PURBECK’S natural riches and its exciting future are set to be celebrated by community group Sustainable Wareham in an event this weekend at Wareham town hall.

Experts from several wildlife and environmental groups working in the area will be on hand to answer visitors’ questions with displays and films.

Topics being explored will include the UK’s first ‘super’ national nature reserve on the Purbeck heaths; plans to reintroduce wild beavers; the ospreys breeding in the area for the first time in more than 300 years; and the white-tailed sea eagles now flying over our wetlands.

There will be intriguing insights into the Wareham Arc, an enormous land and river regeneration project that has recently won Government backing; major rewilding schemes already under way and the bountiful marine life, including endangered seahorses, that can be found on Purbeck’s shores.

Vicky Charles, from Sustainable Wareham, said: “We have been exploring what has been happening to protect and enhance our fabulous environment here in Purbeck.

“We found that amazing work is being done by a whole range of groups such as Dorset Wildlife Trust, the RSPB and the National Trust, as well as local landowners and attractions like Carey’s Secret Garden and the Blue Pool, which boost biodiversity and help our resilience to climate change.

“We believe this is a good time to share our excitement with the wider community as possibly many people living here are unaware of the terrific things that are going on around them. We hope lots of them will come to our fair.”

Vicky said the area around Wareham is the only location in Britain where all six native reptiles are found.
She added: “On our doorstep is one of the most biodiverse areas in the country with over 450 species that are rare, threatened or endangered.

“It’s also the home of 65 special wild flowers, over half of which are scarce.”

The fair is on Saturday, April 22, between 10am and noon, and refreshments will be available.

Visitors will be able to pick up a new leaflet produced in collaboration with Visit Wareham, which provides information about all local nature and wildlife destinations and how to get there.

For more information, visit the website https://visitwareham.com/nature-and-wildlife-wareham-dorset/