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.