RSPB Arne

RSPB Arne is the first super national nature reserve and is a beautiful place to visit all year round. It’s a mixture of coast, heathland and woodland and a great place to go to see a variety of wildlife. It’s a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSi), a Special Protection Area (SAP) and a Special Area of Conservation (SAC).

Walk The Dumbledore Trail to see wildflower meadows, The Seasonal Raptor Trail for osprey, hen and marsh harriers, The Coombe Heath Trail for views of Corfe Castle and Purbeck, The Hyde’s Heath Trail for the Dartford Warbler and the Shipstal Trail for sand lizards and sometimes even seals. There’s also a 30 minute easy access trail which loops you through silver birch and oak woodlands and past the dragonfly pond.

If you’re lucky you might hear a nightjar. If you’re even luckier, you’ll see one.

There are benches dotted around and several hides to spot wildlife from. Birds are regularly fed near the entrance, outside the cafe and also on the edge of Big Wood – if you want to get close to birds they’re great areas to stop at.

The Watches

Arne has been the location for BBC Springwatch (2023, 2024), Autumnwatch (2016) and Winterwatch (2017, 2024). It will again be the location for Winterwatch, showing on BBC2 21-24 January 2025.

A Springwatch mural was painted outside the cafe over three days of live broadcasts in 2024 by ATM Street Art.