Wareham Forest

The expanse of Wareham Forest encompasses both wood and lowland heath. It was one of many forests planted by the newly formed Forestry Commission after World War I, which had exposed the country’s strategic lack of timber; vast quantities had been used in shoring trenches and as pit props in the coal mines.

Early planting relied on fast-cropping species and resulted in conifer blankets that were visually unappealing and provided almost no wildlife habitat. But after war again depleted the country’s timber reserve, the strategy began to change, introducing a variety of species, including broad-leaved trees, and developing an increasing awareness of environmental issues and the importance of habitat variety.

Wareham Forest today is both productive and sustains a huge diversity of wildlife. Among the tree species are several varieties of pine as well as larch and oak, with birch, hazel, holly and other trees established around the plantation fringes. The ongoing cycle of planting, thinning and felling creates a rotating pattern of open space that allows wildflowers and heath plants to develop, while the lowland wetland at its heart is one of the largest such areas in Britain.

The largest animals roaming the forest are deer, of which there are three species: sika, roe and fallow. Roe deer are native, while fallow deer were re-introduced by both the Romans and the Normans. Sika arrived from the Far East during the late 19th century, escapees from private parks and now so successful that numbers have to be controlled. There are plenty of foxes and badgers and occasional sightings of otter, but less obvious are dormice, which were originally thought to live only in ancient woodland.

The area is particularly important for reptiles and is one of the few places where you might see all six of Britain’s native reptiles: adder, grass snake, smooth snake, sand lizard, common lizard and slow worm. The smooth snake is secretive and although sometimes superficially resembling an adder, is not venomous, subduing its prey by constriction. Sand lizards are much larger than the common lizard and, like them, might be seen basking in the sun. The male is readily identifiable by having green flanks, which become prominent during the breeding season.

The woodland is rich in birdlife, including woodpeckers, treecreepers and crossbills as well as birds of prey such as red kites, buzzards and hen harriers. The heath is one of the strongholds of the Dartford warbler and on summer evenings you may hear a nightjar.

Among the plants to look out for around the marsh are bog asphodel, its yellow flowers once collected to make hair dye, and the sundew, a carnivorous plant that traps and absorbs nutrients from insects.

Look for a tall Sika ‘Red Trail’ marker near the far-right corner of the car park by picnic tables. Walk through the trees to a bridle gate and, following red markers, go right on a broad swathe. As it later curves left at the forest edge, ignore a path off right and carry on back into trees to a major crossroads. Go right and carry on to a junction in front of a boundary gate.

Swinging left, head down beside the boundary. At the bottom of the hill, the trail curves left at the edge of Morden Bog.

Reaching a junction of tracks by a dark pool, abandon the red markers and turn right. Entering the National Nature Reserve, cross a stream. As the trail curves left, ignore a track right. The way gently rises across Great Ovens Hill, from where there is an extensive view across the marsh and surrounding forest. Rounding a bend, watch for a track forking down left by a bench to continue around the convoluted perimeter of the bog. Carry on for 1.5 miles (2.4km), eventually passing a lookout tower perched at the edge of the forest plantation. Just beyond, the track turns in along a break between the trees to meet a crossing track, a short distance south of the Old Decoy Pond.

Turn right. Approaching a gate at the eastern edge of the plantation, swing left beside a wire fence. After 200yds (183m), the path curves gently left. Keep left at a fork and carry on above the northern edge of the Old Decoy Pond. Ignore a couple of tracks leaving on the right towards the higher ground, soon arriving at a crossing path at the edge of trees.

Go left and keep straight on at the next junction, later crossing a bridge and reaching a fork. Stick with the branch ahead and carry on for another half-mile (800m) to a junction beside a memorial stone at Parson’s Pleasure. Continue forward, shortly passing another junction to reach a red-topped waypost, 100yds (91m) further on, marking a narrow path off to the right.

Rising from the bog, the path undulates into the forest. Later reaching a fork, take the left branch and climb to a broad trail. Still following red-topped wayposts, go right and then immediately left, rising to a second trail. Follow that right, shortly arriving at a junction in front of a couple of gates. Pass through the smaller bridle gate on the left, from which a path winds through the trees back to the car park.