Work to install seven cattle grids at Arne and Hartland as part of an exciting Purbeck Heaths grazing project is well underway, with an upcoming road closure required for the next phase.
Soldiers Road will be closed from Monday 4 October until Friday 15 October while two cattle grids are installed on this narrow road.
A local diversion will be signed to ensure residents and visitors can still access the area, with drivers asked to be patient and use the passing places provided along the diversion route to help protect the wildlife verges.
So far, four cattle grids have been installed by Dorset Highways as part of the Purbeck Heaths grazing project.
At each site work has involved
- building a ‘bypass’ road
- digging out the cattle grid area
- shuttering the excavation ready for concrete
- pouring concrete for 150mm base slab
- lifting in cattle grid
- shuttering and concreting to create surrounding walls
When all seven cattle grids are installed, fencing and gating will be put in place at each location and a final road surface will be laid on the approaches to each cattle grid and for the ‘bypass’ roads, which will ensure access for pedestrians, cyclists and mobility vehicles unable to cross the cattle grid.
The Purbeck Heaths Grazing Unit project involves 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 by the Government’s Green Recovery Challenge Fund.
The naturalised grazing system will encompass 1,370ha lowland heathland at the heart of the Purbeck Heaths National Nature Reserve (NNR) for grazing by cattle, ponies and pigs, which will help create a more dynamic and better-connected set of habitats to support some of Britain’s most threatened wildlife species.
Cattle grid installation is expected to be finished by Friday 22 October. With surfacing works to follow on afterwards.
Remaining works include:
Cattle Grid C installation (underway)
Road narrowing, traffic to give and take
Cattle Grid A & B installation
Road closure (24/7) with diversion signed
Cattle Grid H is programmed for removal the week starting 18 October but will be done sooner if progress allows. The road will be narrowed and traffic directed to give and take.
Rolling road closures will be in place for surfacing works from Monday 25 October for one week. Please look out for local signage.
Please ensure when installing cattle grids that you make an access out for small mammals like hedgehogs who may fall in.
Hi Kate, the cattle grid structure has got a little metal ramp as part of it that allows small mammals to get back out, should they fall in.