CANFORD HEATH LOCAL NATURE RESERVE Welcome to Local Nature Reserve. Canford Park Arena Heathland Code Humans can still have a negative effect on the heath. Such activities This heath is one of the largest remaining heaths Key range from unpleasant to very dangerous for legitimate site users and in , covering over 850 acres (380 hectares

WIMBORNE for this reason they are not permitted on Canford Heath. – equivalent to 532 Wembley Stadium sized Main tracks and paths Disability vehicles - more suitable routes w football pitches!). Heaths like Canford should be Be safe – plan ahead and follow any signs. Bridleways Plan your route, using the many paths. x largely open areas of heather and gorse, with few Route of Greenway Follow advice or instructions on any signs. trees. During the summer months it is dominated Foot access point Bearwood Landfill Site w Leave gates and property as you find them. by the purple flowering Common (Ling) and Bell Fire access point - vehicles Middle Arrowsmith Road Gates should be shut, unless locked open. Heathers, with the yellow flowers of the Western Disability access point Wood Gorse providing an attractive contrast. Pit Access Rd No digging of ramps/jumps. Finger post No dens, camps or camp fires. Enjoying Canford Heath Tumulus Do not throw garden waste or dump rubbish. Many local people and visitors come to walk, exercise dogs, ride bicycles or No entry Steps Crematorium w Protect plants and animals, and take your horses and enjoy the wildlife. The many paths make it is easy to explore all parts Wheelers Lane litter home. of Canford Heath without ever having to leave them and you can easily spend x Gas Keep to the paths to avoid disturbing wildlife. two hours walking around the site, although there are many shorter routes of Covered corral Litter can be dangerous to wildlife, please take Beechleys around ½ hour to be enjoyed as well. Most of Canford Heath has also been reservoir it home. BROADSTONE Knighton Heath x designated as open access land. Golf Course Main Bird Nesting Season - 1st March to 31st July.

The rough nature of heathland paths can be challenging, with steep gradients in Hotchkiss Longfleet Drive w Keep dogs under close control and please places, and conditions can change after rain or dry periods, however routes and Cross pick up after them. access points that are more suitable for some mobility chairs are highlighted on Dog-leg By law you must have your dog under the map (RADAR locks are used on those gates). Beale Family Route E close control and they must be on a short Land lead during bird breeding 1st March - 31st July or when livestock are present. Strawberry Crossroads BOURNEMOUTH Please pick up after your dog and place Hill Old Coach Road x in a bin (it is an offence not to under the

