Wareham Forest is a great place to explore and discover the famous heaths and woods of the Dorset countryside.
Many miles of tracks take you through beautiful and ancient landscapes, where if you are lucky, you’ll see some of its special wildlife. The cycle trail takes its names from the famous Sika deer and the walking trail is named after the rare ground-nesting birds, Woodlarks, who's lovely song you may hear on your walk.
Wareham Forest is patchwork of different habitats, including open heathland and woodland - it's home to lots of very special plants and animals. Bogs and streams provide vital habitats for many creatures and support a wealth of rare and diverse plant life. They also play an important role in maintaining the health of the Forest and absorbing carbon.
Parts of Wareham Forest are grazed in a way that's sensitive to its plants and wildlife. This traditional practice is helping to create a varied habitat for wildlife. Please do not approach the cattle too closely and keep your dogs under close control and close gates behind you. Wareham provides some fantastic places to ride your horse. Shared use of the forests requires patience and respect for fellow visitors. Please adhere to any signed no go areas.
National Nature Reserve
Forestry England is one of seven landowners who joined forces to create the largest ever lowland heath National Nature Reserve on land we manage in Purbeck, Dorset (working with the National Trust, Natural England, RSPB, the Rempstone Estate, Dorset Wildlife Trust and Amphibian and Reptile Conservation).
Wareham Forest is located close to the super-sized reserve that's a rich mosaic of lowland wet and dry heath, valley mires, acid grassland and woodland, along with coastal sand dunes, lakes and saltmarsh. Conifers in our plantations are also being carefully restored back to heathland.
Please note that during ground-nesting bird season we are unable to accept large scale permission applications.
Horse riding
Wareham provides some fantastic places to ride your horse. Shared use of the forests requires patience and respect for fellow visitors. Please adhere to any signed no-go areas and follow local routes and signage where appropriate.
Commercial activity or carriage drivers requiring barrier access will still need to apply for a permission via southern.permissions@forestryengland.uk.
To find out more about our permissions process please visit https://www.forestryengland.uk/permissions Please do not advertise or undertake any event or activity until you have received approval and a formal permit from us.
