New public access has been developed at Parley Common* SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest) in east Dorset to allow walkers, cyclists and horse riders better access to the heath, whilst still protecting the wildlife that lives there.
The site, which is managed by ARC, (Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Trust) is part of The Great Heath project. Improvement work has been completed to 7km of the public routes. A new bridleway has been installed and new waymarking and vegetation clearance has allowed room for horses and cyclists to turn around without damaging precious habitat. All six** species of reptile can be found on Dorset heaths, including the UK’s rarest lizard, the sand lizard.
The Great Heath Project Access Officer, Bev Lagden, said “DWT and our partners are so pleased that Parley Common now has an all year accessible bridleway. As part of the new access plan there will always be an alternative route for riders, walkers and cyclists to use in the summer when reptiles are basking and laying eggs and rare birds such as the Dartford Warbler are nesting on the ground, to ensure continued protection of their habitat. This is a great example of a project where both wildlife and people can benefit and we’d like to thank everyone who helped make it happen.”
Local resident Stephanie Stanton, will be regularly using the new bridleway with her horse, ‘Bob’. She said, “Without bridleways like this I wouldn’t be able to ride my horse as the roads in Dorset are too busy and dangerous. Here, it’s safe, the other users are very respectful and I love being surrounded by the beautiful heathland.”
Thanks go to a range of volunteers from The Great Heath project partners and from the British Horse Society who have helped with this project.
Further work is also planned for interpretation and information boards on the main entrances to the site to tell visitors what wildlife they might see on the heath.
Find out more about Parley Common and other Great Heath sites in east Dorset here: https://www.dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk/The_Great_Heath_sites.html