Bridleway 24 Dog Control Order 2006). Route E South Walk w Consider other people Gravel Hill A349 Please use and leave the heath as you would x South Walk Francis wish to find it. Lodge Hill Avenue Steeple Ride Horses and Bicycles with care. Close Excessive noise will disturb wildlife and other Pilsdon Drive Play site users. area Fire - Rapid reporting, with details of the nearest access Belben Road point to the Fire Service on 999, is essential in reducing Canford Heath Rd the damage done. Never try to tackle them by yourself. POOLE School & Playing Fields Crescent Canford Way Motorbikes - It is illegal for motorbikes to be ridden Culliford on Canford Heath Nature Reserve. Please report any to Tollerford Road Wildlife of Canford Heath 1 km on 01202 222 222, (if you feel threatened The diversity of the habitat and the summer warmth favours a variety Canford Heath Estate Dorset Way Tower 0.5 mile Park ring 999). of wildlife adapted to the heath, from insects to reptiles and birds. Dartford Warbler - a rare bird of southern heathland, often seen flitting across the Sand Lizard - often seen Getting involved – The Heathland Looking After The Heath & Its Wildlife tops of heather all sunning itself on the Heathland is ultimately a human made habitat, which without positive action year round. Volunteer Network and Winter tasks edges of sandy tracks in The role of a volunteer: There can never be too many would revert to woodland and the special wildlife that it supports would the spring. eyes and ears on such a large heath reporting misuse disappear. Today work is undertaken to ensure the rare wildlife thrives and it or wildlife sightings. Anyone with an interest in the remains as open heath for people to visit and enjoy. Some young Pine and heath and its protection can be a volunteer. You can Birch are cleared every winter, although others are retained as they have a role help just by knowing who to call when something to play in small numbers. Stands of mature Pine are also important features in happens, plus Newsletters and the Events/Tasks list the landscape. would be sent out to you twice a year to keep you in Light grazing by cattle and ponies is also being reintroduced to heaths across touch with what is going on. Dorset as a management tool to help keep the heath open and uneven in age Practical Winter Tasks: There is also the opportunity for insects, reptiles and ground nesting birds. to help keep the heath in shape and get fit by joining Smooth Snake - lives on Hobby - a summer us on our winter tasks which run October through to Recent Times & Now the heath, favouring visiting bird of prey February! Everyone is welcome for however long can be spared, with tools In the past the heath in this area has had many different owners, including the deep heather. that may be seen and gloves provided by the Leisure Team. For more details contact the Wimborne family. Now the Borough of Poole owns most of Canford Heath swooping down Leisure Services Team (01202 265265). Nature Reserve, with the Beale family owning an area by Gravel Hill Road and for dragonflies. three other independent landowners owning the remainder. Keeled Skimmer - an active Sand and gravel has been excavated at many locations, the largest workings dragonfly that can also were undertaken by W.H.White Plc on the northern edge of the site. The hole was often be seen resting on then used for landfill, taking household waste from Poole and Bournemouth. vegetation or warm stones. Once capped it will be restored to an acid grass/heath habitat. Methane will continue to be collected from the landfill and used to generate electricity. Nightjar - which can be heard singing its strange metallic churr at dusk in early summer. General Enquiries Canford Heath Local Nature Reserve – Legal Protection for SSSI’s and Open Access Land Leisure Services: 01202 265265 This site has been notified as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) under Under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000, a person is not entitled Section 28 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. It is an offence, without to be on any access land if, in or on that land, he lights or tends a fire or Email: [email protected] reasonable excuse, intentionally or recklessly to destroy or damage any does any act which is likely to cause a fire, takes, or allows to enter or For information about Volunteering or to let us of the flora, fauna, or geological or physiographical features by reason of remain, any dog which is not on a short lead during the period beginning which the land is of special interest, or intentionally or recklessly to disturb with 1st March and ending with 31st July in each year, or in the vicinity of know about something you have seen. any of those fauna. A person found guilty of any such offence may be livestock at all times. prosecuted and liable to a fine not exceeding £20,000. A Canford Heath Local Nature Reserve leaflet is available.

Designed and illustrated by Maria Burns Illustration & Design. Tel: 01929 555056 Email: [email protected] Website: www.mb-id.co.uk Produced in 2008

Photo by Photo andcover photo by

Photo by

Tel: 01929 555056 Email: [email protected] Website: www.mb-id.co.uk Website: [email protected] Email: 555056 01929 Tel: Designed and illustrated by Maria Burns Illustration & Design Design & Illustration Burns Maria by illustrated and Designed

Terry Elborn

Karen Pearce 2008. in Produced

contact us: contact you, please call: 01202 265265. 01202 call: please you, (if you feel threatened call threatened feel you (if ). 999

let us know about something you have seen, please please seen, have you something about know us let A member of staff will be happy to discuss this with with this discuss to happy be will staff of member A

Police 01202 222 222 222 222 01202 Police call - MOTORBIKES

w Kitchenham Photography

If you want information about Volunteering or to to or Volunteering about information want you If print, on audio tape or have it translated for you. you. for translated it have or tape audio on print,

999. call - FIRE

We can supply this information in this leaflet in large large in leaflet this in information this supply can We w banner.

under the Urban Heath Partnership Partnership Heath Urban the under Creekmoor, Poole BH17 7RP BH17 Poole Creekmoor,

01202 265265. 265265. 01202

the Police, Fire Service and other bodies, bodies, other and Service Fire Police, the Drive Northmead 30-32 Poole, of Borough

