Nature & Wildlife, Poole | Posted on April 16th, 2026 | return to news

Upton Heath saved by fundraising campaign

A campaign raised over £100,000 from the community in two weeks, with major contributions from councils in Dorset.

A vital piece of the nature reserve at Upton Heath has been saved from development thanks to a fundraising campaign by Dorset Wildlife Trust.

The land was due to be sold at auction with historic permission for minerals extraction, making it vulnerable to speculative development that could cause devastating and irreversible harm, according to the trust. The parcel of land forms a crucial ecological corridor within the wider Upton Heath Site of Special Scientific Interest.

Its protection ensures the future of rare and threatened species including sand lizards, Dartford warblers and smooth snakes.

Vikki Slade, Lib Dem MP for Mid Dorset and North Poole who supported the trust’s campaign, said she is delighted that Dorset Wildlife Trust has been successful in its purchase of the area.

Following the launch of a public appeal, Dorset Wildlife Trust raised over £100,000 from the community in just two weeks, with further significant contributions from private donors. Dorset Council and BCP Council will provide major contributions, enabling the charity to secure the site for wildlife and people in perpetuity.

Speaking at Prime Minister’s Question Time on Wednesday 15 April, Vikki Slade asked the Prime Minister to join her “in congratulating Dorset Wildlife Trust and the people of Dorset for their incredible efforts to secure Upton Heath for nature”.

However, she stressed that although the bid has been accepted, there are outstanding costs that remain.

In an effort to secure additional funds and encouraged by the Prime Minister’s commitment to ensure that ministers engage on this issue, Slade has also written a letter to the Secretary of State for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. The letter seeks access to DEFRA’s newly announced investment of £60 million across the next three years into the Species Recovery Programme. On Upton Heath, this could finance efforts to restore the area that has to date been in private ownership for the benefit of the six native species of reptile, 16 species of dragonfly and other rare birds and wildlife.

Slade added that whilst the dedication of the public, both councils and DWT to protecting nature is clear, the Prime Minister was unable to commit to the key change she was seeking to protect sites across the country – namely, legislation that would remove extant planning permissions whenever an area receives a national or international protective designation.

Upton Heath was made a Site of Special Scientific Interest in August 2025, yet the mineral excavation permissions dating back to the 1950s massively inflated the price of the site.

She said: “In some respects, this victory is bittersweet. The cost of the site is exorbitant and whilst there is no price you can put on preservation, such a mammoth fundraising effort should not have been required.”

She urged the Government to “put their money where their mouth is, as the constituents of Mid Dorset and North Poole, and people across the country want to see this government step up and protect nature, wherever it is threatened”.

Slade plans to present the petition she ran concurrently with Dorset Wildlife Trust’s fundraising efforts in the Chamber today, Thursday. She had gathered 2,000 signatures within two weeks.

She added: “I am pleased that a successful bid has been made for the Upton Heath site, but for the more than 1,500 people who added their names to my petition to save our heathland, this chapter has not closed. Their voices must be heard in Parliament, with a focus on making a final push for restoration funding, and for sites across the country that could soon face similar challenges. We here in Dorset have shown what it is possible to achieve when a community pulls together, but our key takeaway is that steps should be taken to prevent the need for this kind of urgent action.”

Brian Bleese, chief executive at Dorset Wildlife Trust, said: “I am totally overwhelmed by the amazing response from the local community, our partners and supporters in response to this urgent appeal to save Upton Heath. This is a landmark moment for nature recovery in Dorset. Thanks to the generosity of the public and the commitment of our partners, we can now restore this neglected area of heathland to help wildlife thrive, reduce wildfire risk, and improve access for local communities. This land will now be protected for wildlife and for people, forever.”

Dorset Council leader and Cabinet member for Climate, Cllr Nick Ireland, said: “This is a really important moment for Dorset. Upton Heath is a special place for wildlife and for local people, and this purchase means it can now be properly cared for as one joined‑up nature reserve.

“By acting now with our partners, we’ve helped secure a nationally important habitat, reduced future risks like wildfire, and protected a place that so many residents value for walking, nature and wellbeing. At the heart of the Dorset Local Nature Recovery Strategy is everyone coming together to help our special habitats and landscapes recover.

“This purchase of Upton Heath is a strong example of organisations and communities all coming together to make a lasting difference. This is just the start, and we’ll continue to work with partners on lobbying for national funding towards the restoration of this site.”

Dorset Wildlife Trust will now begin restoration work to reinstate heathland management, improve public access, and deliver long‑term conservation benefits across the 10th largest area of heathland in Dorset.