Details
Date: Thu, 14th August 2025
Time: 9:30am - 4:00pm
Category: Training event
Location: Studland, Shell Bay, National Trust Parking, Ferry Road, Studland,
What3Words: https://w3w.co/gives.shift.stress
Field Training Day: Vascular Plant Priority Species of the Purbeck Heaths
Contact: Jasper Iepema
Phone: 07353069407
Email: Jasper@purbeckecology.org.uk
This is our third and final field day with Robin Walls, Dorset’s County Recorder for vascular plants, helping us to explore and identify our Priority Plant Species across the Purbeck Heaths National Nature Reserve (NNR).
These sessions are for ideal for anyone interested in botanical surveying and keen to contribute to our plant recording efforts on the Purbeck Heaths. Whether you are a seasoned botanist or an enthusiastic learner, you will gain valuable insight into the identification of our most important species.
This third day is on Thursday, 14th August. We will meet up at Studland at the National Trust parking area of Shell Bay. See What3Words location below. Please note that this is a paid parking area from the National Trust, but members park for free. If you are not a NT member, you can try to park up on the side of Ferry Road, which is free. Please note that we will only spend a limited time at this location (up to 2 hours), before we move on, therefor don’t pay for a full day. After our visit to Studland, we will continue to Middlebere Heath and Stoborough Heath. Our final destination will be RSPB Arne.
- Start Time: 09:30
- Finish Time: Around 16.00
- Meeting Location: https://w3w.co/gives.shift.stress
- Expected Distance: Up to a maximum 7 km over heathland terrain, including boggy and marshy areas
During this day we will search for a number of priority species that usually flower in July and August. Please note that due to the ongoing drought, many species have flowered early this year. Therefor there is no guarantee that we will find our target species in flower. In fact, it is likely that a good number of the species are already over. Depending on how we get on, and what we will find, we will end the day at the RSPB Arne office, where we will recap what we have seen and look at Specimen Vouchers of all vascular plant priority species on the NNR.
What to Bring:
- Sturdy, waterproof footwear (wellies or waterproof hiking boots recommended)
- Clothing suitable for a full day outdoors, including protection from sun, rain, and wind
- Sufficient food and water for the day
- Optional: notebook, hand lens, camera
The day will partly spent in the field unless weather conditions require changes to the plan.
Please note that booking is essential, as spaces are limited. Please reserve your place early to avoid disappointment.
If you have any questions about this day, please contact Jasper Iepema: Jasper@purbeckecology.org.uk.
Sign-Up Form
Location Map
Address: Studland, Shell Bay, National Trust Parking Ferry Road, Studland,
What3Words: https://w3w.co/gives.shift.stress