Services Leisure call - Enquiries General

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after the heath and work closely with with closely work and heath the after Services Leisure Write:

The Council’s Leisure Sevices Team look look Team Sevices Leisure Council’s The [email protected] Email:

and other site users. site other and

Leisure Services - - Services Leisure 01202 265265 01202 Phone:

Excessive noise will disturb wildlife wildlife disturb will noise Excessive Contact Us Contact

Ride horses and bicycles with care. with bicycles and horses Ride

as you would wish to find it. find to wish would you as

heath the leave and use Please x

Consider other people. other Consider

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The recovery of the heath after arson. after heath the of recovery The place in a bin (it is an offence not to). not offence an is (it bin a in place

Please pick up after your dog and and dog your after up pick Please

July or when livestock are present. are livestock when or July

good fire vehicle access. vehicle fire good used to generate electricity. generate to used x

bird breeding 1st March - 31st 31st - March 1st breeding bird

the amount of damage caused by a fire and also ensures ensures also and fire a by caused damage of amount the

Methane will continue to be collected from the landfill and and landfill the from collected be to continue will Methane

must be on a short lead during during lead short a on be must

future. Heathland occurs in other European countries but it is also limited and under threat. under and limited also is it but countries European other in occurs Heathland future.

and fire defendable lines. This work is essential in reducing reducing in essential is work This lines. defendable fire and capped it will be restored to an acid grass/heath habitat. habitat. grass/heath acid an to restored be will it capped

under close control and they they and control close under

Each winter work is done to cut back vegetation along paths paths along vegetation back cut to done is work winter Each

providing it with the formal recognition that allows its management and protection for the the for protection and management its allows that recognition formal the with it providing taking household waste from Poole and Bournemouth. Once Once Bournemouth. and Poole from waste household taking

dog your have must you law By

ground nesting birds. birds. nesting ground northern edge of the site. The hole was then used for landfill, landfill, for used then was hole The site. the of edge northern

Area (SPA), Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and part of the western end as a RAMSAR site, site, RAMSAR a as end western the of part and (SAC) Conservation of Area Special (SPA), Area please pick up after them. after up pick please

in age for insects, reptiles and and reptiles insects, for age in

Photo Dorset Wildlife Trust the on Plc W.H.White by undertaken were workings largest

and control close under dogs Keep

w as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), then under European law as a Special Protection Protection Special a as law European under then (SSSI), Interest Scientific Special of Site a as

the heath open and uneven uneven and open heath the

Sand and gravel has been excavated at many locations, the the locations, many at excavated been has gravel and Sand

Due to the rarity of the habitat and its wildlife, Canford Heath was designated under British law law British under designated was Heath Canford wildlife, its and habitat the of rarity the to Due

the 1st March to the 31st July. 31st the to March 1st the management tool to help keep keep help to tool management

The main bird nesting season is is season nesting bird main The

to heaths across Dorset as a a as Dorset across heaths to Photo by

please take it home. it take please

Photo by ponies is also being reintroduced reintroduced being also is ponies and fines will be issued. be will fines and

obtained from Leisure Services. Leisure from obtained

x

Litter can be dangerous to wildlife, wildlife, to dangerous be can Litter Karen Pearce

Light grazing by cattle and and cattle by grazing Light

offence under the Dog Control Order 2006 to not pick up up pick not to 2006 Order Control Dog the under offence

Karen Pearce be can details and Heath the on held are walks Guided

wildlife.

place for all to visit and the habitat isn’t damaged. It is an an is It damaged. isn’t habitat the and visit to all for place

important to restore most areas back to heath. to back areas most restore to important

times when sections are more difficult to negotiate. negotiate. to difficult more are sections when times disturbing avoid to paths to Keep

Please pick up after your dog to ensure the site is a pleasant pleasant a is site the ensure to dog your after up pick Please

spread strongly. It has little benefit to native wildlife and it is is it and wildlife native to benefit little has It strongly. spread

change, particularly with heavy rain, and there may be be may there and rain, heavy with particularly change, and take your litter home. litter your take and

x

is not native but since its introduction it has has it introduction its since but native not is Rhododendron

a lead when livestock are present. are livestock when lead a

animals, and plants Protect

on these gates). Please be aware path conditions can can conditions path aware be Please gates). these on w

