Search Natural Areas Foreword Natural Areas & Their Role Natural Area Boundaries Marine Natural Areas Dorset Heaths Introduction Previous Search results Key nature conservation features of National Significance Earth heritage Fens Lowland dry acid grassland Lowland heathland Rivers and streams Key nature conservation features of Local Significance Coastal and floodplain grazing marsh Coniferous woodland Lowland meadows Lowland mixed deciduous woodland Purple moor-grass and rush pastures Reedbeds Standing open water and canals

81 Dorset Heaths   This Natural Area encompasses the internationally important Dorset heathlands and mires on the free-draining Tertiary sands and gravels. The core of the Natural area, which was once all heath, is now a complex mixture of heathland with its associated habitats. Valley mires are a particular feature of heathland in Dorset and fen vegetation of different types occur in some of the river valley wetlands and on the edge of the heathland where the water is affected by the nearby chalk. Four significant rivers flow within floodplains through the Dorset Heaths and these support important plant and dragonfly communities. The floodplains are important for wintering wildfowl and waders. To the north of the Natural Area, ancient woods survive in an intensively farmed landscape, and are rich in epiphytic lichens and butterflies.   Natural Area profile available - Size 366.6 kb     Copyright    Privacy    Freedom of information    Directgov