Farmers, foresters, landowners and land managers potential activities

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The potential activities below could be done by farmers, foresters, landowners and land managers to help achieve Dorset’s nature recovery priorities. Select the titles to see what potential activities could help achieve each priority.

Priority 1 Grasslands
Priority 2 Woodlands
Priority 3 Heathlands
Priority 4 Rivers, lakes and wetlands
Priority 5 Coastal
Priority 6 Urban
Priority 7 Farming
Priority 8 Natural processes
Priority 9 Nature-based solutions
Priority 10 Nature connection
Priority 11 Species abundance and diversity

Priority 1 Grasslands

Potential activities for grasslands include:

protect and sustainably manage the few remaining species-rich grassland sites and increase connectivity between these sites and other nature-rich habitats
manage meadows and pastures to support abundant wildflowers and associated wildlife, for example, insects, birds, mammals, amphibians and reptiles
create more species-rich grassland habitats
use rotational grazing of meadows or pasture to divide a field into smaller paddocks and rotate livestock between paddocks. This allows the grass to rest and recover between grazing, provides high-energy forage, and often means less chemical inputs are needed
reduce the use of chemicals such as pesticides and fertilisers on farmland and gardens
encourage diverse sward heights on grassland, with some areas developing into longer tussocks, pockets of scrub and keeping some bare ground to increase diversity and help join up different habitats
make existing species-rich grassland bigger, expanding them to be big enough to protect from external pressures, enhance resilience and encourage natural processes
if improved grassland or arable land is identified as less productive for farming, convert to species-rich grassland
source local seeds or green hay from existing species-rich grassland (source/arc/donor sites) to restore meadows in other places in Dorset
enhance and create wildflower arable field margins to help with pest control, pollination, nesting areas for birds, soil health and water management
enhance and create hedgerows alongside species-rich grassland to help transition between grassland and other habitat types
create or enhance wood pasture, parkland and/or orchards between species-rich grassland as important connecting habitat
create and maintain species-rich grassland within woodland tracks, open spaces and at woodland edges
increase species-richness of semi-improved grassland. For example, by reducing chemical inputs, adding in different native plant species, or using rotational grazing
to enhance acid grassland (former heath), use rotational and conservation grazing to develop a mix of heathland and grassland, thereby increasing habitat and species diversity and helping join up heathland fragments
when creating or enhancing grassland habitats, keep existing wet features like depressions or re-wet historically wet areas of the land

Priority 2 Woodlands

Potential activities for woodlands include:

manage woodland to improve ecological condition, by all woodland managers creating and implementing a woodland management plan that is UK Forestry Standard compliant. Following a management plan helps maximise biodiversity, and wider environmental and economic benefits
for individual ancient and veteran trees, wood pasture, and parkland, create and implement bespoke management plans
protect, enhance and connect the remaining ancient woodland sites and ancient and veteran trees
enhance the structure and diversity of existing woodlands, by increasing the variety of ages of trees, canopy structure, and species. As well as retaining and creating open space and standing and fallen deadwood
act now to undertake gradual and informed restoration on Plantation on Ancient Woodland Sites (PAWS). Start by protecting and enhancing existing native woodland features like veteran trees and plants below the trees, then gradually change all the trees to native broadleaf woodland as quickly as ecologically sensible
integrate agroforestry systems on farms and agricultural businesses, this involves growing trees, hedges and shelterbelts on farmland alongside crops and grazing livestock. For example, silvopasture or silvoarable. Increasing trees across the farm landscape can help connect woodlands, boost soil fertility, retain water and provide shade and forage for livestock
where restocking existing woodlands, and appropriate to site objectives, use natural regeneration, from existing seed sources to improve the structure and resilience of woodlands
expand and buffer native woodlands, using natural colonisation where seed sources are present. Support the development of woodland, scrub and different types of ‘woody’ mosaic habitats
establish new woodlands consistent with the UK Forest Standard, applying the ‘right tree, right place’ principle. Ideally create new woodland that buffers, expands and links existing woodlands, especially ancient woodlands
source and use a diverse range of bio-secure trees and plants for tree and woodland establishment projects. Use a broad and mixed palette suited to objectives. Consider the use of native, near native and non-native species to ensure resilience
restore and establish new areas of wood pasture, parkland, and traditional orchards to increase biodiversity and create corridors for species to move between adjacent woodlands. Manage these habitats to maximise diversity of species and structure, for example, restorative pruning, seasonal grazing
enhance and create hedgerows to ensure a diverse mix of tree and hedgerow plants and stagger the management cycle
increase the productivity of our native and mixed woodlands, using sustainable practices, to reduce imports of wood products from countries where their production is impacting nature and the environment. Support and develop local woodland related industries, skills and markets
where possible implement Minimum Intervention Areas to enable a more natural, unmanaged, woodland structure to evolve, this will benefit wildlife species such as bats
in woodlands on acid soils, retain, buffer and connect heathland remnants to support species movement and restoration. Also consider removing conifers, disrupting historic drainage and developing of mire systems with scrub and wet woodland components
as part of woodland habitat creation or enhancement, keep existing wet features like depressions or re-wet historically wet areas of the land

