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October / November update

Half way through this project and results can be seen on the ground! As you drive around Arne you will now come across the 7 new cattle grids. These form part of the boundary for the new grazing unit, preventing animals from straying.

Keep an eye out for the new pig proof outer boundary fencing being erected over the coming weeks.

Cattle grid at Arne

Key milestones reached in October / November included

  • All 7 new highways cattle grids installed and 1 decommissioned grid removed; approaches resurfaced; line painting and road signage completed (bypass gates to be installed soon)
  • Fencing work in progress, including removal of some old fencing and installation of new pig-proof fencing
  • Domestic (householder) cattle grids installed at Arne and Thornmoor
Cattle grid at Arne

One of the new installed cattle grids on the approach to RSPB Arne.

Cattle grid at Thornmoor

A newly installed householder cattle grid.

Additional project progress included

  • Future grazing management arrangements of the different species of livestock have been agreed between landowners and graziers
  • Monitoring of ecological changes will concentrate on three main areas: (i) Monitoring herbivore behaviour; (ii) Monitoring habitat changes; (iii) Monitoring species. Baseline data are being gathered for all three
  • Purbeck Heaths week ran Sept 20-26 to coincide with the Planet Purbeck festival, involved a wide range of engagement events for young people and families
  • Workshops with key local stakeholders held to help co-create a Sustainable Tourism Plan for the Purbeck Heaths National Nature Reserve (NNR)
  • Independent evaluator commissioned to assess how well the project has met its objectives