Special Wildlife
Wildlife of national and international significance...
Dorset AONBs varied landscapes support an impressive range of wildlife habitats, home to some very important and fascinating wildlife.
The range of habitats and associated species is unusually rich, including 80% of all British mammal species, 90% of bird species and 80% of butterfly species. The AONB's southern location and relatively warm climate make it hospitable to many species unable to survive further north. Dorset also makes a home for species new to Britain, naturally expanding their ranges with the changing climate.
The AONB includes many areas of international significance, including Poole Harbour and the Fleet, popular for breeding and overwintering birds. Lowland heath in Purbeck, calcareous grasslands in the Cerne and Sydling Valleys, ancient woodlands and important cliff and maritime habitats along the coast are also of international importance.
Many further areas are important at the national level and are supported by a large number of locally significant sites offering high potential to rebuild mosaics of wildlife habitat.
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Girdlers Coppice & Piddles Wood
Hazel coppice with oak standards, grassy rides, flood plain meadows.
National Nature Reserve with impressive hillfort. Chalk grassland with areas of mixed scrub.
Extensive Iron Age hillfort with Roman Fort in one corner. Chalk downland.
Chalk grassland and coppice woodland with a good range of flora and fauna.
Chalk downland slope, 10 hectares (25 acres)
Disused chalk pit.
An attractive area of previously managed water meadows.
Ancient meadows, scrub, woodland, bog habitats and hedgerows.
Ancient and semi-natural woodland, unimproved and restored pasture, mixed scrub and plantation woodland, ponds. Old brick kiln.
Broad leaved Woodland, High forest and Coppice with standards, herb rich neutral/acid grassland. (56 acres).
Mainly young woodland, good views, grassland. 8.43 ha (20.83 acres).
National Nature Reserve. Steeply sloping neutral pasture, hedgerows, sunken lane, stream and small wetland area.
Mainly broadleaved woodland, 4.31 hectares (10.65 acres) .
Mainly broadleaved woodland.
Mainly broadleaved area of woodland totalling 17.68 ha (43.69 acres).
Golden Cap is the highest point on the Jurassic Coast at 191 metres and gets its name from a distinctive yellow sandstone.
Abbotsbury Swannery/Chesil Beach
Sanctuary for mute swans originally established by Benedictine monks in the fourteenth century, an ancient site sheltered by Chesil Beach.
Excellent example shingle beach on Chesil Bank, reedbed, wet meadow and scrub.
Saline lagoon (The Fleet), shingle beach (Chesil) view of Portland Harbour.
Large reedbed, open water, flood meadows and scrub attracting a good range of birds all year.
Predominantly a grassland and saltmarsh habitat, with small reed beds and scrub areas at either side.
Stunning Heritage Coast with cliffs and chalk download. Lulworth Cove to Durdle Door is internationally renowned for its coastal scenery, geology and geomorphology.
Nature reserve with wet heathland, dry heath and wet woodland.
An accessible rocky shore with rich marine life. Marine Centre contains displays and aquaria.
Reserve on Purbeck ridge with chalk downland, scrub and woodland. Good view of Poole Harbour.
Dorset's largest working common, spectacular views of Corfe Castle.
Lowland heath and mire, National Nature Reserve, extensively grazed by cattle and ponies. Adjoining farmland is being gradually restored to heath.
Nature reserve with lowland heath. Salt marshes lead to Poole Harbour mudflats.
One of the largest natural harbours in the world, supporting 5% of UK's reed beds, grazing marshes, salt marshes and mud flats.
A tranquil island in Poole Harbour with spectacular views.
National Nature Reserve of dune, heath, woodland and wetland fringed with miles of sandy beach, a section of which is for naturists. Bird hides overlook Little Sea.
National Nature Reserve.
Ancient broadleaf woodland on north side of Purbeck Ridge.
Chalk headland with stacks and dramatic cliffs.
Superb area of coastal grassland and seacliffs, one of the best places in Britain for watching birds and wildlife.
Limestone grass reserve on a former quarried landscape.
The Pastures New Project has been successful in getting some of our best grassland for wildlife back into good management - helping to conserve the fantastic butterflies, insects and wildflowers they support.
