Rare discoveries on Dorset beaches

A variety of rare wildlife has been discovered on Dorset beaches after a survey was conducted by Dorset Wildlife Trust.

Amongst the finds was the rare rove beetle, which has never been seen in Dorset. With a good sized population at Kimmeridge, it was also found on other beaches within the Purbeck Marine Wildlife Reserve including Broad Bench and Chapman’s Pool.

Another rare find was the specialised beach plant sea stock, which hasn’t been seen in the county for over 100 years. The plant is threatened by the disappearance of sand dunes and disturbance by beach visitors, but is thriving down at Studland’s Shell Bay.

Julie Hatcher, Marine Awareness Officer at Dorset Wildlife Trust, said: “These finds are very exciting and show how important beach strandlines are for wildlife.  Beaches where the strandline is not removed, such as Studland, Kimmeridge and Ringstead, are the ones with the richest and rarest plants and animals. So while you might screw your nose up at a smelly heap of rotting seaweed in a corner of the beach, rest assured that it is a wildlife haven, home to some of the rarest plants and animals in the county.”