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Our work here
10 June 2010
Our heathland management programme involves some tree-felling
Arne protects an important area of lowland heath. This threatened habitat is home to several rare species of animal and plant. Other habitats on the reserve include woodland, salt marsh and reedbed.
Poole Harbour, adjoining the reserve, holds important populations of wintering waders and wildfowl, including the second largest population of avocets in the UK.
The RSPB is managing all these habitats for the benefit of their wildlife and to ensure a good visitor experience.
Healthy heath
We are working to maintain and enhance the heath for the benefit of birds such as Dartford warblers, woodlarks and nightjars, as well as other wildlife such as smooth snakes.
Measures include selective grazing, reducing bracken, eradicating rhododendron and removing plantation pines. We are also maintaining a mixed age balance of heather and gorse, and protecting sensitive areas of mire and bare ground.
A good mix
We are managing other habitats in order to create and maintain an integrated landscape. Our work includes cutting and burning areas of freshwater reed bed, and managing areas of woodland along the heath edge.
In the longer term, we plan to bring other habitats under active management - especially the freshwater and tidal reed beds, which will benefit bitterns.
Farming for wildlife
We are also introducing conservation management to Arne Farm. Work includes planting hedgerows, providing winter bird food crops and maintaining rough pasture alongside farming activities. This will benefit farmland birds, including house sparrows and wintering finches, and will encourage the return of yellowhammers. Barn owls bred for the first time here in 2009.
People power
The reserve attracts over 90,000 visitors a year and contributes significantly to the local economy.
We are improving our facilities in order to encourage a wider appreciation of the reserve and our work. Plans include meeting more visitors face-to-face, in our eco-friendly information centre, constructed April 2009, running a variety of events throughout the year, improving our nature trails and catering for educational groups on request.
We will also use the reserve to demonstrate good habitat management techniques to key audiences. We work hard to ensure the support and involvement of the local community, and encourage local people to get involved in volunteering.
Let os-prey
An exciting project is being run in Poole Harbour to try and encourage ospreys to breed. Ospreys are semi-colonial and like to think there are other birds breeding in the vicinity. Nests have been built on the harbour and we've put two decoy birds on one nest to give the impression that there are breeding ospreys there already.
How you can help
Join the RSPB and support our work.
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