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A days walk can take you from the mudflats and waders of Poole Harbour, across the dunes and heaths of Studland, where sand lizards laze amongst the heather, to the chalk ridge of Ballard Down. From there, stroll across the flower-filled downland from Durlston to Lulworth, listening to the noisy babble of guillemots and puffins on the cliffs.
Purbeck's seas are also bursting with life - from the Sabellaria reefs of Swanage Bay, Durlston's dolphins and the beautiful "underwater gardens" and accessible and diverse rockpools of Kimmeridge Bay. Purbeck is also the home for the rare black-faced blenny and the most easterly known stronghold for our native soft coral the pink seafan.
The South Purbeck Coast forms the longest uninterrupted stretch of coastal limestone grassland in Europe. The short grazed turf and scrub is of global importance for plant life, from the tiny pink stars of the endemic early English gentian to Purbeck's speciality - the bizarre and beautiful early spider orchid (with over 80% of the British population occurring between Durlston and Lulworth). In spring and summer, the air is filled with butterflies (over 40 species breed in Purbeck), including nationally important populations of Adonis blue and Lulworth skipper. |
More than 5% of Britain's remaining lowland heath occurs in Purbeck - a stronghold for species such as nightjar and smooth snake, while the chalk streams of the Frome support a huge variety of invertebrate species.
This dizzying variety of habitats and species makes Purbeck the ideal place to study science; adaptations, food webs, contrasting habitat types, life processes and classification, contrasting localities and habitats and human impacts on the environment.
Purbeck's wildlife is matched by a wealth of field studies expertise. For more than 30 years, rangers, wardens and education staff have been inspiring students with awe and wonder at the beauty, complexity and uniqueness of Purbeck's incredible natural heritage. |