Ham Common, Dorset

Last updated

Ham Common overlooking Poole Harbour Ham Common - geograph.org.uk - 22255.jpg
Ham Common overlooking Poole Harbour

Ham Common is a Local Nature Reserve at Hamworthy, near Poole, Dorset. [1] Located on the north west shores of Poole Harbour, it is predominantly a heathland site but includes many other habitats including waste ground, mixed woodland, and a freshwater lake (Hamworthy Lake). Parking for the site can be found at Hamworthy Beach with access to the waterside for kayaking etc., or above the common from Napier Road. Easy walking access from Haven Rockley Holiday Park.

Contents

On 17 October 2003 Ham Common 'twinned' with Fleet Pond Local Nature Reserve in Hampshire. In 2006 a twinning event, and plaque unveiling, took place at Ham Common.[ citation needed ]

Fauna

Over 200 bird species, 34 butterfly species, and 25 Odonata species have been logged in the reserve.[ citation needed ]

Birds

Birds inhabiting the reserve include the avocet, grey phalarope, osprey, Dartford warbler, yellow-browed warbler, serin, black-throated diver, hobby, peregrine falcon, wryneck, hoopoe and nightjar.[ citation needed ]

Butterflies

Butterflies inhabiting the reserve include the long-tailed blue, European swallowtail, purple hairstreak, grayling, silver-washed fritillary, dark green fritillary, brown argus and silver-studded blue.[ citation needed ]

Odonata

Odonata inhabiting the reserve include the red-eyed damselfly, southern damselfly, scarce blue-tailed damselfly, brown hawker, scarce chaser and keeled skimmer.[ citation needed ]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cotswold Water Park</span> Lake system and park in England

The Cotswold Water Park is the United Kingdom's largest marl lake system, straddling the Wiltshire–Gloucestershire border, north-west of Cricklade and south of Cirencester. There are 180 lakes, spread over 42 square miles (110 km2).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Meadow, Cricklade</span>

North Meadow, Cricklade is a hay meadow near the town of Cricklade, in Wiltshire, England. It is 24.6 hectares in size. It is a traditionally managed lowland hay-meadow, or lammas land, and is grazed in common between 12 August and 12 February each year, and cut for hay no earlier than 1 July. This pattern of land use and management has existed for many centuries and has resulted in the species rich grassland flora and fauna present on the site.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ham Hill, Wiltshire</span> Area of chalk downland in Wiltshire, England

Ham Hill is a hill and area of chalk downland in Wiltshire, England, on the steep banks running alongside the road from the village of Ham to Buttermere, close to the Berkshire border. A biological Site of Special Scientific Interest, notified in 1971, covers 1.5 hectares of the site; this designation is due to the site's species-rich plant and insect communities, which include some rare species. Notable among these is the musk orchid, which has been confirmed at only one other site in Wiltshire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cannop Ponds</span>

Cannop Ponds are two large ponds, just north of Parkend in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire, England. The ponds, and surrounding area, are a popular tourist destination.

<i>Ischnura</i> Genus of damselflies

Ischnura is a genus of damselflies known as forktails in the family Coenagrionidae. Forktails are distributed worldwide, including various oceanic islands. The males have a forked projection at the tip of the abdomen which gives the group their common name.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ingrebourne Marshes</span>

Ingrebourne Marshes are a 74.8 hectare biological Site of Special Scientific Interest in Hornchurch in the London Borough of Havering. Ingrebourne Valley Local Nature Reserve includes a small part of the SSSI west of the River Ingrebourne. The site is managed by the Essex Wildlife Trust

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Totternhoe Knolls</span>

Totternhoe Knolls is a 13.1-hectare (32-acre) Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in Totternhoe in Bedfordshire. It is also a local nature reserve, and part of the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The site is owned by Central Bedfordshire Council and leased to the National Trust. Most of the site is maintained jointly by the National Trust and the Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire (WTBCN), and is part of the WTBCN Totternhoe nature reserve, which also includes Totternhoe Chalk Quarry and Totternhoe Stone Pit. The SSSI also includes Totternhoe Castle, the earthworks of a Norman motte-and-bailey castle which is a Scheduled monument.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hamworthy Beach</span>

