Wareham Forest

Wareham Forest is a great place to explore and discover the famous heaths and woods of the Dorset countryside.

Many miles of tracks take you through beautiful and ancient landscapes, where if you are lucky, you’ll see some of its special wildlife. The cycle trail takes its names from the famous Sika deer and the walking trail is named after the rare ground-nesting birds, Woodlarks, who's lovely song you may hear on your walk.

Wareham Forest is patchwork of different habitats, including open heathland and woodland - it's home to lots of very special plants and animals. Bogs and streams provide vital habitats for many creatures and support a wealth of rare and diverse plant life. They also play an important role in maintaining the health of the Forest and absorbing carbon.

Parts of Wareham Forest are grazed in a way that's sensitive to its plants and wildlife. This traditional practice is helping to create a varied habitat for wildlife. Please do not approach the cattle too closely and keep your dogs under close control and close gates behind you.

Forestry England is one of seven landowners who joined forces to create the largest ever lowland heath National Nature Reserve on land we manage in Purbeck, Dorset (working with the National Trust, Natural England, RSPB, the Rempstone Estate, Dorset Wildlife Trust and Amphibian and Reptile Conservation).

Wareham Forest is located close to the super-sized reserve that's a rich mosaic of lowland wet and dry heath, valley mires, acid grassland and woodland, along with coastal sand dunes, lakes and saltmarsh. Conifers in our plantations are also being carefully restored back to heathland.