Wetlands
Healthy wetlands store carbon and slow the flow of water, cleaning it naturally and reducing flood risk downstream. They support an abundance of plant life, which in turn provide perfect shelter,…
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Rivers
From otters to freshwater shrimps, all animals are dependant on an abundant and reliable supply of clean water. Rivers sustain the natural environment, wildlife and people in equal measure.
Dorset's rivers and catchments
Dorset's rivers including the globally-rare chalk streams support an extraordinary array of wildlife, including a huge range of aquatic insects. River valleys contain highly important wetlands, including wet woodlands and flower-rich meadows, home to wildfowl and wading birds. Our work to protect and restore river habitats ranges from working with farmers and landowners to training water guardians to monitor their local stretch of river.
World Wetlands Day: The Dorset Beaver Project
On World Wetland Day 2025, Assistant Rivers and Wetlands Conservation Officer, Hannah Divine, shares and celebrates the important role beavers can play in restoring the UK wetland habitats for…
Bird ID Course: Wetlands
Learn about 3 birds that you might spot in and around wetland habitats in Dorset
Dorset Wild Rivers
Dorset Wild Rivers is a partnership initiative taking a catchment approach to delivering biodiversity enhancements that support freshwater environments in Dorset.
Chalk rivers
Cool, crystal-clear waters flow over gravelly beds, streaming through white-flowered water-crowfoot and watercress in serene lowland landscapes.
Water Pollution in Dorset's Rivers and Poole Harbour
With only 10% of Dorset’s rivers in favourable ecological condition and Poole Harbour suffering from major ecological decline, urgent action is needed to clean up our rivers.
Species Survival Fund: wetlands – a vital habitat for wildlife
Species Survival Fund Project Assistant, Lydia Gill, talks about the importance of wetland habitats, and how the Species Survival Fund will be working towards creating and restoring these havens…
Slow the flow: rivers are a natural solution to climate change.
Years of modification and human intervention has left less space for water to flow through our rivers. In turn, we face higher risks of flooding as well as detrimental effects on our habitats and…
Moving the River Jordan
Many of our rivers are highly modified by humans but there is always potential to do river habitat enhancement work to increase flow diversity and benefit wildlife. Returning the path of the River…
River lamprey
The river lamprey is a primitive, jawless fish, with a round, sucker-mouth which it uses to attach to other fish to feed from them. Adults live in the sea and return to freshwater to spawn.