Dorset is a county rich in biological diversity and natural habitats. Here we share some of our favourite places to see wildlife there, including little terns and red squirrels. <\/p>

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Dartford warbler, Arne nature reserve and firecrest \u00a9 Terry Bagley<\/em><\/p>\n
Arne is a special landscape with a vast expanse of open heathland and old oak woodland. Host to BBC Two\u2019s Autumnwatch<\/a><\/em> in 2016 and Winterwatch<\/a><\/em> in 2017, Arne is known for its variety of wildlife, which includes Dartford warblers, nightjars and up to 22 species of dragonfly. The reserve overlooks Poole Harbour, allowing views of thousands of waders and waterbirds birds such as avocets, black-tailed godwits and brent geese.<\/p>\n
Best time to visit for nightjars:<\/strong> summer (May \u2013 August)<\/p>\n
Arne is owned and managed by the\u00a0RSPB<\/a>.<\/p>\n
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2. Brownsea Island<\/strong><\/p>\n
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Red squirrel \u00a9 National Trust Images\/John Miller, Brownsea Island beach \u00a9\u00a0<\/em>National Trust Images\/John Miller, a<\/em>vocet \u00a9 Stewart Cansham<\/em><\/p>\n
Winner of BBC Countryfile Magazine<\/em>\u2018s Nature Reserve of the Year<\/a> in 2013-2014, this idyllic island is a destination for holidaymakers and nature enthusiasts alike. Alongside the picturesque beaches, the island has a lagoon of international importance for birds. Brownsea also has about 200 red squirrels, one of only two populations of this species in southern England.<\/p>\n
Best time to visit for wading birds:<\/strong> winter<\/p>\n
Brownsea Island is owned by the\u00a0National Trust<\/a>, with around half of the island managed by the\u00a0 Dorset Wildlife Trust<\/a>.<\/p>\n
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3. Alners Gorse<\/strong><\/p>\n
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Silver-washed fritillary butterfly (valezina form) \u00a9 Martin Warren; brown hairstreak butterfly \u00a9 Megan Shersby; wildflowers at Alners Gorse \u00a9 Martin Warren<\/em><\/p>\n
Having undergone years of neglect, this 0.144 km2 nature reserve is now undergoing habitat restoration and boasts a rich mixture of fauna and flora, including a wide range of wildflowers, white admiral butterfly, three species of hairstreak butterfly (white-letter, purple and brown) and a rare form of silver-washed fritillary known as valezina<\/em> (exhibited in a small number of female silver-washed fritillaries).<\/p>\n
Best time to visit for butterflies: <\/strong>spring and summer (check for specific species)<\/p>\n
Alners Gorse is owned and managed by Butterfly Conservation<\/a>.<\/p>\n
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4. Chesil Beach and the Fleet Lagoon<\/strong><\/p>\n
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Hare on Chesil Beach \u00a9 Martin Cade,\u00a0<\/em>Chesil Beach \u00a9 Mark Heighes, little tern \u00a9 Debbie Saunders<\/em><\/p>\n
Chesil Beach, at the heart of the Jurassic Coast is a natural wonder to behold with 180 billion pebbles, stretching 18 29km along the coast. Trapped behind this pebble bank is the Fleet Lagoon, one of the most wildlife-rich stretches of saltwater in the country. Both the beach and the lagoon are home to a wide variety of wildlife, such as little terns, brown hares, rare invertebrates, wading birds and wildflowers.<\/p>\n
Best time to visit for little terns:<\/strong> summer (May \u2013 July)<\/p>\n
Chesil Beach is managed by a partnership of organisations (including Natural England, the Crown Estates and the Environment Agency), with the Chesil Bank and Fleet Nature Reserve managed by Ilchester Estates<\/a>, and the visitor centre managed by Dorset Wildlife Trust<\/a>.<\/p>\n
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5. Charmouth<\/strong><\/p>\n
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Ammonite fossil in rock, Charmouth Beach and ammonites in the Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre \u00a9\u00a0<\/strong>The Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre<\/em><\/p>\n
Nominated as Beach of the Year in BBC Countryfile Magazine<\/em>\u2018s Awards 2017<\/a>, Charmouth is part of the Jurassic Coast and is famous for its fossils. These remains of ancient life tell us what Dorset was like 200 million years ago in the Jurassic period when the dinosaurs ruled the Earth.<\/p>\n
Best time to visit for fossils:<\/strong> year-round<\/p>\n
Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre<\/a>\u00a0provides information and events on Charmouth Beach.<\/p> <\/body><\/html>\n
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