About the reserve

This internationally important heathland and wetland is an iconic piece of Dorset landscape, divided by the Tadnoll Brook, a chalk stream tributary of the River Frome, and including part of Thomas Hardy's Egdon Heath.

The dry heath, a carpet of purple in late summer, and wet boggy areas with acid peaty pools are home to a host of wildlife, including a number of rare heathland species. Birds include the ground nesting nightjar, which can be heard 'churring' after dark, and the diminutive Dartford warbler, often seen flitting between gorse bushes or perching as it sings. Many interesting dragon and damselflies live in the wetter areas, whilst silver-studded blue butterflies can be found on the open heath. Flowers include typical heathland species, with common heather, bell heather and gorse throughout, and sundew, bog asphodel and sphagnum mosses in the wetter heath. Specialities of the heathland areas include the Dorset heath and marsh gentian whilst the wet meadows support uncommon plants such as marsh cinquefoil and meadow thistle. The Tadnoll Brook chalk stream runs through the reserve and is connected to the flood meadows which support water vole and wintering waders.

Useful Information
Access from the A352, about three miles west of Wool. Take the turning opposite the Red Lion pub onto Gatemore Road. For the Winfrith heath, there is parking on the right, just after first junction. For Tadnoll, turn left at this first junction, crossing over the cattle grid to follow the road as it skirts around the bottom of the heath, then round to the right at Tadnoll Mill onto Redbridge Road. Roadside parking for Tadnoll is adjacent to the reserve entrance approximately 500 metres along this road.