Nightjar the . They should also be on on be also should They . Warbler Dartford and

retained in suitable locations. locations. suitable in retained

chairs are highlighted on the map (RADAR locks are used used are locks (RADAR map the on highlighted are chairs

No dens, camps or camp fires. camp or camps dens, No period, 1st March to the 31st July, to protect birds such as as such birds protect to July, 31st the to March 1st period,

Pine are also important features in the landscape and will be be will and landscape the in features important also are Pine

access points that are more suitable for some mobility mobility some for suitable more are that points access

they must be on short leads during the main bird breeding breeding bird main the during leads short on be must they No digging of ramps or jumps. or ramps of digging No

they have a role to play in small numbers. Stands of mature mature of Stands numbers. small in play to role a have they

with steep gradients in places, however routes and and routes however places, in gradients steep with

When under close control dogs are welcome. By law law By welcome. are dogs control close under When Dogs:

locked open. locked

are cleared every winter, although some are kept as as kept are some although winter, every cleared are Birch

The rough nature of heathland paths can be challenging, challenging, be can paths heathland of nature rough The

unless shut, be should Gates the incident should be logged and the matter followed up. followed matter the and logged be should incident the and it remains as open heath for people to enjoy. enjoy. to people for heath open as remains it and and and Pine

land. land. Leave gates and property as you find them. find you as property and gates Leave

01202 222 222. Whilst they may not attend at that time, time, that at attend not may they Whilst 222. 222 01202 w Today work is undertaken to ensure the rare wildlife thrives thrives wildlife rare the ensure to undertaken is work Today

Canford Heath has also been designated as open access access open as designated been also has Heath Canford

the nature reserve. Please report any to Dorset Police on on Police Dorset to any report Please reserve. nature the

special wildlife that it supports would disappear. disappear. would supports it that wildlife special

Follow advice or instructions on any signs. any on instructions or advice Follow

Route E - reclaimed by the heath. the by reclaimed - E Route

follow the Heathland Code on the back cover. Most of of Most cover. back the on Code Heathland the follow Motorbikes: It is illegal for motorbikes to be ridden on on ridden be to motorbikes for illegal is It

without positive action will revert to woodland and the the and woodland to revert will action positive without

Plan your route, using the many paths. many the using route, your Plan

To help look after the heath when you visit please please visit you when heath the after look help To them.

damage done. Never try to tackle them by yourself. by them tackle to try Never done. damage

Heathland is ultimately a human made habitat, which which habitat, made human a ultimately is Heathland

follow any signs any follow .

the cut remains (Route E). (Route remains cut the parts of Canford Heath without ever having to leave leave to having ever without Heath Canford of parts

point to the Fire Service on 999 is essential in reducing the the reducing in essential is 999 on Service Fire the to point

Wildlife

and its its and and ahead plan – safe Be

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end of the heath was started although never completed and and completed never although started was heath the of end The many paths and tracks make it easy to enjoy all all enjoy to easy it make tracks and paths many The Rapid reporting, with details of the nearest fire access access fire nearest the of details with reporting, Rapid Fires:

x

Heathland Code Heathland

lost to housing and industry. A road route across the west west the across route road A industry. and housing to lost

Heath Habitat Heath After Looking the they are not permitted on Canford Heath. Heath. Canford on permitted not are they enjoy the wildlife. the enjoy

Between 1962 and 1986 most of South Canford Heath was was Heath Canford South of most 1986 and 1962 Between

legitimate site users and damage the heath, for this reason reason this for heath, the damage and users site legitimate come to walk, exercise dogs, ride bicycles or horses and and horses or bicycles ride dogs, exercise walk, to come

