Plan your visit
🦅Birds✦Heritage🦉Wildlife
Public accessDogs welcome33 ha
Getting here
50.84061, -2.91019
Open directionsv
Visiting this summer
Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now
- 🐦76+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Herring Gull and Moorhen
- ✦Historic character is a year-round quality here — summer brings its own atmosphere to the setting
- 🐕Dogs welcome — bring water in summer; the site has enough space to find shade on hot days
🌤️ Visiting this summer
- 🐦76+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Herring Gull and Moorhen
- ✦Historic character is a year-round quality here — summer brings its own atmosphere to the setting
- 🐕Dogs welcome — bring water in summer; the site has enough space to find shade on hot days
🦅Bird watching
Very strong match
Birds — Herring Gull, Moorhen, Mallard +73 more · last seen 2025; Deciduous woodland — woodpeckers, warblers and woodland birds
Free
✦Heritage
Very strong match
Grade I listed building: FORDE ABBEY; Historic site with public access
Free
Birds — Herring Gull, Moorhen, Mallard +73 more · last seen 2025; Deciduous woodland priority habitat
Free
🦋Insect spotting
Strong match
Insects — Speckled Wood, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown +60 more · last seen 2025
Free
Dogs allowed with public access
Free
Deciduous woodland — fungi, berries and wild garlic
Varies
Trails nearby
Within roughly 5 km6 signed routes nearby · 14 public paths nearby
Signed route nearbyPublic paths
Monarch's WayWalking route990 km▾
approximate route of Charles II's escape
Named routeRef MWLength 990 kmRegional walking route
Wessex RidgewayWalking route▾
Named routeRef WRRegional walking route
Jubilee Trail (Dorset)Walking route▾
Named routeRegional walking route
Liberty TrailWalking route▾
Named routeRef LIBRegional walking route
Orange WayWalking route560 km▾
Named routeRef ORWLength 560 kmRegional walking route
19 signed routes nearby
Signed route nearby
Route 33Cycling route▾
Named routeRef 33National Cycle Network
Main RouteCycling route15 m▾
Named routeRef 33Length 15 mNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt
Main RouteCycling route2.2 km▾
Named routeRef 33Length 2.2 kmNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface asphalt
Main RouteCycling route19 m▾
Named routeRef 33Length 19 mNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt
Main RouteCycling route213 m▾
Named routeRef 33Length 213 mNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt
Main RouteCycling route502 m▾
Named routeRef 33Length 502 mNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface asphalt
3 public paths nearby
Public paths
Partway Lanebridleway · 247 m▾
Public pathbridlewayLength 247 mPath type: service
Partway Lanebridleway · 21 m▾
Public pathbridlewayLength 21 mPath type: track
Photos
The Great Pond, Forde Abbey
Weather for this location
Next 14 daysNearby places
Useful places within 5 km
Events & activities nearby
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Wildlife to spot
21,139 records · National Biodiversity Network
Wildlife to spot
21,139 records · National Biodiversity Network🐦Birds56 species
springautumn
2025▾
Blue Tit · Robin · Woodpigeon · Wren · Blackbird +51
- Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus
- RobinErithacus rubecula
- WoodpigeonColumba palumbus
- WrenTroglodytes troglodytes
- BlackbirdTurdus merula
- GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis
- Carrion CrowCorvus corone
- JackdawColoeus monedula
- MoorhenGallinula chloropus
- Herring GullLarus argentatus
- Great TitParus major
- SwallowHirundo rustica
- Pied WagtailMotacilla alba yarrellii
- MallardAnas platyrhynchos
- ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita
- Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus
- BlackcapSylvia atricapilla
- Tufted DuckAythya fuligula
- ChaffinchFringilla coelebs
- KestrelFalco tinnunculus
- StarlingSturnus vulgaris
- PheasantPhasianus colchicus
- House MartinDelichon urbicum
- DunnockPrunella modularis
- Coal TitPeriparus ater
- Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striata
- Song ThrushTurdus philomelos
- Canada GooseBranta canadensis
- MagpiePica pica
- CootFulica atra
- CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo
- Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollis
- TreecreeperCerthia familiaris
- Meadow PipitAnthus pratensis
- Tawny OwlStrix aluco
- HobbyFalco subbuteo
- Grey WagtailMotacilla cinerea
- Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto
- RavenCorvus corax
- KingfisherAlcedo atthis
- GreenfinchChloris chloris
- GoldcrestRegulus regulus
- Reed WarblerAcrocephalus scirpaceus
- Mute SwanCygnus olor
- Green WoodpeckerPicus viridis
- Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilus
- LinnetLinaria cannabina
- House SparrowPasser domesticus
- Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucos
- Cetti's WarblerCettia cetti
- TealAnas crecca
- PeregrineFalco peregrinus
- FieldfareTurdus pilaris2024
- Stock DoveColumba oenas2024
- JayGarrulus glandarius2024
- Grey HeronArdea cinerea2024
Grass Snake
- Grass SnakeNatrix helvetica
🐸Amphibians1 species
spring
2025▾
Common Frog
- Common FrogRana temporaria
