The Slop Bog Guardians
" To preserve
and protect the character of Slop Bog Local Nature Reserve
by maintaining a balance between the views of the local
community and national conservation strategies".
In 2003, local residents
around the Slop Bog area received news that a large tree
felling exercise was to take place. On site meetings were
held raising objections to the plans. As a consequence,
a properly constituted committee meeting was held on 7th
March 2003 and the Slop Bog Guardians arose.
Modifications to the original
felling plans were taken as a result and our role as Guardians
(more than 'friends' we felt) took root. In the succeeding
years, a rapport has evolved between ourselves and the Countryside
Rangers in which a respect for each other's views has been
a major factor in progressing and enhancing the Local Nature
Reserve. The name Slop Bog appears uninspiring but here
lies a jewel in our midst.
The
Slop Bog Guardians assist with:
• wildlife monitoring
• practical work
• general site patrols
• informing about site based projects
• raising funds for projects
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Our main achievement has
been in bringing together local people in a common cause.
Friendships have developed, skills recognized, talents fostered
and problems discussed in harmony rather than antipathy.
Our success in obtaining a Grant approaching
£18,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund has been achieved
as a consequence of much research and hard work by our dedicated
team of Guardians.
Status and Designations
Notified in 1985 and declared
a local nature reserve in 2002, the Reserve lies within
the greenbelt as part of the "Slop Bog and Uddens Heath
Site of Special Scientific Interest" (SSSI). In 2009
its condition status was upgraded from "unfavourable
no change" to "unfavourable recovering" showing
that recent management was benefitting the sites conservation
value.
In addition to its local
and national status, the Reserve lies within English Nature's
"Dorset Healthlands Natural area", and as such
receives international recognition:
* Special Area for Conservation
(European Union Habitats Directive)
* Species Protection Area (European Union Birds Directive)
* Ramsar (convention on wetlands of international importance)