Such activities range from unpleasant to very dangerous for for dangerous very to unpleasant from range activities Such

of shells have been found. found. been have shells of area for informal recreation. Many local people and visitors visitors and people local Many recreation. informal for area

churr at dusk. at churr

uncontrolled dogs, garden waste and rubbish dumping. dumping. rubbish and waste garden dogs, uncontrolled

are riddled with slit trenches and ‘foxholes’, while fragments fragments while ‘foxholes’, and trenches slit with riddled are and at the same time it was becoming a very important important very a becoming was it time same the at and

which can be heard giving its strange metallic metallic strange its giving heard be can which Nightjar

effect on the heath through fires, motorbikes, dog fouling, fouling, dog motorbikes, fires, through heath the on effect

used Canford Heath for military exercises. Parts of the heath heath the of Parts exercises. military for Heath Canford used Since the 1980’s the wildlife value has been recognised recognised been has value wildlife the 1980’s the Since

that may be seen swooping down for dragonflies, and the the and dragonflies, for down swooping seen be may that

reduce misuse. However humans can still have a negative negative a have still can humans However misuse. reduce

During the Second World War the British and American armies armies American and British the War World Second the During

Enjoying , a bird of prey prey of bird a , Hobby the are summer the in encountered

Canford Heath Heath Canford Education, fencing, patrolling and enforcement have helped helped have enforcement and patrolling fencing, Education, and heath volunteers. heath and

other independent landowners owning the remainder. the owning landowners independent other

Local Nature Reserve be only can that birds two While year. all heather the Team Neighbourhood Safer local Police’s The

- Help Stop It! Stop Help -

Heathland Damaging the Beale family owning an area by Gravel Hill Road and three three and Road Hill Gravel by area an owning family Beale the but can quite easily be seen flitting across the tops of of tops the across flitting seen be easily quite can but

of Poole owns most of Canford Heath Nature Reserve, with with Reserve, Nature Heath Canford of most owns Poole of is a rare bird of southern heathland, heathland, southern of bird rare a is Warbler Dartford The

Photo by

gloves provided by the Leisure Team. For more details call Leisure Services. Leisure call details more For Team. Leisure the by provided gloves

owners, including the Wimborne family. Now the Borough Borough the Now family. Wimborne the including owners, they feel them approach. them feel they

to February! Everyone is welcome for however long can be spared, with tools and and tools with spared, be can long however for welcome is Everyone February! to

In the past the heath in this area has had many different different many had has area this in heath the past the In

the chance, normally move away from people and dogs as as dogs and people from away move normally chance, the Karen Pearce

Photo by through October from run which tasks winter our on us joining by fit get and shape are also present but are wary creatures, and given given and creatures, wary are but present also are Adders Now Times Recent

and and

There is also the opportunity to help keep the heath in in heath the keep help to opportunity the also is There Tasks: Winter Practical

Karen Pearce

people wanted to take action to stop it, leading to the formation of Heathwatch. of formation the to leading it, stop to action take to wanted people Photo by House (Canford School) to Poole in the late 19th century. century. 19th late the in Poole to School) (Canford House

heath was being managed, its misuse led to the habitat being damaged and local local and damaged being habitat the to led misuse its managed, being was heath

Longfleet Drive as an ornamental drive from Canford Manor Manor Canford from drive ornamental an as Drive Longfleet

Terry Elborn group Canford Heath Heathwatch, which began in 1989. In the 1980’s, before the the before 1980’s, the In 1989. in began which Heathwatch, Heath Canford group

Wimborne in the 1700s, while Lady Wimborne established established Wimborne Lady while 1700s, the in Wimborne

The Volunteer Network has recently evolved from the independent volunteer volunteer independent the from evolved recently has Network Volunteer The

Walk was an important route between Christchurch and and Christchurch between route important an was Walk

Volunteer Network. Volunteer

Some tracks have been in use since at least Saxon times. South South times. Saxon least at since use in been have tracks Some

site. Newsletters and the Event/task list are sent out twice a year to those on the the on those to year a twice out sent are list Event/task the and Newsletters site.

