We are very fortunate to have a brand new nature reserve on our doorstep. The reserve at Chard Junction Quarry, grid reference ST 345045, has been developed by Dorset Wildlife Trust. In the far west of the county, close to the Somerset and Devon borders, it provides a much needed haven for wildlife as there are no other nature reserves nearby.  The community reserve, which has not seen any quarrying for many years, contains important wildlife habitats, including woods, ponds and establishing grassland.

  Sign at Chard Junction Quarry entrance

The reserve is in the southern part of the quarry, which is no longer used by site owners Bardon Aggregates. The owners have worked closely with Dorset Wildlife Trust, Somerset Wildlife Trust and Thorncombe Village Trust. Volunteers from the area gave up their time and energy to cut back brambles and gorse, make paths and benches, hang gates, lay down walk-ways, put up fencing and erect information boards. The work is on-going, and more volunteers would be welcomed with open arms!

The reserve opened in May 2009 and shortly afterwards everyone was devastated to learn that vandals had burnt down and completely destroyed one of the two bird hides. The remaining hide still stands, (see above)  although it has been damaged, and a viewing platform has been built to replace the other hide, giving clear views over the lakes.

Joy Wallis, People and Wildlife Co-ordinator at Dorset Wildlife Trust, said: "The reserve is just beginning to become established, so it is an exciting time.  It is a fantastic amenity for local people  and we hope that the community will enjoy watching the wildlife move in over the next few years."

There is a colony of sand-martins nesting in the reserve, last year a pair of ringed plovers nested there and the record book in the hide makes interesting reading. The total number of bird varieties seen so far  total 116 (as at January 2011) - the complete list is being updated regularly.

A butterfly survey was carried out in 2009, noting a total number of 209 butterflies between July and September. The most common were the Meadow Brown and the Gatekeeper.

Where is it?     Grid ref: ST345045,             

 From Thorncombe drive towards the Quarry, past Heward and the turning to Holditch along Headstock Road. Near the end where it bends round to the right there is a Public Footpath sign by a stile on the right, and a layby for parking on the left soon after. Cross the stile and the little bridge, lift the "electric fence" gate and head off diagonally to the top left corner of the field.  Go through the gate, keep going staight to the opposite side of the second field to the stile. Follow the footpath to the entrance gate. (approx 7 mins easy walk from the road)

There is another entrance further along this same footpath, and following this path will lead you to the road between Chard Junction and Forde Abbey.

               Summer view across the Nature Reserve