Key facts on the natural environment

Dorset has:

• 1,406 sq kms of Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, covering 55% of its total land area
• 135 Sites of Special Scientific Interest, covering 18,730 hectares
• 9 National Nature Reserves
• 34 Regionally Important Geological and Geomorphological Sites (with another 40 under consideration)
• 1,222 Sites of Nature Conservation Interest
• 91 km of heritage coast
• 114 km of  the Jurassic Coast-World Heritage site
• representatives of 85% of all species of mammals living in Britain, along with 90% of our birds
• 80% of our butterflies, 70% of our dragonflies, and nearly all our reptiles and amphibian species

What is special about Dorset's Environment?

The environment is particularly valued because of a combination of features in a relatively small area. For example,

• Dorset has 11% of the UK's rare lowland heath –virtually all of which is rated as of International importance for its wildlife.
• All the Dorset coast (excluding the town seafronts) is nationally recognised for its unique landscape, scenic quality, wildlife and geological formations.
• Dorset hosts thousands of rare species, including a thriving population of red squirrels on Brownsea island. Dorset also supports 80% of the national population of rare smooth snakes and 90% of the sand lizards.
• Only 2 other counties in Britain and Ireland can match the 48 species of butterfly that regularly breed in Dorset.
• Dorset still has significant areas of chalk downland supporting a concentrated richness of plants and insects with, for example, the largest populations of the Adonis Blue butterfly in the Country.
• Situated centrally along the English Channel seaboard, Dorset experiences early signs of a warming climate before most other counties. – for example Little Egrets which used to be rare visitors to Britain, now breed in the county, and other now regular visitors, such as Spoonbill, may do so in coming years. Also warmer sea temperatures now allow exotic looking species, like seahorses, to our inshore waters.
• Over half of Dorset is designated "Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty" which have the same national importance and equal status to National Parks to form our finest landscapes.
• Dorset has a very rich historic environment - whilst making up only 2% of the area of England it has 5% of the nationally protected ancient monuments.

Source: Dorset County Council

Figures for Dorset excluding Poole & Bournemouth