Priority 3 Heathlands

Potential activities for heathlands include:

protect existing heathland sites, managing them to improve their condition and increase connectivity between fragmented sites
manage heathland to have a varied structure of heather and bare ground and to stop the colonisation of invasive plant species. For example, through light extensive grazing, mowing, heather and turf cutting, and some licenced small-scale burns. Burning is often not the most appropriate management method, licencing, consultation and regulations must be followed before burns
expand and connect current and potential heathland sites so they are big enough to protect from external pressures and encourage natural process
restore dry and wet heath habitats to improve ecosystem function, restoring wet heaths and valley mires alongside dry heaths allows natural hydrological processes to function. In some places this will enable peat formation, which in turn captures and stores carbon
manage some open areas in forests, such as heathland, wetland and peatland, to provide a network of habitats for wildlife, connected with existing habitats beyond the woodland site
managing heathland sites with high levels of air pollution by more frequent heath management, more intensive grazing or soil stripping to take away nutrient rich soil and invasive plants and create bare ground. Continue wider efforts to protect heathlands from air pollution
buffer and expand heathland sites by reducing intensive farming on nearby land and consider changing land management practices or heathland restoration on suitable land
restore heathland habitat on former minerals and waste sites
as part of heathland habitat creation or enhancement, keep existing wet features like depressions or re-wet historically wet areas of land

Priority 4 Rivers, lakes and wetlands

Potential activities for rivers, lakes and wetlands include:

restore and enhance chalk streams and winterbourne streams and the important species they support
protect, enhance and connect Dorset’s few remaining wetland sites
create buffers of different plants, trees and woodlands along the river corridor (riparian planting or water body buffering) to create a diverse structure of shady areas to keep rivers cool and warmer open areas for fish spawning
reconnect rivers to their historic floodplain and re-establish dynamic wetland habitats
create or restore areas of wetland within existing woodland, heathland or grassland
carry out river restoration. For example, re-meander rivers that have been straightened to allow the water to take a natural path or put natural materials into the river channel to slow the flow of water (leaky dams)
use sustainable farming practices that improve soil structure to reduce runoff and improve soil health, for example cover crops, no till and agroforestry
reduce the use of chemicals in farming, gardening and veterinary medicines. This includes pesticides used to treat external parasites on domestic pets (as these often end up contaminating water bodies)
create buffer strips near waterbodies on farms, especially headwater streams. Buffer zones help reduce runoff of sediment and chemicals into the water, prevent livestock destabilising the riverbanks, and connect habitats in rivers and on land
create, restore or protect priority ponds and adjacent habitats to provide homes for rare and endangered species
use an ecosystem-based fisheries management approach and sustainable aquaculture practices
remove man-made barriers in rivers that restrict fish movement or provide ways to swim around them. This in turn could lead to restoration of much larger areas of habitat that were lost due to the barrier. This may require coordination with multiple organisations and relevant permissions to be in place
restore and ‘re-wet’ peatlands to provide wildlife habitat and act as sponges that filter water to improve water quality, regulate water flow, increase flood protection and improve carbon storage
introduce mixed age cyclical reed cutting into reedbed management plans where possible, creating mixed age reed stands and enhancing habitats. Explore the potential to use materials from reedbed management to supply bioenergy, or once water quality improves, the thatching industry to help reduce its carbon footprint

Priority 5 Coastal

Potential activities for coastal include:

reduce nutrients entering coastal waters through changes to farming practices, development and wastewater treatment
create new areas of intertidal habitats such as salt marsh and mudflats in response to sea levels rising against fixed flood and coastal erosion defences (coastal squeeze)
create new coastal habitats inland as part of managed realignment to accommodate and compensate for the expected shift of coastal systems towards the land as sea levels rise
for coastal areas with high numbers of people visiting, use a mixture of methods to make more space for wildlife, such as changing access patterns to give wildlife more space, or creating areas for wildlife on nearby land that will be less disturbed, for example, ground nesting habitat for birds on adjacent undisturbed fields
seek to restore lost coastal habitats such as seagrass beds, oyster reefs, saltmarsh and sand dunes as improvements in underlying environmental conditions allow
pull back from intensive farming in fields close to cliff edges, to create space for cliff top habitats and wildlife to survive and move as the coastline recedes through cliff falls and landslips

