Leigh Common was once an extensive area of wet grasslands and meadows, with pond and ditch networks, used as a holding area by cattle traders on their way to Wimborne market. Grazing on the common declined around 40 years ago, and since then most of the site has 'scrubbed up', with the development of willow Carr woodland and some drier stands of oak.

The remaining areas of wet meadow are much reduced, yet these are the most valuable areas of Leigh Common for conservation. The development of woodland over the past 40 years has resulted in the loss of many rare plants and invertebrates associated with the meadow areas, however several species still remain.

Due to its wet environment, access across Leigh Common would naturally be difficult at best. A new raised boardwalk footpath was installed this year connecting with graveled and natural footpaths in drier areas, to allow all year round access on foot for local residents and visitors.

Owner: Hanham Estates

Managed by: East Dorset Countryside Management Service

Site designation:

• Local Nature Reserve

Grid reference: SU 026 000

Nearest town: Wimborne

Size (Ha): 5 Ha

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

Nearest train station: Poole (6.5 miles)

Habitats: Wet grassland with some areas of tree cover

Look out for: Southern marsh orchid, Marsh St. Johns Wort and Ragged Robin are all locally rare plants found at Leigh Common, along with the Long-Winged Conehead, a nationally rare meadow cricket. Water voles, Water Shrew and several species of Dragonfly can be found around the wet ponds and extensive ditch systems throughout the site.

Parking: limited parking at on the side of Leigh Road

Accessibility: access to site is via squeeze stiles, some uneven narrow paths, much of the site has newly-laid boardwalk over boggy areas, the older sections are due to be replaced shortly

Facilities: dog bins at main entrances to site

How to get there:

From Wimborne, follow the B3073 (Leigh Road) out of Wimborne, heading east towards Canford Bottom. Turn left onto Northleigh Lane, and immediately right down an unmade road (Leigh Common) to the parking bays and entrance.

From Colehill, follow Wimborne Road towards the town centre, turn left onto Northleigh Lane, and just before you get to the end T-junction with Leigh Road (B3073) turn left onto the unmade road, Leigh Common.

From the east, follow the A31 towards Wimborne. At the Canford Bottom roundabout turn right onto Wimborne Road West (B3073), follow the road towards Wimborne for approximately 1 mile, then turn right onto Northleigh Lane. Turn immediately right onto the unmade road, Leigh Common.

Management plan:

Leigh Common has been grazed by cows over the last few years. This year Leigh became home to some Dexter Cattle for a few months and they did a brilliant job of helping to control the Willow and Birch scrub in the open meadow areas of the site.

Continued clearance of dense Willow scrub this year will allow a greater area for meadow species to develop and the thinning of the Oak canopy will extra sunlight to reach the ground which should encourage the new plant growth to flourish into a rich and diverse sward.

This winter the eastern section of the main pond was re-excavated to remove accumulated silt deposits that had caused it to become high in nutrients and dense with reeds and rushes. It is important to re excavate a pond a bit at a time so as not to disturb all the creatures living within it at once.

The Oak canopy will continue to be thinned over the coming years to create areas of wood pasture as would have been found on the site in the past and further areas of Willow will be coppiced to create extra meadow. Over the next few years the footpaths will continue to be improved with the final aim of creating a fully assessable nature walk around the site for users of all abilities.

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