Hamworthy Beach is situated between the Marine Camp and Rockley Sands in Poole Bay, Dorset, known to locals but more difficult to find for outsiders. The local community refer to it as "Up Lake". It is a muddy beach with sand and shingle. It has its own jetty, known as Lake Pier, which is quite popular with local fishermen. Evenings promising good sunsets attract a number of photographers to this beauty spot. From the beach can be seen Arne Nature Reserve, Brownsea Island and the Purbeck Hills. Behind the beach is Ham Common.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Decoy Pit, Pools and Woods</span>

Decoy Pit, Pools and Woods is a 17.7-hectare (44-acre) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest south of Aldermaston in Berkshire. An area of 8 hectares is a nature reserve called Decoy Heath, which is managed by the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cefn Blaenau</span> Site of Special Scientific Interest in Wales

Cefn Blaenau is a 23-hectare Site of Special Scientific Interest in a small upland valley in Carmarthen and Dinefwr, Wales. It was designated an SSSI in 1989, primarily for its flush and spring vegetation as well as the diverse mosaic of unimproved pasture, ‘ffridd’ land, marshy grassland, wet heath, acid grassland, broadleaved woodland, streams, and small rock outcrops. These habitats, which are well represented at this site, have been greatly reduced in north Carmarthenshire due to land improvement, agricultural intensification, and afforestation. Only about 140 hectares of flush and spring vegetation remain in the county.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dymock Woods SSSI</span> Biological Site of Special Scientific Interest in Gloucestershire, England

Dymock Woods is a 53-hectare (130-acre) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest in Gloucestershire, notified in 1990. The site is listed in the 'Forest of Dean Local Plan Review' as a Key Wildlife Site (KWS).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lindisfarne National Nature Reserve</span>

Lindisfarne National Nature Reserve is a 3,541-hectare (8,750-acre) UK national nature reserve. It was founded to help safeguard the internationally important wintering bird populations, and six internationally important species of wildfowl and wading birds winter here. For the pale-bellied brent geese from Svalbard, this is their only regular wintering place in all of the United Kingdom. Pinkfooted and greylag geese, wigeons, grey plovers and bar-tailed godwits are the other visitors.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ferndown Common</span>

Ferndown Common is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) on the edge of Ferndown in Dorset, England. It is currently owned by the Wimborne Estate and leased to the Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Trust (ARC), who manage it to preserve the site's rare wildlife. The site was notified as an SSSI in 1984.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Perryfield Quarry</span> Stone quarry in Dorset, England

Perryfield Quarry is an operational stone quarry and part butterfly nature reserve located on the Isle of Portland, Dorset, England. It is situated towards the middle of the island, east of the village of Weston and south of the hamlet of Wakeham. The reserve section is now a valued home for a number of butterfly species, while the working quarry area is one of the largest active quarries on Portland. The quarry is owned by Portland Stone Firms Ltd, along with Broadcroft and Coombefield Quarries. The firm is the largest landholder on the island.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Holes Bay</span>

Holes Bay is an intertidal embayment off Poole Harbour in the county of Dorset on the south coast of England. It lies mostly within the Borough of Poole and is close to Poole town centre. It is an important wetland bird haven.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Englemere Pond</span>

Englemere Pond is a 26.1-hectare (64-acre) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest on the southern outskirts of North Ascot in Berkshire. The site is also a Local Nature Reserve. It is owned by the Crown Estate and managed by Bracknell Forest Borough Council.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Girdlers Coppice</span>

Girdlers Coppice is a nature reserve of the Dorset Wildlife Trust, near Sturminster Newton, in Dorset, England. It is an ancient woodland, adjacent to the larger Piddles Wood to the south and bordered by the River Stour to the north.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tadnoll and Winfrith Heath</span>

Tadnoll and Winfrith Heath is a nature reserve of the Dorset Wildlife Trust, near the village of Winfrith Newburgh in Dorset, England. There is heathland and wetland in the reserve.

References

  1. "Ham Common, Dorset". Local Nature Reserves. Natural England.

Sources

50°43′01″N2°01′44″W / 50.717°N 2.029°W / 50.717; -2.029