Alners Gorse is a wonderful remnant of one of the old Blackmore Vale Commons; - a relict of their ancient scrubby grasslands rub and woodland with fine veteran oaks.
Look out for
Butterflies
- Brimstone
- Brown Argus
- Brown Hairstreak
- Clouded Yellow
- Comma
- Common Blue
- Dingy Skipper
- Gatekeeper
- Green-veined White
- Grizzled Skipper
- Holly Blue
- Large Skipper
- Large White
- Marbled White
- Marsh Fritillary
- Meadow Brown
- Orange Tip
- Painted Lady
- Peacock
- Purple Hairstreak
- Red Admiral
- Ringlet
- Silver-washed Fritillary
- Small Copper
- Small Skipper
- Small Tortoiseshell
- Small White
- Speckled Wood
- White Admiral
- White-letter Hairstreak
Moths
- Dingy Mocha
- Sallow Clearwing
Notable birds
- Nightingale
Features
The reserve's habitats are being restored after many years of neglect, through scrub control, removal of unwanted trees and grazing with Fell ponies. It is however already an extremely rich site for all sorts of wildlife especially butterflies and moths. Our habitat management aims to probvide for the needs of all the key species. The grassland is being resored to enable Marsh Fritillary to re-colonise from nearby.
Area: 14.4 hectares
Directions
Map Reference: ST 737 103 Ordnance Survey Map: 194
The reserve entrance lies on the north side of the road between Hazelbury Bryan and Kings Stag just by the village and speed limit signs for Hazelbury. Parking is limited to small roadside lay-bye about 100m towards Kings Stag.
Public transport
Two bus service routes go along the road between Kings Stag and Hazelbury Bryan and therefore past the reserve entrance:
323 Damory Coaches Dorchester to Sturminster Newton (Mondays)
368 Damory Coaches / X8 Wilts and Dorset: Yeovil to Blandford (week days)
For timetable details contact the operators or see:
http://www.traveline.org.uk/index.htm
http://www.dorsetforyou.com/index.jsp?articleid=2501
Notable nearby sites
Lydlinch Common, Deadmoor Common
Site Access and safety
The reserve is easily accessible from the road (please be aware of traffic passing at speed), with a moderate grassy slope down from the entrance into the main body of the reserve. However ground conditions can become very difficult in places when it is wet. Please do not attempt to approach or feed the Fell ponies - they are working animals and can be upset by dogs so please keep them on leads and under control.
There are no footpaths or bridleways across the site bu it is open at all times to visitors on foot. The gateway in the northern boundary of the reserve gives acess to the Drove - a bridleway that is part of an extensive local Rights of Way network.
Please be aware that ticks and adders present on site. Also that management work such as tree felling may prevent access to parts of the site at certain times.
Contact
Nigel Spring
- Tel: 01963 23559 or 07981 776 767 (mobile)