A fragment of rare beauty
Chris Down visits one of the country’s rarest habitats at Canford Heath
Published in January ’18
To the north of Poole lies Canford Heath, one of the largest surviving tracts of lowland heath in the county, a remnant of the heathland that once covered much of South East Dorset. This globally rare landscape has been in existence for at least 3000 years, supporting specialised flora and fauna and providing local inhabitants with basic commodities such as fuel, thatch, fertiliser, animal grazing and bedding.
As the 20th century progressed, historic uses of the heath ended and pressures on the land intensified. During World War 2, British and American troops carried out military training here and, in the early 1970s, an ill-conceived road scheme was cut into the plateau ridge and then abandoned. A decade later a phase of highly contentious house building commenced, decimating the remaining heathland. Yet, despite these losses, it is still possible to experience the inherent beauty of this ancient landscape and to gain a sense of the wilderness that prevailed here, prior to the development of the Poole Basin.
In the early 1970s, a potential road route was constructed cutting through the upper ridge of the heath. Although the scheme was abandoned the remaining scar is clearly visible.
Abrupt termination. In 1991 Michael Heseltine, in an unprecedented move, revoked permission to build 200 additional houses on Canford Heath. The decision was the culmination of a five-year campaign by conservationists to safeguard the heath.
Looking west towards Broadstone, the sun picks out the heathland fringe where it gives way to mixed woodland. Though dry heath is the main vegetation type there is a complex mix with wet heath and mire.
A gorse and heather clad bank lies hidden from the December sun. Canford Heath, together with other South East Dorset heaths, has western gorse Ulex gallii with heather as the co-dominant dwarf shrub.
Low-intensity grazing was re-introduced in 2009. British White and Shetland cattle graze the heath helping to maintain the habitat needed by rare species of birds, insects, reptiles
and plants.
Looking north west from alongside Longfleet Drive, once the carriage drive from Canford Manor to Poole. Ornamental rhododendron was introduced during the 1800s and removed as part of the land management plan.
A tumulus stands amongst winter mist, Scots pine, birch and oak. There are several Bronze Age round barrows and one barrow cluster on the heath. Many of the tumuli are scheduled ancient monuments.
During the 19th century, boundary banks were established as part of The Enclosures Act. Many enclosures became pine plantations, their influence still forming part of the heathland landscape today.
Slow clearing winter mist on the heathland plateau reveals an isolated group of pines. The upper reaches of the heath are between 60 and 70m in elevation and form the highest land within Poole.
