This magical pocket of mixed woodland and heath is listed on the Ancient Woodland Inventory.
The 26 hectare mixed woodland and heath site is home to a great diversity of trees including mature Oaks, Sweet Chestnut and Beech. The woodland gives way to Black Heath, an area of heath in restoration with its own herd of Dartmoor ponies. Rushy Pond, famous from Thomas Hardy works, is home to amphibians and dragonflies and a hunting ground for resident grass snakes as well as being a watering hole for the ponies and other wildlife.
Running through the site is a well preserved Roman road. This Scheduled Ancient Monument, would have stretched from Dorchester to Badbury Rings. There are lots of paths to explore both the site and further afield using the local rights of way to Puddletown Forest and Dorchester.
Thomas Hardy's childhood landscape
The site is also adjacent to Hardy's Cottage, birthplace of novelist and poet Thomas Hardy. Black Heath is now a small fragment of the once famous Hardy's Egdon Heath and Rushy Pond is mentioned in 'The Withered Arm'. Visitors, wildlife enthusiasts, families and dog walkers are all encouraged to follow in Hardy's footsteps and explore the land that he portrayed in his novels such as 'The Woodlanders' and 'Return of the Native'.
The Hardy's Birthplace Visitor Centre provides a gateway to the site and hosts displays, family activities, a ranger workshop, café, shop and toilet facilities. Several recommended routes and fun activities for children are available on leaflets in the visitor centre.
No barbecues or camp fires
Please, strictly no barbecues or camp fires at our country parks and sites. The Fire Service has been really stretched by the recent Wareham Forest fire and other fires. As conditions continue to be dry the fire risk remains high.
| Nearest Town | Dorchester |
|---|---|
| Look out for |
Dormice, Smooth Snakes, Adders, Grass Snakes, Spotted Flycatchers, Marsh Tits, Nightjars, Ravens, Silver Studded Blues and Early Purple Orchids. |
| Habitats | Woodland, heath and a pond |
| Site designations |
Ancient Woodland Inventory, Local Nature Reserve, Scheduled Ancient Monument, Site of Nature Conservation Interest |
| Nearest bus stop | A35 near Dorchester or Kingston Maurward College |
| Nearest train station | Dorchester South and West |
| Grid reference | SY 725 921 |
| Size | 26 hectares |
| Parking |
Up to 1 hour £1.50 |
| Accessibility | Open Access area. No cycling or horse riding. |
| Other activities in area | |
| Owner | Dorset Council |
| Managed by | Dorset Council Ranger Team (Area Greenspace Management Team - West) |
How to get there
For specific directions, go to the Visiting Hardy's Birthplace page.
Or see the following map to Hardy's Birthplace Visitor Centre which sits at the entrance to the car park (postcode DT2 8QH), with routes into Thorncombe Wood.