The picturesque Blackhill, near Bere Regis has once again been damaged by the creation of trails and jumps for cyclists. The area is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), part of the Dorset Heaths Special Protection Area (SPA) and the Dorset Heaths Special Area of Conservation (SAC); it is protected by UK and European law because of its fantastic value for wildlife. Cyclists are only permitted to use the bridleways across the site and are not allowed to ride over other areas of the hill including the areas that have been dug up to build jumps. This damage has increased during the Covid-19 lockdown and The Urban Heaths Partnership along with Dorset Police and Natural England are reaching out to the public for their help in tackling this problem.
Amy, the local Urban Heaths Partnership Warden is passionate about the unique character of these spaces. She said: “We are so lucky to have heathland right on our doorstep in Dorset, but many people don’t realise how special these areas are. Often, the people who are using or creating these trails and jumps do not realise the catastrophic impact it has on the wildlife. For instance, sandy areas are used to incubate the eggs of one of our rarest reptiles, the sand lizard. Something as simple as riding across it could destroy a whole clutch of eggs hidden beneath the surface. It is brilliant that so many people are out being active but please help us to protect Blackhill Heath, by keeping to bridleways. They are marked by signposts on site and are shown on Ordnance Survey maps as well as on Dorset Explorer at http://explorer.geowessex.com.”
The public are also being urged to report any damage or inappropriate use of the site, both to the Police and to Natural England. Claire Dinsdale, Rural Crime Officer at Dorset Police said: “We would ask the public to report to police if any persons are seen damaging the SSSI by digging or riding motorbikes or cycling off the permitted bridleway routes. Anyone found causing such damage will be dealt with and any motorbikes used off road in this way will be seized. Officers will be patrolling in this area.”
Hilary Habberfield from Natural England’s Dorset Countryside & Water Team said: “Black Hill Heath is home to a variety of special flora and fauna and some of England’s most threatened species. These include ground nesting nightjar, sun-loving smooth snakes, bell heather and the old oak woods on the edges of the heathland.
“We are all responsible for looking after this protected area and allowing it to thrive for the benefits of people and nature.”
If you witness damage to the plants or animals of Black Hill Heath, please contact Dorset Police. For crimes in progress use 999, for urgent reports use 101, for all other reports email 101@dorset.pnn.police.uk
Please also inform Natural England by email ProtectedSites@naturalengland.org.uk or telephone 0300 060 3900 to help us keep this place special.
The picture below shows the impact of unauthorised bike ramp construction on vegetation (left) and an area of undamaged woodland showing a healthy forest floor (right).
Oh dear, the fun police are out in full strength the year, stay at home kids, and make sure you spend all day locked away in your bedroom on your games console!
I’m sure small areas like this is not going to have any lasting major effect on wildlife and gets people out exercising and keeps them fit!
Maybe all forest wooded area should have dedicated areas for mountain bikers to build jumps and trails and then we can all share the local areas.
This article is out of date, inaccurate and misleading. I suggest taking to down.
It’s closer something you would see on the bournemouth echo website thank a council owned news page.
Jethro – Could you please elaborate what exactly within the article is “out of date, inaccurate and misleading”?
Ask anyone in the village where ‘the jumps’ are and they will tell you. They are a part of the furniture of the village and a part of growing up in the area.
Simon, maybe you are not aware how precarious the flora and fauna described above is in danger of extinction. Perhaps you should do some research into it.
However I do take your point that some provision for mountain biking ought to be looked into by the authorities, but in the meantime exercise on foot, on mountain and off road bikes MUST be restricted to the designated bridleways to protect that flora and fauna described.
What a stupid attitude! No-one is denying the area to kids, just asking that people stick to the bridleways that are already available for use.
I’d say the majority of cyclists that use this area are very respectful of the nature. The tracks that have been built make use of the natural landscape features and leave plenty of space for nature to flourish. People walking in the area also stop plants from growing and could walk on precious lizard eggs. The pictures in this article are an unfair representation showing the regularly used by all area by the main entrance to the woods against a completely inaccessible area which also shows that there is plenty of space left for nature.
The picture on the left is known as the circle and has been used by the children living in Bere Regis for generations. It was certainly like that when I lived in Bere Regis in the 70s and doesn’t look any different now. It in no way impacts on Black Hill Heath or its wildlife and is an amenity for the local children to get out of the house into the fresh air. It also gave them the opportunity to look at their environment and many if not all leave with an increased appreciation of nature. Would you rather they were glued to their computers or hanging around in the village with nothing to do? Before you dismiss this as a comment from an ignorant person that doesn’t care for the environment let me tell you that I worked for the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology with all the eminent scientists that worked on heathlands so am very well qualified to comment on this issue