A NATURE RESERVE FOR THE VILLAGE

Broadstone is lucky enough to have a large Recreation Ground, better known as The Rec. Most of the land was given to the Broadstone Council in the 1920s by Miss Kennedy and the Rt. Hon. Ivor Churchill, Viscount Wimborne. Miss Kennedy used her own groundstaff to landscape the land nearest Broadstone centre, and provide walks and flower gardens for public enjoyment.

At that time the rest of the land was mainly heathland, being part grazed and part farmed - Plainfield Farm occupying the Southern areas. There was also a fair sized area of heathland to the East of the Rec., connecting across to Gravel Hill and thence to Canford Heath.

The Rec. passed into the hands of Poole when the people of Broadstone elected to join Poole as opposed to Dorset County Council in 1933. For Poole it was looked after by the Parks Department, later to become Leisure Services, and in 1993 a business plan was agreed with the Countryside Section, part of which stated:-

“to ensure the public have the opportunity and ability to appreciate and enjoy the local countryside (including semi-natural areas in the town) without detriment to its ecological and aesthetic value, both now and in the future”.

Over the years, the Recreation Ground had acquired a cricket pitch at the northern end, and football pitches at the southern (Plainfield Farm) end. In between lies the remaining area of heath, known as Broadstone Heath. Without being coppiced for firewood, or grazed by cattle, it was becoming overrun with gorse, pines and birches, as was much of Dorset’s Heathland in general. Large areas of Canford Heath and the area in between (now Whitchurch Avenue) had been developed for housing, but this small area of heath survived.

Environmental climate was changing, and the worldwide scarcity of lowland heath, and the rate at which the remnants were disappearing, prompted action by all parties concerned. In 1996 the Countryside Section of Leisure Services produced a ten year Management Plan for the Heath, which marked out central areas of the Heath to be retained as both wet and dry heathland, whilst surrounding areas (approx. two thirds of the site) were retained as mixed woodland. Copies of this plan are available in the Library. Resources and finance permitting, this plan is being followed, and despite the urban boundaries and the limited maintenance budget, the heath has managed to keep its reptile population, and is visited by the special birds and butterflies that are particular to this environment.

The Local Councillors were aware that the resources did not really cover the maintenance work required, but realised that there would be a number of people interested in the Heath, who would appreciate its natural features, and might also be happy to assist the Warden in some of the lesser conservation tasks. A meeting was held in January 1998, and the ‘Friends of Broadstone Nature Reserve’ (FBNR) was formed. The group was a mixture of would-be naturalists, keen to know what was there, and some more practical members who organised winter tasks for clearing scrub, leggy gorse and invading small trees. To promote the general well being of heathland, the European Parliament gives substantial amounts of money to English Nature to use on heathland conservation and recovery of areas that have already been overrun.

To underline the environmental value of the Heath, in 2000 Poole Borough Council together with English Nature accorded the site the status of Local Nature Reserve, which gives it environmental significance when developers come around. The rating is not as important as an SPA or SSSI, but means the site is well worth conserving.

As with all heathland areas, they were originally formed by years of cattle grazing, and the collection of gorse and timber for fires. Now that neither of these happens naturally, the land is rapidly colonised by gorse and trees. Pine and birch are the arch enemies, with very successful seeding strategies, and rapid growth. In just a few years, the edges of the heathland areas turn into young woodland, which if not cutback, will eventually lead to oak forests, the dominant tree species.

The management plan requires heathland to be cleared, but only a small area can be cleared each year, which means that it may be several years before an area is visited by the contractor, and some of the trees that are cut could be of 8-10” diameter. However no really mature trees are taken since, in 1997/8, a handful of large pines were removed from the designated heath areas to restore heathland and prevent shadowing. Sometimes this conservation work can seem pretty drastic, and lead to public objections. To help to overcome such problems, at a recent meeting of the Local Area Committee it was suggested that Leisure Services post notices in the Rec, advising of forthcoming work. Whilst the contractor with his equipment can clear appreciable areas, the Friends group, which meets roughly once a month in the Winter, has improved small areas of habitat for several creatures. This last Winter for example, the Friends have cleared the East bank of the occasional stream that runs down from Water Tower Road, allowing more light and plant growth which improves life for amphibians. Currently we are lucky to have such a Reserve in Broadstone, as it adds much interest to the Rec. We get open and heathery views, and a special area where the heathland flora and fauna can flourish. Dragonflies, butterflies, birds and reptiles are all frequently seen, and add lots of interest to an area which, without management, would soon turn into dark woodland.

Do take the time to learn about, and enjoy, our very Local Nature Reserve.

Dudley Hull

Archive Summer 2004 | next

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