What is heathland habitat?
Heathland is beautiful, wild and full of rare and intriguing wildlife. Together, Dorset’s heathlands form one of the best remaining areas of this rare and special habitat.
Dorset’s heaths were once vital for grazing livestock and much more - gorse for firewood, bracken for bedding, heather for thatch, and extraction of sand and clay. These activities created microhabitat such as tramped trackways, shallow pools and exposed sandy patches - vital home for specialist heathland wildlife. Sadly, only 15% of Dorset's heathland still exists.
Why is this habitat at risk?
The reasons for this are varied and complex, but one of the key issues is the halting of traditional management practices; the impact of these is not fully replicated by modern habitat management. Despite long-standing efforts to conserve the remaining patches of heathland, 60% of key heathland species are in decline in Dorset, with some just barely hanging on.
How we’ll bring back Dorset’s heaths
This Back from the Brink Project includes an ambitious programme of management work across selected sites, creating the micro-habitats that key heathland species need if their populations are to expand and colonise new areas.
We will target eight microhabitats, 19 localised species and an additional 16 species that are more widely dispersed across the heaths. These will range from the Large-celled Flapwort (a tiny liverwort) and the striking Purbeck mason wasp to the beautiful sand lizard and the miniature gentian known as yellow centuary. At the same time, and just as importantly, we will be working with local communities to enthuse new audiences and naturalists alike. We will also offer a range of walks, events and training opportunities to local people and land managers.
What we’re aiming for
By the end of the project, we aim to have enthused people to value their heaths and contribute to looking after them in the future. We want to restore and expand the microhabitats, securing the future for the precious species they support.
How to get involved
Can you help us by getting involved with surveys, or with management for Dorset’s heaths? Find out more at our talks, walks and events.
You can get the latest news, and find out about upcoming events, by following the links below.
Project timeline
August - September 2017
Baseline botanical surveys underway
January 2018
Training for outdoor educators starts
March 2018
First tranche of scrub clearance and bare ground creation completed
June 2018
ID workshops and volunteer surveys started
October 2019
Piloting Dorset Heaths learning and enquiry packs
March 2020
Microhabitat management due to be completed including bare ground scrapes, watercourse restoration and pool creation
1 July 2020
Populations of 18 key heathland species will hopefully have been increased
Downloads
species list
target species factsheets
Habitat and survey work in Dorset’s Heathland Heart has been targeted at a range of species that will benefit directly from the creation of areas of bare ground and early successional habitat. These factsheets have been compiled by project staff, volunteers and colleagues to provide information on their identification, life cycle, status and requirements plus monitoring approaches.
With thanks to: Clive Chatters, Katy Lake, Sophie Lake, Aemelia Roe, Stuart Roberts, Chris Spilling, Robin Walls, John Walters, Daniel White, Mariko Whyte.
partner species information
Provided by two of our project partners - Butterfly Conservation and Amphibian & Reptile Conservation Trust:
Learning and Enquiry Resources
The Explore Dorset’s Heaths sheet provides a good introduction to Dorset’s heathland habitats and the species it supports. This can be used on its own or as part of the overall set for further exploration.
The How Healthy is your Heathland Activity sheet and the ID sheet are to be used together as an informal condition assessment of a heath which is accessible near to where you live, these will also encourage you to look at some of the plants more closely and learn to identify them.
Get Involved
Bringing them Back From The Brink
We are working with some of the most endangered species in England. With your help we can do even more to save them.
Project lead
Delivery partners