🐝Insects37 species
summerautumn
2025▾
Speckled Wood · Comma · Bronze Shieldbug · Adonis' Ladybird · 24-spot Ladybird +32
- Speckled WoodPararge aegeria2024
- CommaPolygonia c-album2024
- Bronze ShieldbugTroilus luridus
- Adonis' LadybirdHippodamia variegata
- 24-spot LadybirdSubcoccinella vigintiquattuorpunctata
- Red-veined Darter
Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas
Wildlife to spot
21,139 records · National Biodiversity Network🐦Birds56 species
springautumn
2025▾
Blue Tit · Robin · Woodpigeon · Wren · Blackbird +51
- Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus
- RobinErithacus rubecula
- WoodpigeonColumba palumbus
- WrenTroglodytes troglodytes
- BlackbirdTurdus merula
- GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis
- Carrion CrowCorvus corone
- JackdawColoeus monedula
- MoorhenGallinula chloropus
- Herring GullLarus argentatus
- Great TitParus major
- SwallowHirundo rustica
- Pied WagtailMotacilla alba yarrellii
- MallardAnas platyrhynchos
- ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita
- Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus
- BlackcapSylvia atricapilla
- Tufted DuckAythya fuligula
- ChaffinchFringilla coelebs
- KestrelFalco tinnunculus
- StarlingSturnus vulgaris
- PheasantPhasianus colchicus
- House MartinDelichon urbicum
- DunnockPrunella modularis
- Coal TitPeriparus ater
- Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striata
- Song ThrushTurdus philomelos
- Canada GooseBranta canadensis
- MagpiePica pica
- CootFulica atra
- CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo
- Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollis
- TreecreeperCerthia familiaris
- Meadow PipitAnthus pratensis
- Tawny OwlStrix aluco
- HobbyFalco subbuteo
- Grey WagtailMotacilla cinerea
- Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto
- RavenCorvus corax
- KingfisherAlcedo atthis
- GreenfinchChloris chloris
- GoldcrestRegulus regulus
- Reed WarblerAcrocephalus scirpaceus
- Mute SwanCygnus olor
- Green WoodpeckerPicus viridis
- Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilus
- LinnetLinaria cannabina
- House SparrowPasser domesticus
- Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucos
- Cetti's WarblerCettia cetti
- TealAnas crecca
- PeregrineFalco peregrinus
- FieldfareTurdus pilaris2024
- Stock DoveColumba oenas2024
- JayGarrulus glandarius2024
- Grey HeronArdea cinerea2024
Grass Snake
- Grass SnakeNatrix helvetica
🐸Amphibians1 species
spring
2025▾
Common Frog
- Common FrogRana temporaria
🐝Insects37 species
summerautumn
2025▾
Speckled Wood · Comma · Bronze Shieldbug · Adonis' Ladybird · 24-spot Ladybird +32
- Speckled WoodPararge aegeria2024
- CommaPolygonia c-album2024
- Bronze ShieldbugTroilus luridus
- Adonis' LadybirdHippodamia variegata
- 24-spot LadybirdSubcoccinella vigintiquattuorpunctata
- Red-veined Darter
Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas
Sympetrum fonscolombii
Sympetrum fonscolombii
Small WhitePieris rapae2024Small WhitePieris rapae2024Emperor DragonflyAnax imperatorEmperor DragonflyAnax imperatorRoesel's Bush-cricketRoeseliana roeseliiRoesel's Bush-cricketRoeseliana roeseliiLong-winged Cone-headConocephalus fuscusLong-winged Cone-headConocephalus fuscusBishop's MitreAelia acuminataBishop's MitreAelia acuminataMint Leaf BeetleChrysolina herbaceaMint Leaf BeetleChrysolina herbaceaSphaeroderma testaceumSphaeroderma testaceumSphaeroderma testaceumSphaeroderma testaceumTortoise BugEurygaster testudinariaTortoise BugEurygaster testudinariaFigwort WeevilCionus scrophulariaeFigwort WeevilCionus scrophulariaeAthripsodes albifronsAthripsodes albifronsAthripsodes albifronsAthripsodes albifronsCryptocephalus moraeiCryptocephalus moraeiCryptocephalus moraeiCryptocephalus moraeiFleabane Tortoise BeetleCassida murraeaFleabane Tortoise BeetleCassida murraeaHairy ShieldbugDolycoris baccarumHairy ShieldbugDolycoris baccarumCicadella viridisCicadella viridisCicadella viridisCicadella viridisGreen DrakeEphemera danicaGreen DrakeEphemera danicaScymnus frontalisScymnus frontalisScymnus frontalisScymnus frontalisPolydrusus formosusPolydrusus formosusPolydrusus formosusPolydrusus formosusBlack SnipeflyChrysopilus cristatusBlack SnipeflyChrysopilus cristatusHazel Leaf-rollerApoderus coryliHazel Leaf-rollerApoderus coryli14-spot LadybirdPropylea quattuordecimpunctata14-spot LadybirdPropylea quattuordecimpunctataEupteryx aurataEupteryx aurataEupteryx aurataEupteryx aurataRibautiana tenerrimaRibautiana tenerrimaRibautiana tenerrimaRibautiana tenerrimaSpeckled Bush-cricketLeptophyes punctatissimaSpeckled Bush-cricketLeptophyes punctatissimaIris WeevilMononychus punctumalbumIris WeevilMononychus punctumalbumRed-legged ShieldbugPentatoma rufipesRed-legged ShieldbugPentatoma rufipesCyllecoris histrioniusCyllecoris histrioniusCyllecoris histrioniusCyllecoris histrioniusStenocorus meridianusStenocorus meridianusStenocorus meridianusStenocorus meridianusBroad-barred FusehornArge cyanocroceaBroad-barred FusehornArge cyanocroceaDark-edged Bee-flyBombylius majorDark-edged Bee-flyBombylius majorGreen-veined WhitePieris napi2024Green-veined WhitePieris napi2024Large WhitePieris brassicae2024Large WhitePieris brassicae2024