Heathland habitats are better, bigger, and connected, and where there are gaps, more wildlife habitat is created.
The Dorset heaths are some of the biggest remaining areas of internationally important lowland heathland in the UK, including dry and wet heath. This priority reflects Dorset’s special responsibility to support the exceptionally high biodiversity of these existing heathland habitats and make them better through reducing damaging recreational pressures and changes to management.
Where possible heathland habitats can be made bigger through expanding them, and more joined up to enable wildlife to travel between them for food, water, breeding and to increase resilience to climate change. Where necessary this may involve creating a range of new habitats to fill in gaps and connect heathlands with other habitat types.
Many fragments of Dorset heaths are near towns and urban areas, so it is also important that heathland is protected from risks like wildfires, pollution, loss of vegetation and damaging recreational use. This can be done through heathland mitigation work that protects heathlands while also enabling development to continue.
Where possible heathland habitats can be made bigger through expanding them, and more joined up to enable wildlife to travel between them for food, water, breeding and to increase resilience to climate change. Where necessary this may involve creating a range of new habitats to fill in gaps and connect heathlands with other habitat types.
Many fragments of Dorset heaths are near towns and urban areas, so it is also important that heathland is protected from risks like wildfires, pollution, loss of vegetation and damaging recreational use. This can be done through heathland mitigation work that protects heathlands while also enabling development to continue.
Typical heathland species
Nightjar
Dartford warbler
Heath grasshopper
Nature recovery in action
The Purbeck Heaths Grazing Unit, covering 1,370 hectares across Hartland Moor, Stoborough Heath and Arne at the heart of the Purbeck Heaths National Nature Reserve, is using domestic livestock to mimic the actions of the large wild herbivores that once shaped and created the habitats that our heathland species need.Alongside the cattle, ponies, and deer that already graze the heath, woolly Mangalitsa pigs have now been introduced. Pigs dig and root through the soil, creating essential bare patches that foster biodiversity, providing nesting spots for species like ants, and solitary bees and creating space for seeds to germinate where otherwise they might struggle. Dark soil warms up quickly, making ideal basking spots and insects.
Alongside the reintroduction of beavers and the rewetting of peatlands, these projects to restore natural processes are putting the Purbeck Heaths at the forefront of nature recovery in the UK.
Potential activities
See what activities people can carry out to help achieve this priority. These activities are a guide and are not exhaustive, as there are many small activities involved in habitat management and restoring ecosystems.The activities and Dorset’s nature recovery maps provide a starting point, but additional land management and ecological advice will often be needed to support activities on individual sites.