Information & map for landscape. the influence still trees Pine Maritime and knowing who to call when something happens or by acting directly when out on on out when directly acting by or happens something when call to who knowing

subsequently planted up as pine plantations and the Scots Scots the and plantations pine as up planted subsequently

in the heath and its protection can be a volunteer. You can help either by just just by either help can You volunteer. a be can protection its and heath the in

from the 19th century Enclosures Act. Most enclosures were were enclosures Most Act. Enclosures century 19th the from

a large heath reporting misuse or wildlife sightings. Anyone with an interest interest an with Anyone sightings. wildlife or misuse reporting heath large a

Old boundary banks are still visible, the majority of which are are which of majority the visible, still are banks boundary Old

There can never be too many eyes and ears on such such on ears and eyes many too be never can There volunteer: a of role The

Sand Lizard (male). Lizard Sand

Canford Heath clay. or sand gravel, Heathland Volunteer Network Volunteer Heathland -

The

materials, livestock grazing, turf for fuel or a source for for source a or fuel for turf grazing, livestock materials,

whether providing bedding, fodder or thatching thatching or fodder bedding, providing whether

Getting Involved Getting

seen sunning itself on the edges of sandy tracks. tracks. sandy of edges the on itself sunning seen

The land was important to local inhabitants for centuries, centuries, for inhabitants local to important was land The

the first favouring deep heather whilst the second may be be may second the whilst heather deep favouring first the

live on the heath, heath, the on live Lizard Sand and Snake Smooth rare The

©

Photo by

reptiles and birds. and reptiles image &Archaeological NaturalDorset Society History

Karen Pearce to insects from heath, the to adapted wildlife of variety a

The diversity of the habitat and the summer warmth favour favour warmth summer the and habitat the of diversity The

Corfe Castle and the Purbecks should not be missed. be not should Purbecks the and Castle Corfe

found.

surrounding development. However the views across to to across views the However development. surrounding

that trap small insects on their sticky red leaves, can also be be also can leaves, red sticky their on insects small trap that

a feeling of wilderness, it is possible to lose sight of the the of sight lose to possible is it wilderness, of feeling a

, , Sundews tiny the and Asphodel Bog the of spikes flower

With its valleys and hills accentuating accentuating hills and valleys its With well. as enjoyed be to

highlight the areas of wet heath and bog. Here the yellow yellow the Here bog. and heath wet of areas the highlight

although there are many shorter routes of around ½ hour hour ½ around of routes shorter many are there although

Heath Cross-Leaved greyish flowered, paler the and Grass

You can easily spend two hours walking around the site, site, the around walking hours two spend easily can You Cotton Cotton the of tufts cotton-wool waving the July or June In

Wembley sized football pitches!). pitches!). football sized Wembley

appear giving an attractive contrast of colours. of contrast attractive an giving appear Gorse Children gathering furze (gorse). furze gathering Children

covers over 850 acres (380 hectares – equivalent to 532 532 to equivalent – hectares (380 acres 850 over covers Western Western of flowers yellow the July In it. amongst in blended

the area of heathland has been much reduced but it still still it but reduced much been has heathland of area the burial mounds can still be seen on Canford Heath. Heath. Canford on seen be still can mounds burial Grass Bent Bristle fine and Heather Bell flowered brighter

Knighton Heath Golf Course in the east. Since the 1940’s 1940’s the Since east. the in Course Golf Heath Knighton 3,500 years ago to create fields and pastures. Bronze Age Age Bronze pastures. and fields create to ago years 3,500 with the the with (Ling) Heather Common flowering purple the

Dorset, lying between Broadstone to the west and and west the to Broadstone between lying Dorset, and gorse, with few trees. Canford Heath is dominated by by dominated is Heath Canford trees. few with gorse, and woodland that once covered South East Dorset around around Dorset East South covered once that woodland

Supported by in heaths remaining largest the of one is heath This The heaths of Dorset should be largely open areas of heather heather of areas open largely be should Dorset of heaths The Bronze Age settlers started to clear the Birch and Oak Oak and Birch the clear to started settlers Age Bronze

Canford Heath Canford Wildlife Heath Canford Welcome Canford Heath Canford History of of to of of