resident of the island was a hermit, who may have administered to the spiritual welfare of sailors passing through Poole Harbour. In 1015, Canute led a Viking raid to the harbour and used Brownsea as a base to sack Wareham and Cerne Abbey.[5] In the 11th century the owner of the island was Bruno, who was Lord of the Manor of Studland.[5] Following his invasion of England, William the Conqueror gave Studland, which included Brownsea to his half-brother, Robert de Mortain. In 1154, King Henry II granted the Abbot of Cerne the right of wreck for the island and the Abbey continued to control the interests of Brownsea for the next 350 year
The last thing anyone would want in a large harbour is a large foreign fleet moving in for the cheap booze. So a few islands built up in the shallow harbour would be very useful to disrupt them and offer protection if properly manned with kung fu hermits. Or saints. As well as Andrew there is Peter and George. Oh and a St Michael's Mount for good luck.
And here it is at the entrance to the harbour with the other islands in the background.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poole_HarbourPoole harbour is also where they found an iron age dugout boat. It is 33 foot long and could hold eighteen people. Probably the local ferry.
![Image](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/24/Poole_Logboat.jpg)
Having a number of islands in the harbour would increase the wharfage area and boats like this would be useful for transferring goods to and from the mainland.