Details
Date: Wed, 15th July 2026
Time: 10:00am - 4:00pm
Category: Survey
Location: Wytch heath, Thrasher's lane, ,
What3Words: https://w3w.co/strumming.hardening.thudding
Bare ground Survey – Rempstone (2)
Contact: Jasper Iepema
Phone: 07353069407
Email: jasper@purbeckecology.org.uk
This is the second of two bare ground surveys at Rempstone. The first survey is at Newton Heath, with the second one being at Rempstone Heath.
Bare ground is one of the most important habitats within our heathland landscape, supporting a wide range of scarce and threatened species. Many of these species depend on the warm microclimate created by exposed sandy soils and use the bare ground to excavate their nests. Ants, bees, wasps and spiders are particularly well represented, with Dorset supporting nationally important populations of several species. Bare ground is also important for a number of rare and scarce plant species.
Due to its history, Rempstone Estate remains a relatively under-recorded area within the Purbeck Heaths. In recent years, increasing areas of former plantation have been restored to wet and dry heath, valley mire and open sandy habitats. Earlier surveys have already demonstrated the significant potential of these bare ground areas for priority species such as the Heath Potter Wasp and Purbeck Mason Wasp.
Across the Purbeck Heaths National Nature Reserve, several priority species are closely associated with bare ground habitats, including the Purbeck Mason Wasp, Heath Tiger Beetle, Hornet Robberfly and Heath Sand Wasp. Rempstone is also home to notable plant species such as Yellow Centaury.
To improve our understanding of the diversity and distribution of bare ground species at Rempstone, the Purbeck Natural History Forum (PNHF) is organising three walk-over surveys at different locations across the estate. Our focus will be on bare ground habitats, although we will record any notable species encountered during the surveys.
We would like to invite you to join us. Volunteers with any relevant interests or identification skills are very welcome, whether your expertise is in Hymenoptera (bees, wasps and ants), Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths), vascular plants, or other taxonomic groups.
If you would like to take part, please register using the link below. If you have any questions, please contact me at Jasper@purbeckecology.org.uk.
Image above: Purbeck Mason Wasp (Credit Mark Singleton)
Sign-Up Form
Location Map
Address: Wytch heath Thrasher's lane, ,
What3Words: https://w3w.co/strumming.hardening.thudding
