Higher Hyde Heath

Higher Hyde Heath © James Hitchen

Higher Hyde Heath © James Hitchen

Silver-studded blue © James Hitchen

Silver-studded blue © James Hitchen

Higher Hyde Heath nature reserve

Tony Bates 

Grayling © James Hitchen

Grayling © James Hitchen

An internationally important area of dry and wet lowland heathland and woodland

Location

Puddletown Road,
Bere Regis
Wareham
Dorset
BH20 7NY

OS Map Reference

SY8542889938
A static map of Higher Hyde Heath

Know before you go

Size
56 hectares
z

Entry fee

N/A
P

Parking information

Car park via unlocked field gate.

Bicycle parking

Yes

Grazing animals

Pony and cattle grazing all year.

Access

Wheelchair access to hide/ viewing area via level track. Access to the rest of the reserve along uneven paths/ pedestrian gates & stiles.

There is an information board at the car park entrance with a map of the site,  and a surfaced path to a hide with viewing area overlooking a pond. This path continues around the pond from the hide and leads out over a stile onto the heath. A path also leads down into the wood before reaching the hide, this also follows out onto the open heath through a pedestrian gate. All unsurfaced paths may be wet and uneven in places. Although the site is Open Access please be aware that sensitive heathland species, including ground nesting birds, may occur throughout. The ground is generally rough and uneven away from the paths, and several ponds and wet areas are present on site.
Ponies are used to graze a large part of the site all year. Please keep your distance, and observe any signs. Adders and ticks are also present. 

Dogs

On a lead

Please remove all dog mess from site. See above for more information about dogs on nature reserves.

When to visit

Opening times

Open at all times

Best time to visit

Spring and summer

About the reserve

Higher Hyde Heath is a gem for reptile fans. It’s an internationally important heath which is home to all six of the UK’s native reptiles.

Nature fans should tread quietly and may be lucky enough to spot an adder, the only venomous snake in the UK. Don’t be alarmed however, these are very shy and non-aggressive, if undisturbed. They have beautiful and distinctive crisscross markings along their backs. Explorers might also find the very rare smooth snake (we are lucky in Dorset that they love heathland), grass snake (with its yellow and black collar), the common lizard, slow worm (which isn’t actually slow or a worm!) or the extremely rare sand lizard.

All the different types of heathland environment - dry, wet and humid are present, as well as a selection of peaty pools, a mire and wet woodland to explore.

Aside from the wonderful reptile life, there are also lots of rare and interesting heath dwellers at the site, including the ground-nesting nightjar, Dartford warbler, woodlark and tree pipit. Many interesting dragon and damselflies live in the wetter areas, whilst grayling and silver-studded blue butterflies can be found on the open heath. The heath is home to a variety of typical species including common heather, bell heather and gorse throughout, with bog asphodel, sphagnum mosses and pale butterwort in the wetter heath. One to watch out for is the fascinating sundew. These carnivorous plants have sticky sap which trap flies and small insects.

The sundew's tendrils detect the presence of its stuck prey and curl inwards to engulf it. Eventually, the whole leaf wraps around the insect which is digested. The acidic habitats the Round-leaved Sundew lives in on the heath don't provide enough nutrients, so it has evolved this carnivorous way of life to supplement its diet.

Useful Information

From Wool, take A352 and at roundabout, head north on Tout Hill. After approximately 4 kilometres, turn right onto Puddletown Road, between Bovington and Wareham. From the Wareham direction, the small car park is on the right (north side of the road) 50m or so after the right turning signposted East Dorset Golf Club and Hyde.

Contact us

Environmental designation

Ramsar
Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)
SPA
Special Areas of Conservation (SAC)
Higher Hyde Heath Nature Reserve Map

Higher Hyde Heath Nature Reserve Map