Remarkable wildlife resurgence on Purbeck Heaths
- Published:
- 14 November 2025
Five years after the creation of the UK’s first-ever ‘super’ national nature reserve (NNR), volunteers have revealed a remarkable resurgence of wildlife on the Purbeck Heaths.
At the recent AGM of the Purbeck Natural History Forum, speakers presented the highlights of a year of wildlife monitoring across the 3,331 hectare reserve, which spans land owned by seven partner organisations. This included:
- Dartford warblers have reached a record 97 breeding pairs at Arne, an extraordinary recovery for a species that was almost extinct in the UK in the 1960s.
- Silver-studded blue butterflies have seen their highest ever counts in 2024 and 2025, with over 2,000 recorded. This is in a time of national butterfly decline.
- A nationally rare ground beetle, famed for its iridescent green and gold colouring, is thriving on Hartland Moor.
- Water voles, an endangered species, have been recorded on several sites on the heaths.
- Pine martens, critically endangered in England, have been recorded for the first time at Little Sea.
- Rare plants are also thriving in greater numbers including marsh gentians, great sundews and pale dog violets and yellow centaury.
On behalf of the seven organisations which manage the Purbeck Heaths, Peter Robertson of the RSPB said:
“We are hugely grateful to the Purbeck Natural History Forum for all its work. In five years, they have helped the Purbeck Heaths become a national beacon for monitoring, experimentation and research in nature restoration. The heathland birds survey was particularly impressive, monitoring over 15 species, including the iconic Dartford warblers which are clearly benefitting from all the work over many years to restore Purbeck’s heaths.”
The Purbeck Natural History Forum was established in 2022 to monitor species across the whole landscape, rather than on individual reserves. Volunteers survey everything from birds and small mammals, to butterflies, dragonflies, glowworms and wildflowers. They work at consistent times along set transects to ensure reliable year-on-year data.
Jasper Iepema, freelance ecologist supporting the natural history forum, said:
“We have over 300 members, including both expert naturalists and enthusiastic amateurs. They are united by a passion for wildlife and a commitment to do whatever they can to help nature recover. Together they put in an incredible 6,000 hours of surveying this year.”
Michelle Brown, National Trust ecologist, added:
“The creation of the natural history forum has been one of the successes of the NNR. It is a privilege to work with these dedicated volunteers who care deeply about wildlife in Purbeck. Thanks to their rigorous monitoring, we are building scientific evidence showing how the ecosystem is responding to reintroducing natural processes like grazing by cattle, ponies and pigs.”
Although all the forum members work as volunteers, the NNR partners are trying to secure long-term funding to provide a project officer to co-ordinate its work. This year the forum has been part-funded by Forestry England, the organisation responsible for caring for the nation's public forests. Purbeck is a key location where restoring nature using natural processes is a priority.
Mark Warn, Landscape Recovery Manager for Forestry England, said:
“The Purbecks Heaths are truly special and a haven for so many rare species of plants and animals. The forum and their volunteers are playing a key role in ensuring that those of us with the privilege of looking after this landscape are focussing our work in the right areas. Their data makes it clear that with the right support nature can recover and thrive again.”
The Purbeck Heaths NNR is one of the most biodiverse places in the UK, home to thousands of species, including all six native reptiles. It was established in 2020 through a pioneering partnership between the National Trust, Natural England, RSPB, Forestry England, Rempstone Estate, Dorset Wildlife Trust and Amphibian & Reptile Conservation, supported by the Dorset National Landscape.