Priority 6 Urban

Potential activities for urban include:

create dead wood habitats such as standing dead wood, log piles and dead hedges to provide homes for wildlife, using locally sourced material
explore the suitability of newer methods of creating woodland. For example, the Miyawaki method involves planting a large number of seedlings at once, to replicate natural regeneration as the fastest growing saplings will thin out the rest

Priority 7 Farming

Potential activities for farming include:

increase the use of mixed farming and the diversity in crops, livestock and wildlife. For example, having a mix of grazing livestock and crops, improving crop rotations and increasing structural and species diversity of plants, trees and hedgerows on the farm
review and increase understanding of current chemical use on farm, create and follow a management plan to minimise amounts used and losses into the wider environment beyond the farm
reduce or stop chemical use such as fertilisers, pesticides and some veterinary medicines for livestock that persist in livestock dung
adopt farming practices that support soil health for example by reducing the frequency and depth of tillage, avoiding leaving soil bare by using under sowing, cover and catch crops, keeping living roots in the soil, feeding the soil with plant residues, compost and manure
work with neighbours to take an integrated approach to managing cross-holding features such as hedges, buffer strips, margins, water courses and slopes
work with neighbouring farms and other partners to coordinate nature recovery activities across the landscape and share equipment and knowledge. For example, by joining a farmer cluster or landscape scale recovery project
create, maintain and enhance a variety of habitats for a broad range of wildlife during different stages of their lifecycle and different seasons of the year, for example, areas planted for birds or pollinators
plan where wildlife habitats are created or enhanced across the farm so that they provide corridors or stepping stones that join up with other habitats, to allow wildlife to travel across the farm and wider landscape
support young and adult populations of pollinating insects that are critical to pollinating wildflowers and crops. For example, maintain flower-rich grass margins, blocks or in-field strips, and reduce chemical use
consider growing perennial energy crops on less productive land, rather than annual short rotation energy crops, to deliver benefits for soil health and space for wildlife
explore options for cross-catchment trading of slurry and manure, to move excess nutrients from livestock farms over to arable farms where it can replace artificial fertiliser
conserve and enhance populations of wildlife with strong associations to farmland, including arable specialists, such as corn bunting and brown hare, and grassland specialists, such as starling and harvest mouse
use integrated pest management, for example, beetle banks
use a range of grazing practices and breeds, suited to the type of habitat or land-use. For example, conservation grazing to maintain semi-natural habitats, or rotational grazing on pasture
reduce farm plastic use and join a plastic recycling scheme
maintain or introduce in-field trees or agroforestry systems on farms, this involves growing trees, hedges and shelterbelts on farmland alongside crops and grazing livestock. For example, silvopasture or silvoarable. Increasing trees across the farmed landscape can help connect woodlands, boost soil fertility, retain water and provide shade and forage for livestock
enhance, create and manage hedgerows as important wildlife corridors between farmland and other habitats, including a diversity of hedgerow trees
create buffer strips near waterbodies on farms to reduce runoff, prevent livestock destabilising the riverbanks, and connect habitats in rivers and on land
manage habitats to provide biodiversity net gain units or nutrient mitigation credits
support initiatives that improve marketing of local sustainable produced food, and help connect farmers and consumers
support farmers and land managers to work together to enable efficient woodland management, sale of timber wood products and best practice on management and biosecurity
as part of habitat creation or enhancement, keep existing wet features like depressions or re-wet historically wet areas of the land

Priority 8 Natural processes

Potential activities for natural processes include:

allow water to flow naturally across the landscape, for example, re-meander straightened rivers, stage zero river restoration, restore small flushes and ponds, and recreate wet areas within other habitats like grassland, woodland and heathland
allow trees and woodlands to establish through natural colonisation where seed sources are present or through succession, rather than planting
using an integrated pest management approach with grazing animals, for example, allow dung beetles to help tackle parasites and fertilise and aerate the soil
use informed naturalistic or rotational grazing management to mimic natural grazing patterns of wild herbivores
use browsing animals, that eat woody vegetation rather than grass, to prevent the whole landscape becoming closed canopy woodland and keep some open habitat areas

