Restoring wildlife to Lyscombe Nature Reserve in Dorset

Just two years into an ambitious restoration project, Lyscombe Nature Reserve is already being transformed into a thriving haven for wildlife, says Dorset Wildlife Trust ranger Ben Atkinson

In March 2024, Dorset Wildlife Trust and Natural England purchased 335 hectares of land at Lyscombe, 10 miles northeast of Dorchester. This monumental acquisition – one of the biggest in the Trust’s history – was made possible through funding from Natural England’s National Nature Reserves programme and planned nutrient mitigation credit scheme, alongside generous donations from Dorset Wildlife Trust members and supporters.

Set within Dorset National Landscape (formerly Dorset AONB), this expansive landscape boasts a treasure trove of chalk downland, lush scrub, vibrant wildflower meadows and ancient woodlands. It holds a number of prestigious designations, including a 50-hectare Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), a Site of Nature Conservation Interest (SNCI) and several Scheduled Monuments, including the unique Lyscombe Chapel. This land acquisition presented an exciting opportunity to create more space for nature and restore natural processes across the landscape whilst ensuring that the existing ecological and historic designations are protected and opening up more access for people to enjoy this stunning place.

We are fortunate at Lyscombe that in our aim to transform the reserve into a landscape rich in wildlife, we are by no means starting from scratch. The nature reserve’s two SSSIs will play a key role in Lyscombe’s development, acting as sources from which specialist species can spread as conditions improve across the wider landscape.

Clustered bellflower, which was previously smothered by vigorous grasses such as Yorkshire fog and cock's-foot (Image: Ben Atkinson)

When we acquired Lyscombe it was clear that the SSSIs were not in ideal condition. Surveys completed with the help of Dorset Flora Group confirmed this. A period of under-grazing had meant the species-rich downland with its diverse community of plants including devil’s-bit scabious, clustered bellflower and cowslips was being smothered by more vigorous grasses like Yorkshire fog and cock’s-foot which are usually kept in check by grazing livestock.

New fencing and gates have enabled us to reintroduce grazing livestock. Cattle and ponies, owned and managed by local farming business Piddle Valley Longhorns, are doing a tremendous job. After a winter of grazing, the downland slopes are now in better condition. Shorter turf and patches of bare ground give space for wildflowers to grow and germinate. We’re excited to see how wildflowers, butterflies and other wildlife have responded over the summer.

Another key aspect of our work on the downland is scrub management. Scrub and trees are vital components of the SSSI providing nesting, shelter and food for birds and other wildlife. However, they can soon start to encroach onto the grassland and threaten its biodiversity. With the help of the fantastic Lyscombe volunteers, we have started clearing selected areas of scrub. These newly cleared areas prevent the loss of species-rich grassland and create vital corridors for livestock, plants, butterflies and other insects to move across the SSSI and into the wider reserve.

Perhaps the most dramatic change so far is along the wonderfully named Little Piddle River, especially near Lyscombe chapel. In many ways the centrepiece of the nature reserve, the medieval chapel along with the neighbouring ruins of a 16th century cottage are set back from the river. Water flows gently past them and through an old flint and mortar wall.

Twelfth-century Lyscombe Chapel, which is buried in a fold of the chalk downland between Piddletrenthide and Cheselbourne (Image: Becky Williamson)

Until recently, the river was then channelled into a culvert pipe beneath a concrete farmyard dominated by a large barn. Last autumn, the barn was demolished and the concrete removed, exposing this section of the river for the first time in decades. Where there was concrete, we have sown wildflower seeds, harvested from Lyscombe. Within the stream, we have placed gravel to create shallow, fast-flowing water with riffles and pools. Diversifying the stream habitat creates ideal conditions for aquatic invertebrates and plants like water crowfoot to establish.

One of the nearby barns has been renovated. The tiled roof allows bats to access the many nest boxes inside. Sparrow boxes were incorporated into the walls and nest cups for swallows and house martins installed. This area of the reserve will one day be even more beautiful with the chapel providing the backdrop as the Little Piddle flows through a wildflower meadow, swallows hunting damselflies overhead.

Upstream of the chapel, within a small woodland, we have created several woody debris dams. These simple structures are made with coppiced hazel, willow and other trees from the woodland and lie across the main channel of the stream. After heavy rainfall, they help slow the water’s flow, holding some water back and forcing it out of the main channel and into the floodplain. This has created new channels and ephemeral pools within the woodland, providing more habitat for amphibians and insects which prefer these wetter conditions.

It’s still early days in Lyscombe’s journey, but these initial actions are crucial. By improving the areas already rich in wildlife and restoring natural processes, we are laying the foundations for the transformation of the entire reserve.

The Adonis blue had not been seen at Lyscombe for several years (Image: Ben Atkinson)

Wildlife is already responding to the grazing and scrub management work across the SSSI. This spring the steep downland slopes were awash with the golden yellow flowers of cowslips. A joyous spectacle and one which also offers hope that the Duke of Burgundy butterfly, whose caterpillars feed almost exclusively on cowslips, may be able to colonise Lyscombe from a nearby population.

But whilst we eagerly await the arrival of the Duke of Burgundy, a rare and much-threatened butterfly has already been seen on site. During our regular butterfly surveys, we saw good numbers of marsh fritillaries. It’s likely that these rare butterflies are now breeding on site and will hopefully go on to establish a flourishing population. Another very welcome butterfly sighting recorded this year is the Adonis blue. These electric blue butterflies had not been seen at Lyscombe for several years, but with the habitat now ideal for them they should become a regular sighting during the summer months.

Birdlife at Lyscombe is also responding well to our management. There has been a noticeable increase in the level of skylark song across the nature reserve. For many people it is the quintessential sound of British summertime and this spring and summer it has been heard in all its glory across the nature reserve. Large flocks of finches have also been enjoying the bounty of seeds from dandelions and thistles. The nature reserve is also proving to be a good stopover site for many migrating birds, with both redstarts and black redstarts being spotted, as well as several wheatears, all feeding on Lyscombe’s abundant insects to build up the strength they need for their long migrations ahead.

After witnessing this incredible transformation in such a short space of time, I can’t wait to see what the future holds for this precious and important nature reserve..

To find out more about Lyscombe and Dorset Wildlife Trust’s conservation efforts, visit dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk

Cowslips are now making a welcome return to Lyscombe. (Image: Hamish Murray)