Dorset Heathland Project

• Project objectives
• Key dates so far
• Work planned or underway
• Results
• Who to contact
• Partners
• Funding

Dorset’s lowland heathland is a fragmented remnant of a once extensive landscape. In the early 1800s, heathland covered most of south-east Dorset.  Some 86% of Dorset’s heathland has been lost since then, and the surviving area is broken into more than 150 fragments.

Heathland is a cultural landscape, meaning that it depends on human intervention for its survival. The heaths in Dorset were developed by Neolithic farmers and kept open by people grazing their livestock, cutting gorse for firewood and heather turfs for fuel. 

When agricultural use of Dorset’s heathland ended, this important habitat started to become neglected. Today, heaths are under constant threat of invasion by scrub. 

Project staff work with landowners to remove invasive scrub species and rejuvenate heather and gorse.  Pine, birch and rhododendron are cleared using chainsaws. Once felled, trees and scrub are removed from site.

This work is carried out during the winter months to avoid disturbance to nesting birds, and priority is given to the areas that are worst affected by scrub, because these are in greatest danger of losing their characteristic wildlife.  We are also targeting areas of former heathland that have the potential to act as ‘corridors’ between larger blocks of heath.

Project objectives

• Increase area of heathland by 560 ha, by restoring to favourable condition
• Monitor results of management on bird numbers
• Offer habitat management services to local landowners
• Raise awareness of heathland within local community

Key dates so far

• Initial target to increase the area of good heathland by 560 ha reached in November 1996
• By 2006, we had completed around 1300 ha of heathland management
• Worked with around 50 landowners on 70 sites across Dorset
• Annual heathland festival established
• Involvement with local schools through the 'Christmas tree' scheme - Christmas trees from the heath were donated and information about heathland management given
• Various articles in local papers and magazines covering heathland management and heathland species

Work planned or underway

The Dorset Heathland Project is still undertaking important habitat management work, now as a contractor, not only in Dorset, but also throughout the south coast and further afield if required. We carry out a range of conservation and habitat management services, for heathland, woodland, wetland and grassland. 

We have extensive experience of working with protected sites and species and therefore offer specialist knowledge of working practices and legal requirements. We can put together the applications for all the necessary licences, permissions and grants.

Contact us on: info.heathlandproject@rspb.org.uk

Results

The Dorset Heathland Project has been highly successful. When it was set up in 1989, there were about 5,600 ha (13,800 acres) of open heathland left in Dorset, together with a further 1,600 ha (4,000 acres) that had been severely affected by the invasion of scrub and bracken. 

The initial target for the project was to increase the area of good heathland by 10 per cent (560 ha or 1,380 acres) over a 10-year period (by 1999). This target was reached two years early, in November 1996. By 2006, we had completed around 1,300 ha of heathland management. 

Regular monitoring has been undertaken of birds, invertebrates and plants and has shown an increase in available habitat and subsequent expansion in ranges. Non-avian successes have included the southern damselfly, Purbeck mason wasp, coral necklace and marsh clubmoss.

Who to contact

Jenny Goy
Dorset Administrator
E-mail: jenny.goy@rspb.org.uk

Partners

In Dorset, many organisations and landowners are involved in restoring and maintaining heathland habitats.  The RSPB has worked with many of the heathland owners during the last 20 years including all local councils and conservation organisations, as well as private landowners. 

Between 2000 and 2006, 13 organisations in Dorset, including the RSPB, have been working together as partners in the Hardy's Egdon Heath Project: the return of the native Dorset heathland.

The target of this ambitious project was to restore and secure the future management of 7,000 hectares of lowland heathland, including the removal of over 1,000 hectares of scrub. It also planned to include 1,500 hectares of heathland in restorative grazing schemes.

Funding