Dorset’s priority species needing bespoke conservation action are supported and sustained.
Making more space for nature across the landscape will lead to an increase in the abundance and diversity of wildlife across Dorset. However, some species need bespoke action to enable their numbers to recover, increase and be sustained.
There are 70 individual priority species but some have been grouped into assemblages where they require the same bespoke activities to reduce the list to 54. The potential activities for each species can be found in the Species Recovery document. Here you can also find details on the methodology, who was involved, and what species are on the long list.
How were these species chosen?
To identify which species should be on this priority list, a group was formed with experts representing amphibians and reptiles, birds, fish, fungi, invertebrates, lichens, mammals and plants.The group followed a process set out by Defra over an 8-month period to:
- create a longlist of almost 1,000 species that are characteristic of Dorset, at high risk of extinction or otherwise locally significant
- select the 54 priority species from the longlist by identifying species requiring bespoke activities, and considering factors such as urgency, feasibility, climate change and existing work
Priority species
Beach nesting bird assemblage
Swarming bat assemblage
WBA group bat assemblage
Micromoths of limestone cliffs assemblage
Seagrass beds assemblage
Priority species for conservation translocation
What is conservation translocation?
Conservation translocations are the deliberate movement and release of plants, animals or fungi into the wild for conservation purposes. When carefully planned and managed, this can enrich the natural environment and can often provide wider benefits for people.
The priority species list includes several species which are proposed for conservation translocation, or population enhancement for species already subject to translocation or reintroduction in England. Some species have been proposed because suitable habitat is now being restored, others are included because of their significant role in maintaining habitats and ecosystems.
Find out more about conservation translocations and their impacts in the Species Recovery document, along with the potential activities for the priority species proposed for conservation translocation.
Micro-moths of Dyer’s greenwed assemblage
Photo credits
• Atlantic puffin – Tim Downton• Atlantic salmon – Lewis Swift
• Barberry carpet moth – Fiona Haynes
• Barberry carpet moth larva – Wayne Clinch
• Barn owl – Tim Downton
• Black grouse –
• Black poplar – Bryan Edwards
• Black-backed meadow ant -
• Blackwort – Bryan Edwards
• Chalk threadwort –
• Cliff plume larva – Mark Parsons
• Common pipistrelle – National Trust, Chris Damant
• Common tern – Tim Downton
• Corncrake – Nick Tomalin
• Crane – Tim Downton
• Deptford pink –
• Dingy mocha – Robin Harley
• Duke of Burgundy –
• Dwarf eelgrass – Peter Tinsley
• Eelgrass – Sarah Hodgson
• Elm species –
• Eurasian beaver – Sam Rose
• European bison –
• European eel – Environment Agency
• Greenweed buff adult – Mark Parsons
• Greenweed piercer larva – Phil Sterling
• Greenweed Smith larva – Phil Sterling
• Grey long-eared bat –
• Hazel dormouse –
• Ivy-leaved bellflower -
• Juniper –
• Ladybird spider – Kat Saleiko
• Large gold case-bearer – Mark Parsons
• Little tern – Tim Downton
• Long-horned bee – Bryan Edwards
• Lulworth skipper – Peter Eles
• Male potter flower bee – Bryan Edwards
• Male red-backed shrike – Susan Buckland
• Marsh fritillary – Steve Masters
• Narrow headed ant –
• Natterjack toad – Chris Dresh
• Orange-spotted emerald –
• Pearl-bordered fritillary – Steve Masters
• Pheasant’s-eye -
• Pine marten –
• Red-billed chough –
• Richardson’s case-bearer – Mark Parsons
• Ringed plover – Nick Tomalin
• Samphire knot-horn adult – Phil Sterling
• Sandwich tern -
• Sea lamprey –
• Speckled footman adult – Mark Parsons
• Speckled footman larva – Mark Parsons
• Stinking goosefoot –
• Stone curlew – Susan Buckland
• Swift – Tim Downton
• Thatch-moss – Bryan Edwards
• Wart-biter – Bryan Edwards
• Western barbastelle –
• White stork – Susan Buckland
• White-clawed crayfish – Chris Rowland
• Wild asparagus – Bryan Edwards