RSPB Arne and Weymouth Wetlands

RSPB Arne and Weymouth Wetlands A wealth of wildlife in a beautiful setting. News, sightings and events from nature reserve and neighbouring RSPB reserves. Posts by the Arne team.

Bring your classroom outside this Autumn!Did you know the RSPB offer FREE school visits to our Dorset reserves? Our educ...
15/09/2026

Bring your classroom outside this Autumn!
Did you know the RSPB offer FREE school visits to our Dorset reserves?
Our educational guided walks are a great opportunity for schools to visit our reserves for free!
We only have limited spaces, so please get in touch to book your spot. Please email: [email protected]

(Photo of child and RSPB outdoor educator looking at bark and leaves)
Photo credit Eleanor Bentall

Be the first to hear the “peep-ing” call of the Oystercatcher or the “cur-lee” of the Curlew welcoming in the day as the...
15/09/2026

Be the first to hear the “peep-ing” call of the Oystercatcher or the “cur-lee” of the Curlew welcoming in the day as the sunrises over Poole Harbour 🌅
Join us for a Sunrise Walk this Sunday and experience RSPB Arne nature reserve coming to life as day dawns. What better way to spend a morning than with wildlife!🐦🦌🌳
Booking essential please: https://events.rspb.org.uk/arne
(Photo: bright pink, red and orange sky asthe sun rises over Poole HArbour - reflected in the sea)
Photo credit: RSPB Images - Jeanette Huish

When you join us at RSPB Arne for our Dorset Christmas Festival Pull a Pine, you are doing far more than choosing your ...
14/09/2026

When you join us at RSPB Arne for our Dorset Christmas Festival Pull a Pine, you are doing far more than choosing your Christmas tree. You are helping one of the UK's most mysterious and remarkable birds.
The Nightjar is a summer visitor to our heathlands, arriving from Africa each spring. With its incredible camouflage, silent flight and eerie churring call, it's one of the most iconic species found at RSPB Arne.
But Nightjars need open heathland to thrive. Left unmanaged, heathland can quickly become overrun by pine and birch trees, shading out the open areas these birds rely on for nesting, feeding and raising their chicks.
That is where Pull a Pine comes in.
Every pine removed helps restore precious heathland habitat, keeping the landscape open and healthy for Nightjars and many other rare species. By taking home a Christmas tree, you're directly contributing to the conservation of one of Dorset's most special habitats.
🎄 Every tree pulled helps protect wildlife. 🌙 Every pull supports Nightjars. 💚
Join us on Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 November and help keep the heathland alive for future generations of Nightjars.
🎟 Early Bird Discount Tickets are available until the end of October.
Book now to take advantage of the great offer, just click the link below:
👉://events.rspb.org.uk/arne

(photo Nightjar perched on a branch)
image credit Martin Pearce


Make this autumn one to remember at RSPB Arne 🍂As the heather fades and the colours of the season begin to change, there...
13/09/2026

Make this autumn one to remember at RSPB Arne 🍂
As the heather fades and the colours of the season begin to change, there’s no better time to discover the wild beauty of Arne with someone who knows it inside out.
With our Hire-a-Guide experience, you and up to three friends or family members can enjoy a bespoke 2½-hour walk, tailored entirely to your interests.
Fancy learning more about Arne’s incredible wildlife? Want to spend some quality time birdwatching with an expert? Or perhaps you would love to uncover the fascinating history of the reserve? Our knowledgeable guides can create an experience just for you.
And if you’re looking ahead to Christmas, a Hire-a-Guide voucher makes a wonderfully thoughtful gift for the nature lover in your life. 🎁
📅 Walks are arranged around your availability — just remember to give us at least 4 weeks’ notice when booking.
To find out more or start planning your bespoke Arne adventure, email [email protected]
🍁 Come and see Arne through the eyes of someone who knows and loves this very special place.
(photo group of people in a woodland landscape looking up at a tree)
image credit RSPB/Gemma Louise Pepper


🍂UP CLOSE TO NATURE:This week one of the favourite spots from visitors and the team at RSPB Arne, has been the Wheatear....
13/09/2026

🍂UP CLOSE TO NATURE:
This week one of the favourite spots from visitors and the team at RSPB Arne, has been the Wheatear.
These smart little birds are often seen perched on fence posts, rocks, or low vegetation, keeping a watchful eye on their surroundings. Although they may appear quite plain at first glance, look a little closer and you'll notice their warm buff-coloured chest, striking black eye stripe, and distinctive white rump that flashes brightly when they fly.
Wheatears pass through Arne during migration, using our open heathland and coastal habitats as a place to rest and refuel before continuing their remarkable journeys. They can often be surprisingly approachable, making them a favourite among birdwatchers and photographers alike.
If you are exploring the reserve over the next few weeks, keep an eye out in open areas where they can pause between feeding on insects. You never know when one might pop up on a nearby post to survey its surroundings.
📸 Have you spotted a Wheatear at Arne?
We would love to see your photos and hear about your sightings. Share them in the comments below.
(Photos of Wheatears all in Autumn plumage)
image credits RSPB/Ben Andrew

