Arne RSPB reserve about 4 miles from the centre of Wareham. It was established in 1965 and is part of the
Purbeck heaths covering approximately 535 hectares.
Directions - heading south from Wareham
over the causeway to Stoborough and via Nutcrack Lane follow the signposts to
Arne and the car park is located at the beginning of the village.
In addition to the
open areas of heathland the reserve includes old oak woodland, saltmarsh and open stretches of water across
Poole harbour. The reserve is a good
place to see the Dartford Warbler. Over
the winter the saltmarsh areas / Middlebere Lake attracts a good variety of
waders and wildfowl that can number in excess of 25,000 birds during January
and Februrary.