Avon Heath Country Park
Children can get creative at the Park’s specially-designed Visitor Centre.
An exciting new project is underway at Avon Heath Country Park in Dorset that will involve the artistic and practical skills of many of the county’s schoolchildren – and which ICM is delighted to be sponsoring.
Nestled just off the A31 at St Leonards, Dorset, you could almost be forgiven for driving past the entrance to a site that is home to some of the rarest species in Britain. Unbeknownst to many who drive past on the adjoining dual carriageway, Avon Heath Country Park is Dorset’s largest park, a vast expanse – around 600 acres – of protected wood and heathland and a designated internationally-renowned Special Site of Scientific Interest (SSSI). It has been awarded this status because of its habitat – heathland has dramatically diminished throughout Europe over the last 100 years.
The Park boasts a nature reserve full of rare breeds. Sand lizards, silver studded blue butterflies and rare insect species are all uncommon to the area but have chosen the heathland and gorse bushes as their home. It is also home to many birds, including Woodlarks, the Dartford Warbler and Nightjars.
Dorset Countryside Rangers help manage the site, which is open all year round and owned and managed by Dorset County Council (DCC).
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