South Poorton

South Poorton © Jane Franklin
South Poorton © Steve Masters

South Poorton © Steve Masters

South Poorton

Grasslands Trust

South Poorton

Steep wildflower-rich grassland and wet woodland, within a hidden valley.

Location

Powerstock
Bridport
Dorset
DT6 3TJ

OS Map Reference

SY5129997784

View on What3Words

A static map of South Poorton

Know before you go

Size
21 hectares
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Entry fee

N/A
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Parking information

Parking for one car in pull-in by wooden gate.
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Bicycle parking

Yes
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Grazing animals

Sheep and cattle at all times of year.
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Walking trails

Public footpath runs along bottom of valley. Public bridleway runs above the north west part of the reserve, along an old lane. Otherwise open access.

Before you visit, please read our reserve safety and visitor information

Please click here for more information and guidance about dogs on Dorset Wildlife Trust nature reserves.

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Access

Enter the nature reserve through any one of the gates from the roadside, or over over the stile if coming from West Milton reserve. The reserve is mostly steep with uneven ground and no surfaced paths, so sturdy footwear is recommended. Footpath crosses some muddy gateways and spring lines, so please exercise caution at these points as around the stream, the ground can be extremely wet.

Please leave all gates as they are found. They are sometimes tied open to allow animals access to different fields to access water. The site is grazed by livestock at various times of the year and please also be aware of the potential for picking up ticks. For more information on these general countryside hazards and other aspects of visiting our nature reserves please see our Visitor Information page.

Dogs

image/svg+xmlOn a lead

Remove all dog mess from the 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

South Poorton is a steeply cut river valley, with far reaching views of the surrounding countryside. Hedgerows host the enigmatic songs of yellowhammer and wistful calls of bullfinch. While the flatter parts of the site have undergone some agricultural improvement in the past, the steeper slopes and areas around the stream hint at what would once have covered much of the countryside in this area. Bird’s-foot-trefoil, mouse-ear hawkweed, field scabious and cowslip are amongst the species clinging to the drier slopes, while lousewort and devil's-bit scabious are dotted in the damper areas.

The long influence of humans on the land can be seen in the strip lynchets, relics of past farming techniques, that cross the upper fields. At the bottom of the valley, you are immersed by the sound of trickling water, as a stream flows through alder woodland, supporting song thrush, nuthatch, chiffchaff and otter. The fields are fringed by thick, species rich, hedgerows, which burst with the songs of yellowhammer, goldfinch, and linnet, and supporting dormice.  

Useful Information

Leave Bridport on the A3066 towards Beaminster and turn right just after leaving the town towards West Milton. Just before the village of West Milton, take the left-hand turn onto Ridgeback lane and follow along the lane for approximately 2.5km; the reserve is on your right hand side. Look for a slight pull-in by a gate about half way along (space for one or two cars), or go through the easternmost gate and park just into the field, clear of the gate.

Contact us

South Poorton map