Canford Heat Case Study

Canford Heat is situated in south-west England, and it is centred on the large estuary of Pool Harbor in Dorset County. It is the largest lowland heathland in the UK, covering 334 ha area and including the Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) it extends on 412 ha. Heathlands have a special status across the Europe (EU Habitat Directive) and heathlands are in the UK especially important as the UK covers 20% of European heathlands. Thus, special attention is given to the protection of the heathlands in the UK, hence management of habitat and maintaining species diversity in Canford heathland is settled in National legislation. Besides being designated as a SSSI site, the Canford Heat area is subjected to other strict conservation designation, including three international designation (Dorset Heathlands Special Protection Area (SPA), Dorset
As well, conifer and broadleaf woodland cover a significant area, with 18.54 ha and 14.46 ha respectively. In a smaller extent, other habitats are also present making this area evidently a valuable terrain for many plant and animal species. The full list of habitat type with a area covered is listed in Table 1, which classification was made by Nature Conservancy Council in 1981.As well, Canford Heat is a cultural landscape with archaeological remains scattered around barrows (tumuli) from Bronze Age and is Scheduled Ancient Monument.
The town centre is situated 5 km to the south form Canford Heat Nature Reserve and has a population of about 14000 inhabitants. The majority of Canford Heat as a heathland is open access land recognized in 1999 by Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000. There are pathways for different types of activity present in the heathland (walking activity, horse riding, paths for cycle riders, disability access), and also parking site for