Grant Update from RSPB Arne Reserve

The RSPB's "GrantScape Heathland Management Project" at its flagship Arne Reserve in Dorset has now reached the end of its first year, and considerable progress has already been made to conserve its internationally-important heathland.

Image of heather re-growth following burning Conservation works undertaken so far on the 978ha lowland heathland site have included scrub management, gorse reduction and vital heather maintenance through a combination of burning, flailing and mowing - the picture on the right shows how quickly vigorous new heather plants appear following burning.

image of sand cliff, RSPB Arne heathland New areas of bare ground have also been created for UK Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) priority species such as sand lizards, Purbeck mason Image of bee hives, RSPB Arne heathland wasps and heath tiger beetles. The new areas have included sand cliff faces (pictured left), various sized scrapes, rotovated strips and areas uncovered through littler removal.

These works are all being undertaken by the RSPB as part of a four year project, 60% funded by GrantScape, through a grant of £315,400 made under our Biodiversity Challenge Fund 2007.

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Grant Update from RSPB Arne Reserve

The RSPB's "GrantScape Heathland Management Project" at its flagship Arne Reserve in Dorset has now reached the end of its first year, and considerable progress has already been made to conserve its internationally-important heathland.