Work is about to get underway to install seven cattle grids at RSPB Arne as part of an exciting Purbeck Heaths grazing project.
The Purbeck Heaths are nationally and internationally important for rare and threatened wildlife and to ensure that these rare and threatened species can thrive, the naturalised grazing system at National Trust’s Hartland Moor and Natural England’s Stoborough Heath is being expanded to encompass RSPB Arne.
Internal boundary fences will be removed, with the new cattle grids keeping grazing animals contained, along with a new, pig-proof outer boundary fence.
Dorset Highways will start work to install the seven new cattle grids on Tuesday 31 August, working 7.30am to 4.30pm, Monday to Friday – with the work taking around seven weeks to complete.
The installation work will also involve constructing a ‘bypass road’ adjacent to each of the new cattle grids, this will be a gated, paved area and ensure access for pedestrians, cyclists and mobility vehicles unable to cross the cattle grid.
Each cattle grid installation will take around two weeks, weather depending. Two gangs will be working on the project – one will be carrying out the ‘bypass road’ construction and the second team will be digging out and installing the cattle grid.
When the ‘bypass road’ is finished, gang one will move on to the next location and gang two will complete their works before moving on. This means that, after the initial first week, work will be taking place at two locations at a time.
Jack Wiltshire, Dorset Council Head of Highways, said: “We’re proud to be part of this important project, which will protect and maintain this landscape for wildlife to thrive.
“We’re doing what we can to minimise disruption to drivers and visitors to this popular area, but there will inevitably be some delays in journey time.
“Please look out for our road signs, which will be kept up to date as work progresses and advise drivers of any diversion or road narrowing in the installation areas.”
The work will take place in the following order, with varying traffic management depending on the location: Arne cattle grid locations
Cattle Grid D installation
Road closure (24/7) with diversion signed: Arne Road – Soldier’s Road – A351
Cattle Grid G installation
Traffic diverted around works at location
Cattle Grid E installation
Road narrowing, traffic to give and take
Cattle Grid F installation
Road narrowing, traffic to give and take
Cattle Grid C installation
Road narrowing, traffic to give and take
Cattle Grid A & B installation
Road closure (24/7) with diversion signed: Soldier’s Road – Arne Road – New Road – B3075 Corfe Road – A351
Cattle Grid H removal
Road narrowing, traffic to give and take
The surfacing of the bypass roads will all be completed on the final day of the works and will be carried out using the same traffic management required at each site.
The Purbeck Heaths Grazing Unit project is a partnership of the RSPB, National Trust, Natural England and Dorset Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, funded by the Wytch Farm Landscape and Access Enhancement Fund and from the Government’s Green Recovery Fund.
Whilst I support this work, the areas adjacent to the existing cattle grids at positions J and K on your map are regularly used by people living (even during the Winter) in their camper vans. Nobody seems to move them on. The design of these areas need modifying to prevent these people misusing and fouling this beautiful area.
Secondly, Are there any plans to introduce a 20mph speed limit to offer more protection to the animals that will now be wandering in the road?, as many cars and vans cut through this way at high speed to circumvent the queues that build up along the A351 in the holiday periods.
The issue of anti-social parking / camping is being dealt with by a separate parallel project.
pointless waste of money
By using a more “natural” maintenance approach using grazing animals with a greater freedom to roam it is likely to save money. Having taken part as a volunteer in efforts to protect some of Dorset’s heathland from invasive plant species (eg pine trees), I know how much effort is required to do it by human and mechanical means.
The road at location D floods most years (with possibly increasing severity). This work would seem to be a good opportunity to improve the drainage from Broad Marsh over the road to Slepe Copse – and hence out to Middlebere Lake. Whilst you have kit and personnel on site can you please make some improvement to this situation ?
Time too perhaps to review the speed limits on these roads? Whilst many drive sensibly the number of speeding drivers must feel “entitled” by the NO SPEEDLIMIT signs? One just as you leave Ridge towards Arne (for those who think there aren’t any.) Also better signage for “Narrow Road with Passing Places”. These could be painted on the road rather than signage that might spoil the view or become hidden in foliage?
Hi Geoff – the signage is national speed limit applies rather than no speed limit. And with all cases drivers should drive according to the road and the conditions. Rule 146 in the highway code staes: “Adapt your driving to the appropriate type and condition of road you are on.” https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-highway-code/general-rules-techniques-and-advice-for-all-drivers-and-riders-103-to-158
Evidence from Tyneham shows that separating grazing animals from vehicles works, with no accidents involving grazing animals, but also highlights the frequency of people being serious attacked by cattle. Using a ‘risk and mitigation’ approach to endangering lives, this calls into question the open grazing approach inviting animal onto roads into question, as the evidence of the New Forrest has also shown.
Dog walkers use this heathland all year round. Whilst many of the cattle are docile, some are not. Having been chased by a long horn bull in the New Forest I am not particularly enamoured by this idea. A number of people are killed by bulls every year including farmers. What consultation was carried out with users of the heathland; how much is all this work costing; what are the benefits to the council tax payer; has a risk assessment been carried out?
Hi Jack, you can find out more about the project at: https://www.dorsetaonb.org.uk/project/purbeck-heaths-grazing-unit/
The project involves a partnership of RSPB, National Trust, Natural England and Dorset Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty – funded by the Wytch Farm Landscape and Access Enhancement Fund, and by the Government’s Green Recovery Challenge Fund.
I have recently driven along the various roads where the new cattle grids have been installed and cannot understand why there are 2 new cattle grids A and B on the Soldier’s Road placed close together. Again, on the road to Arne why cattle grids E and F are needed. It is difficult to assess from the map shown what area is being enclosed as nothing is shown. This is very poor as it gives an incomplete picture of the whole project.
Also, I hope that the Council Tax payers of Dorset Council are not financially contributing in any direct or indirect way to this project. I see Dorset Highways are doing the work so assume the Council is being paid to do this work as an External Contractor. Even if this is the case, surely these teams could be better employed to do other more important work on other Dorset roads to provide a benefit to all Dorset Council Taxpayers. As I read it, this is a project being carried out by several private organisations in a partnership that does not include Dorset Council.