Brooklands Farm (Dorset Wildlife Trust HQ)

Brooklands Farm © James Hitch

Brooklands Farm © James Hitch

Brooklands Farm © Brian Bleese
Brooklands Farm © James Hitchen

Brooklands Farm © James Hitchen

Brooklands Farm (Dorset Wildlife Trust HQ)

It’s amazing how much wildlife can be supported by one small hay-meadow site, as the reserve at our Dorset Wildlife Trust Headquarters at Brooklands Farm proves.

Location

Brooklands Farm, Forston
Dorchester
Dorset
DT2 7AA

OS Map Reference

SY6665395200
A static map of Brooklands Farm (Dorset Wildlife Trust HQ)

Know before you go

Size
1 hectare
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Entry fee

N/A
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Parking information

Small car park (upper car park locked outside of office hours)

Grazing animals

Sheep grazing in late summer/ autumn.

Access

There is a small car park adjacent to the reserve and a circular path with a gate and stile. During office hours on weekdays, please do pop in to Brooklands for more information.

Dogs

On a lead

See above for more information about dogs on nature reserves.

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Facilities

Toilets
Picnic area
Accessible toilet
Baby changing facilities

When to visit

Opening times

Open at all times. Facilities open 9am-5pm weekdays only.

Best time to visit

March to September

About the reserve

This recreated hay meadow brims with wildflowers in mid-summer - oxeye daisy, common knapweed, yellow rattle and bird’s-foot-trefoil form a colourful backdrop with highlights of common spotted and southern marsh-orchids replacing the green-winged orchids of the early spring. Twenty-three species of butterfly are regularly seen on the nature reserve, including the uncommon(and aptly named) small blue, which breeds on the chalk lynchets excavated as part of the meadow restoration. The caterpillar foodplant (kidney vetch) grows here in a hot, sunny turf. Dragonflies, damselflies, great crested and palmate newts use the pond and surrounding scrub, while dunnock and yellow-hammer are among the birds to make use of the dense hedgerows.

Useful Information

The reserve is situated just to the left of the farmhouse, which houses the main offices of Dorset Wildlife Trust. The reserve can be found on the A352 just as you enter Forston.

Contact us

Environmental designation

Site of Nature Conservation Importance (SNCI)
Brooklands Farm Nature Reserve Map

Brooklands Farm Nature Reserve Map