Owner: East Dorset District Council

Managed by: East Dorset Countryside Management Service

Site designation:

• Local Nature Reserve

Grid reference: SY 993 978

Nearest town: Corfe Mullen

Size (Ha): 0.5 Ha

Nearest bus stop: Lockyers Road, Wilts and Dorset bus route

Nearest train station: Poole (five miles)

Habitats: Semi-improved acid grassland with pond

Look out for: Grazing Dexter Cows during the summer months, common and palmate newts in pond.

Parking: no parking area

Accessibility: gates, level ground but no made-up paths

How to get there:

From Poole / the south, follow the B3074 (Higher Blandford Road) north towards Rushcombe Bottom. Turn right at the roundabout onto Lockyers Road, then right at another roundabout at the top of Lockyers Road onto Cogdean Way. Follow to the end where the footpath cuts through to Cogdean Elms.

From Wimborne / the north, follow the A31 west from Wimborne, and turn left at the B3073 roundabout onto Wimborne Road, towards Corfe Mullen. Turn left at the roundabout onto Cogdean Way, and follow to the end where the footpath cuts through to Cogdean Elms.

Management plan:

Previous management works, supported by English Nature's Wildlife Enhancement Scheme, have included annual mowing or grazing of the meadow areas and the planting of a hawthorn hedge along the boundary with nearby houses. Areas of the pond are cleared on a rotational basis to ensure that it does not become overgrown. The hawthorn hedge has been traditionally laid with the help of our conservation volunteer group, along with some thinning of birch and willow scrub around the pond and meadows.

The site is currently organically managed with invasive species such as thistle and dock being cleared by hand.

If you would like to find out more about future management plans for Cogdean Elms, please contact Matt Reeks at Moors Valley Country Park on 01425 470721, or e-mail mreeks@eastdorset.gov.uk