Hartland Moor facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hartland Moor |
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Open heathland on Hartland Moor
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| Type | Heath |
| Location | Dorset, England |
| Nearest town | Wareham |
| Area | 741.1 acres (299.9 ha) |
| Status | SSSI |
Hartland Moor is a special natural area in Dorset, England. It's located near the town of Wareham, close to Poole Harbour. This area is mostly a type of land called a lowland heath.
Hartland Moor is protected because it's home to many rare plants and animals. It's a really important place for nature in the United Kingdom.
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Protecting Hartland Moor
Hartland Moor is a very important place for wildlife. Because of this, it has two special protection titles.
National Nature Reserve
In 1954, Hartland Moor became a National Nature Reserve. This means it's a place protected by the government. The goal is to help nature and wildlife thrive there. About 243 hectares (600 acres) of the site have this special title.
Site of Special Scientific Interest
A larger part of Hartland Moor is also a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). This title means the area is important for its plants, animals, or geology. The Hartland Moor SSSI covers about 299.9 hectares (741.1 acres). A big part of this land is owned by the National Trust, a charity that protects special places.
Nature at Hartland Moor
Hartland Moor is a fantastic place to explore nature. It's part of a bigger area called the Dorset Heaths. This is one of the largest areas of lowland heath and mire in the county.
What is a Heathland?
A lowland heath is an open area with small shrubs and plants. The soil here is not very rich, which means only certain types of plants can grow well. These plants are special because they can live in tough conditions.
Unique Water System
Hartland Moor has a very interesting water system. There's a stream that splits into a "Y" shape. The two parts of the stream have very different water.
- The northern part has acidic water. This is like the water in a lemon.
- The southern part has alkaline water. This water has more calcium, like baking soda.
This difference in water helps many different kinds of plants grow. For example, golden bog-moss loves the acidic water. But black bog-rush grows well in the alkaline water.
Rare Plants
You can find some very rare plants at Hartland Moor. These include the beautiful Dorset heath. You might also spot bog sedge and the tiny bog orchid near the pools.
Amazing Animals
Hartland Moor is a home for many animals, including some very rare ones.
- Reptiles: All six types of British reptiles live here! This includes the rare sand lizard and the smooth snake. Both of these reptiles have their babies on the moor.
- Cattle: A herd of Red Devon cattle helps to keep the moor healthy. They eat some of the plants, which stops the area from becoming overgrown. This helps the special heathland plants and animals.
- Birds: You might see the European stonechat here. The very rare Dartford warbler also lives on the moor. This bird is only found in a few places in the UK. There's even a special hide for watching birds.
The First Railway
Hartland Moor was also home to the very first railway in Dorset. It was built in 1805. This railway, called the Middlebere Plateway, was used to carry a type of clay called ball clay. The clay was moved from Corfe Castle across the moor to Poole Harbour.
