Wildlife
A female spiny seahorse (Hippocampus guttulatus) shelters is a meadow of common eelgrass (Zostera marina). Photographed in summer (August) in Studland Bay, Dorset, England. British Isles. English Channel. - Alexander Mustard/2020VISION
Discover wildlife
Learn more about Dorset's unique habitats, adopt or find out about our native species or have a wildlife question answered, maybe you'd like to take some actions to help wildlife? Our wildlife pages have what you're looking for.
Helping wildlife
There are many ways you can help native wildlife, including by encouraging wildlife into your garden, or by becoming a member and protecting wildlife and wild places in your area. Explore our pages below for wildlife advice and to support wildlife through our virtual adoption schemes.
Other ways you can help wildlife
How to build a bat box
Build your own bat box and give a bat a safe place to roost.
How to provide bushes for nesting birds
In the spring, birds choose the best locations to build nests, so why not offer them a safe place to settle?
How to create a mini pond
Even a small pond can be home to an interesting range
of wildlife, including damsel and dragonflies,
frogs and newts.
How to clean nestboxes and bird feeders
Nestboxes can harbour parasites so it is good practice to take them down at the end of the season and give them a clean. Likewise it is…
How to build a mini stone wall
Learn a tradition with its roots in the Iron Age and build your own mini dry stone wall to attract wildlife.
How to attract butterflies to your garden
Provide food for caterpillars and choose nectar-rich plants for butterflies and you’ll have a colourful, fluttering display in your…