|
 Bourne Valley Local
Nature Reserve
Managed
by the
Borough of Poole Leisure Services
Classification:
SSSI, RAMSAR, SPA, SAC, approx 80 hectares.
Types of Habitat: dry
acid dwarf shrub heath, wet heath,
valley mire, flush, bog pools, ponds,
running water, willow carr, secondary oak/birch woodland, acidic
grassland, pasture grassland and amenity grassland.
Alderney, Poole
Bourne
Valley is a shallow valley running southeast
from Canford Heath, approximately three miles north east of Poole Town
Centre. It represents the largest stretch of continuous linear
open space in the Poole and Bournemouth conurbation. Predominantly
heathland, it is made up of Bourne Bottom, parts of Alderney Recreation
Ground and those parts of Talbot Heath that are in council
ownership.
 The
site contains a number of historical features, including boundary banks
which probably date back to the 1822 Enclosures Act, and Fern Barrow at
Talbot Heath, am ancient burial mound and Scheduled Ancient Monument
(SAM).
The
Greenway cycle track is accessible from
Bloxworth Road. Walkers can access the Reserve’s footpaths via Keyes
Close, Evering Avenue, Turbary Close, Bloxworth Road or Astbury Avenue.
A
survey of users carried out at Bloxworth Road in 2000 found around 150
people use the Greenway here each day:
-
17% of them cycling
-
36%
walking or jogging
-
47%
walking dogs
Most
of the Local Nature Reserve (LNR) is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest
[more]
because of its special heathland wildlife; visitors are often able to
enjoy glimpses of sand lizards and Dartford Warblers. The variety of
heath on the slopes and valleys of Bourne Valley can look spectacular
and it is a wonderful location for both keen and amateur bird watchers.
The area is renowned as one of the best sites in Dorset for dragonflies
which abound in the small acidic pools on the wet heath.
Borough of Poole Leisure Services
Email: leisure@poole.gov.uk
Enquiries: 01202 265265
|
