The fight for Dorset’s wildlife
Dormouse in nest box. Credit: Terry Whittaker
Dorset’s biggest conservation charity cares for 42 nature reserves across the county - but they can’t do it without you. Dorset Wildlife Trust launches its Nature Reserves Fund this month to support its vital efforts to restore nature.
From the rockpools of Kimmeridge to the Brownsea lagoon, and Kingcombe Meadows to the heathland of Sopley Common, Dorset Wildlife Trust is working hard to care for nature and boost local wildlife. But it’s no easy task.
Wildlife in crisis
Have you seen fewer butterflies this year? Fewer bees? More pollution in our water impacting the insects, fish, birds and amphibians that rely on the waterways? If so, you’re not alone. Dorset’s wildlife is in crisis.
The latest statistics make for grim reading. Globally, we are experiencing the biggest ecological crisis the world has ever seen. Nationally, the most recent State of Nature report highlighted that nearly 1 in 6 species are now threatened with extinction. And here in Dorset, we’re not immune. 1 in 40 species previously present in the county are already extinct.
But Dorset Wildlife Trust is already working hard to enhance and expand its nature reserves. They and their partner wildlife trusts are calling for 30% of our land and sea to be connected and protected for nature’s recovery by 2030. “Together, we can turn the tide on nature’s decline,” says Dorset Wildlife Trust's Director of Fundraising & Marketing Sara Thompson. “Our nature reserves across the county are saving wildlife, but they need more help.”
Barn owl. Credit: Danny Green
Nurturing nature
In an increasingly crowded and built-up landscape, nature reserves provide havens not just for wildlife but for people too. A place to connect with nature, reflect, take a walk or do some wildlife spotting.
“No two visits to a Dorset nature reserve are the same,” says Sara. “They change with the weather, the season, the time of day. Their unique, established habitats act as safe havens for wildlife, supporting species but they need to be connected and expanded - with wildlife corridors to support even more rare species to not only survive, but to thrive.”
Earlier this year, Dorset Wildlife Trust and Natural England purchased 335 hectares of land at Lyscombe near Dorchester to create a new nature reserve - a treasure trove of chalk downland, lush scrub, vibrant wildflower meadows, and ancient woodlands. This significant acquisition provides an exciting opportunity to create more space for nature and restore natural processes across the landscape.
A never-ending job
Dorset Wildlife Trust Reserves Ecological Manager Steve Masters said: “It is our responsibility to ensure that our nature reserves are kept in the best possible condition to drive nature recovery and enable wildlife to spread across the landscape.
“Whatever the weather, whatever the hour, we are out there on our reserves, creating, connecting and expanding our nature reserve networks, to encourage Dorset’s wildlife to thrive. I know the work that my team, including many dedicated volunteers, is doing makes a real difference. But I also know how much more there is to do.”
Steve added: “We’re never ‘finished’. From maintaining and replacing fencing, signage and walkways to carrying out regular surveys and monitoring to give us an accurate picture of what
is going on.
Dorset Wildlife Trust volunteers river restoration work. Credit: Steve Oliver
Dig deep for wildlife
Even with the generosity of volunteers giving their time to restore nature and support wildlife, it costs over £2,000 a day to look after so many nature reserves - that’s over £800,000 a year. That may seem like a huge sum. But consider the hard work and equipment needed to keep 1,950 hectares - the equivalent of over 2,700 football pitches - of vital habitats in top condition.
Will you join the fight to protect and restore Dorset’s natural environment and support wildlife to thrive? By donating to the Nature Reserves Fund today, you’ll be part of an ambitious plan for nature’s recovery here in Dorset.
Find out more, and make a donation, at: dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk/naturereservesfund2024