Priority 9 Nature-based solutions

Potential activities for nature-based solutions include:

follow a natural flood management (NFM) approach to protect, restore and emulate the natural functions of catchments, floodplains, rivers and the coast
create or restore wet habitats in floodplains to help store flood water and catch nutrients and sediments before they enter rivers. These areas can also provide healthy food for livestock to graze during drier weather, and become havens for pollinators and other wildlife. Beavers can be part of the process of creating expanded wetland habitats
use farming practices that focus on soil health, structure and maximising carbon and water storage. Farming for soil health helps reduce runoff and slow the flow of water through the catchment to reduce flood risk and improve water quality. Healthy soils also sequester carbon to help address climate change and help food production by smoothing out the flood-drought fluctuations and extending the grazing/growing periods
enhance and create habitats to help mitigate climate change, natural habitats capture and store carbon. Peatland, broadleaved woodland and saltmarsh are examples of habitats that tend to be larger carbon stores, but many other habitat types provide some carbon storage, and a variety of habitats is needed for a functioning ecosystem
enhance and create hedgerows that slow the flow of water across the landscape, which helps reduce flood risk and improve water quality by reducing the amount of sediment and pollution in rivers. Hedges are also a carbon store, as well as providing wildlife habitats and corridors
create buffer strips near waterbodies on farms to reduce sediment and chemicals entering water
include fire dependable lines, ponds and emergency service access routes within heathland to reduce wildfire risk, increase the ability to contain fires, and improve resilience to climate change
increase tree, hedge and/or wood pasture on farms to provide shade for livestock from extreme heat and slow the flow of water to improve flood protection and water quality
restore species-rich grassland to boost soil health, protect against erosion and store carbon
embed the importance of nature recovery across all organisations so that senior decision-makers champion nature and consider nature-based solutions as part of decision making

Priority 10 Nature connection

Potential activities for nature connection include:

showcase and champion the huge range of activities already happening for nature recovery in Dorset, and celebrate the people involved to help inspire others
continue and grow Dorset’s strong history of partnership working. For example, farm clusters, catchment based approach, and landscape recovery projects. Use this strategy as a tool to help target collaborative efforts, working together across sectors by listening without judgement, sharing knowledge and pooling resources
support rural skills development and rural workers to strengthen the nature-based local economy. For example, business hubs, affordable housing tied to local forestry or agriculture, promoting sustainable tourism and linking with the outdoor activity sector
host farmer or forester led events to learn more about sustainable practices
include sustainable farming, sustainable forestry and land management and conservation courses in local college curriculum

Priority 11 Species abundance and diversity

Potential activities for species abundance and diversity include:

create a network of naturally functioning diverse habitats across the county, supported by more nature-friendly land management practices across all the surrounding areas by delivering the activities listed under all the other priorities in this strategy
make simple changes across Dorset to help increase species abundance, such as herbal leys and diverse seed mixes on farms, encouraging natural regeneration of woodlands, and leaving wilder areas in parks and open spaces
use integrated pest management on farms to reduce the amount of chemicals used and improve soil health. For example, beetle banks on arable farms provide habitat for beneficial insects that feed on crop pests. Similarly, increasing species diversity in pasture and using rotational livestock grazing can support dung beetles, which help with parasite control. This can also reduce the need for parasite treatments that can harm bats, invertebrates and other species
undertake targeted and sustained control of non-native and invasive plants and animals, for example, rhododendron, Himalayan balsam, snowberry, sour fig, cotoneaster, Japanese rose, giant hogweed and mink
coordinate landscape sale management of sustainable deer populations to improve the ecological condition of semi-natural habits, supporting the natural regeneration of trees, woody shrubs and ground flora, and to protect agricultural crops. Control muntjac deer, as a non-native invasive species. Within both Wareham and Purbeck focus management actions upon sika deer populations
monitor tree stocks for pests and disease, and where impacts are high, adapt woodland management plans and practices to respond
coordinate shared approach to respond to ash dieback across land ownership boundaries
if plants or trees are lost to disease, re-plant with more resistant species but make sure these perform similar ecological functions and are native if possible
explore options for landscape scale management of grey squirrel populations and deliver this to improve ecological condition of woodlands and reduce pressures on other animals, such as mammals and birds. Include an evaluation of the feasibility for pine marten reintroduction
use badger surveillance and vaccination as part of the new TB eradication strategy
when managing and restoring habitats, be aware that climate change may make conditions suitable for different species, and that may have knock-on impacts on other species and processes in complex and dynamic ecosystems
use native plant and tree species to support the local food web and wildlife, but also support the use of new species and varieties where these enhance ecological function and resilience to pests, diseases, climate change and extreme weather
ensure diversity in age, species and structure of the habitat to help species adapt to climate-related pressures and/or disperse to new areas
increase connectivity between habitats to enable species to move in response to new climate pressures
raise awareness of species that might arrive in Dorset due to climate change or reintroduction projects to help people recognise them, understand why they have arrived and the potential benefits they might bring

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