Weather disruption
Winter weather is causing disruption to services in some parts of the county. Find out what services may be affected in your area.
The Great Heath
The Great Heath is a partnership of voluntary organisations, local authority, businesses and communities working together to create a living landscape for people and wildlife. Find out more about the Great Heath.
Forestry Commission Forest and Heathland Project
Approximately 850 hectares of heathland has been created under the Forestry Commission's Forest and Heathland Programme and the quality and linkage of the designated heathland areas has been enhanced throughout the southern heathland forests between Dorchester and Ringwood.
Major heathland restoration on Forestry Commission land began during the early 1990s. Around 25% of the entire area of the main heathland forests is designated permanent heathland, in addition to miles of enhanced heathland ridge habitat, and 'temporary heath' areas (young forest plantations between 1 and 15 years old). The strengths of the forest and heathland habitats are clear to see with strong populations of all key heathland species, as well as a wide variety of important non-heath species, including notable populations of Turtle Dove, Dormice and woodland bats.
Recent projects include the removal of invasive rhododendron at Moreton Forest to create 30 hectares of wet/humid heath, establishment of a further 20 hectares of dry heath on Duddle Heath in Puddletown Forest and the creation of around 60 hectares of heath in Whitesheet plantation through the removal of conifer scrub and gorse.
For further information contact the Forestry Commission office at Lyndhurst on 02380 283141.
RSPB Dorset Heathland Project
The Dorset Heathland Project was set up in 1989 to offset continuing losses of lowland heathland and to reduce fragmentation, through a programme of land management advice and habitat restoration. Find out more about the RSPB Dorset Heathland Project.
Dorset Dogs
Dorset Dogs encourages positive management for dogs in town, coast and countryside and promotes responsible dog ownership. They provide information about places to go with your dog, events including an annual Dogs Festival, survey work, seminars, promotion of the 'doggy do code', and other work with dog owners, dog and countryside organisations, charities and land managers. It's free to join as a member.