Nature recovery: Dorset landowners and farmers join talks

Birds on the Conservation Concern Red List have been spotted following one rewilding project

Landowners, farmers and organisations have been meeting to discuss how to protect and restore nature in Dorset.

In June last year, Dorset Council was tasked with leading a government-funded nature recovery strategy.

About 50 similar projects have been set up across England to support the government's target of protecting 30% of land and sea for nature by 2030.

Project leaders said there had already been "huge strides" in restoring nature but more work was needed.

Dorset boasts some of the country's most important wildlife habitats, including Poole Harbour and large areas of heathland, which support rare and threatened species.

Hundreds of people have attended events to help shape the recovery plan

Dorset Council is working alongside Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council and Natural England, and hundreds of people have attended events to learn about the scheme and contribute ideas.

Martin Whitchurch, BCP Council's greenspace and conservation strategic lead, said: "We've been hearing from people and projects that are already making huge strides in protecting and restoring nature in our county.

"Dorset's Local Nature Recovery Strategy will help join this work up, showing where efforts are succeeding and where more work is still needed."

Existing projects include rewilding at Wild Woodbury by Dorset Wildlife Trust which has led to the return of seven red-list bird species.

Dorset Peat Partnership is also restoring 16 peatlands to help species such as bog hoverflies, raft spiders, skylarks and nightjars.

Bridget Betts, Dorset Council's environment policy manager, said the events were an "exciting opportunity" for communities to set "shared priorities" for nature.

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