Dunyeats Hill
Dunyeats Hill lies in the Broadstone area to the north of the Borough of Poole. It is situated along a belt of low hills to the south of the River Stour valley. It is located to the west of Gravel Hill, and borders Delph Woods, a housing estate, a school and a cemetery.
Area
Dunyeats Hill is a total of 31 hectares.
Site description / habitats
To the north of Dunyeats Hill is woodland, part of which has been recently cleared. In this woodland are two rather large ponds. There are also wooded areas to the south, near the school, and to the south west, where recent felling has also occurred. The main path leading from Merriefield Avenue runs along the ridge of the hill, with the slopes to the north and south. At the foot of both slopes are wet heath and valley mires. Reptile tins can be found on the south facing slope. There is a badger set at the bottom of the southern slope, near the school.
Habitats present include;
- Bare ground
- Dry heath
- Humid heath
- Mire / bog
- Wet heath
- Wooded areas
History
There is a bowl barrow on Dunyeats Hill, 650 metres south-west of Arrowsmith House. This is a Scheduled Ancient Monument ( SAM ).
Owners and managers
Dunyeats Hill is owned by Canford Estate and has been managed by the Herpetological Conservation Trust ( HCT ) since 1997.
Designation
Dunyeats Hill is part of the Canford Heath Site of Special Scientific Interest ( SSSI ) and was designated in 1984. In 1998 it was proposed as a Special protection Area ( SPA ) and Special Area of Conservation ( SAC ). The bowl barrow is a Scheduled Ancient Monument ( SAM ).
Flora and Fauna
Reptiles
Adder - Vipera berus
Common lizard - Lacerta vivipara
Grass snake - Natrix natrix
Sand lizard - Lacerta agillis
Slow worm - Anguis fragilis
Smooth snake - Coronella austriaca
Birds
Dartford warbler - Sylvia undata
Hobby - Falco subbuteo
Nightjar - Caprimulgus europaeus
Dragonflies and damselflies
Downey emerald - Cordulia aenea
Others
Bog bush cricket - Metrioptera brachyptera