One week to go until the next Sunrise Guided Walk at RSPB ArneThere is something truly special about being on the reserv...
13/09/2026

One week to go until the next Sunrise Guided Walk at RSPB Arne
There is something truly special about being on the reserve before the rest of the world wakes up.
Join us next Sunday as we set out in the early hours, following quiet trails through ancient woodland and heathland towards the shores of Poole Harbour. As dawn breaks, you will experience the reserve coming to life around you, with birds beginning to sing, wildlife stirring and the sky slowly transforming as the sun rises over the harbour.
Whether you are a keen wildlife watcher, a photographer, or simply looking for a peaceful start to the day, this is a wonderful opportunity to slow down, switch off and immerse yourself in nature.
Watch the sunrise over Poole Harbour 🐦 Listen to the dawn chorus
🌿 Enjoy the tranquillity of Arne before opening hours 🦌 Keep an eye out for some early-morning wildlife surprises
Places are limited, so book now and treat yourself to a memorable start to the day.
🎟️ Book here: https://events.rspb.org.uk/events/149741
📅 Just one week to go - Sunday 20 September Start time 6:00am

(photo sunrise over Poole Harbour)
image credit Team RSPB Arne

🔦Ever wondered what the woods are like after dark? 🦉🦇Join us for a Biofluorescence walk at RSPB Arne and experience natu...
12/09/2026

🔦Ever wondered what the woods are like after dark? 🦉🦇
Join us for a Biofluorescence walk at RSPB Arne and experience nature’s true colours‼️
Our friendly guides will share this previously hidden world with you🍄 😁
Every Friday from 2nd October for 4 weeks, for times and to book (essential please): https://events.rspb.org.uk/arne
(Photo: caterpillar with glowing green stripes on a purple tinged leaf)
Photo credit: RSPB Images

😍DCT's friendly drivers are ready to welcome you aboard the Purbeck Shuttle 200 bus to RSPB Arne! 🐦🦌🌳With stops at Wareh...
12/09/2026

😍DCT's friendly drivers are ready to welcome you aboard the Purbeck Shuttle 200 bus to RSPB Arne! 🐦🦌🌳
With stops at Wareham Station, South Bridge, Stoborough and Ridge on Wednesday's (until Christmas!). And extra stops at Norden Farm Campsite and Norden Rail Station on Saturday's (until 26th Sept).
It's the prefect way to travel to the nature reserve. Plus for non RSPB members your entry charge will be reduced!💚
Check the timetable: https://ectcharity.co.uk/files_uploads/DCT_Service_2RN%2C_2023%2C_Timetable.pdf
(Photo: 1 DCT green bus parked at Arne, DCT driver in the bus)
(Photo credit: RSPB Images - Roz Aldred)

Exciting Dorset Christmas Festival - Pull a Pine at RSPB Arne news! 🌲This week, the team got together to plan this year'...
11/09/2026

Exciting Dorset Christmas Festival - Pull a Pine at RSPB Arne news! 🌲
This week, the team got together to plan this year's Pull a Pine - Dorset Christmas Festival, and we are delighted to share that we have a fantastic new location for the event at the reserve!
This year Pull a Pine will take place in an exclusive part of the reserve that is not normally open to visitors, offering stunning views across Arne's beautiful heathland landscape and, of course, plenty of pine trees ready to be removed for nature. 💚
By choosing and cutting your own Christmas tree, you will be helping us protect one of the UK's rarest habitats. Removing invasive pine trees helps safeguard precious lowland heathland, providing a home for species such as Sand Lizards, Smooth Snakes, Dartford Warblers and Nightjars.
🎅 Get your Festive hat and wellies ready!
🎄 Choose and cut your own Christmas tree
🎶 Enjoy live music and festive cheer
☕ Warm up with hot food, refreshments and mulled c***r in our festive heathland tent
🛍️ Enjoy 15% off in the Arne shop for ticket holders
🔭 Try out a range of binoculars and telescopes with our expert team
✨ Early Bird tickets are available until the end of October, so why not take advantage of the discounted price and book your tickets today? Gather your family and friends and make a day of it while helping wildlife at the same time. 🎄💚
Join us on 28 & 29 November and kick-start the festive season with a unique conservation event that really makes a difference for nature.
Please note the route includes a hill at the start of the path to the event and some slopes, so a moderate level of fitness is recommended.
🎟️ Book your earlytickets now:
👉https://events.rspb.org.uk/arne
Who's planning to join us this year? Let us know in the comments! 👇

(photo Heathland landscape view in the sunshine)
image credit Team RSPB Arne

Volunteer Voices at RSPB Arne 🌟Welcome to Volunteer Voices, our weekly series celebrating the wonderful people who give ...
11/09/2026

Volunteer Voices at RSPB Arne 🌟
Welcome to Volunteer Voices, our weekly series celebrating the wonderful people who give their time to make RSPB Arne such a special place.
This week we're featuring Nige one of our visitor engagement and visitor operations support team volunteers. When asked what volunteering at RSPB Arne means to him, Nige said:
"My main reason for volunteering at RSPB Arne was to maintain my mental and physical wellbeing after retirement. Working with a fantastic team of staff and an outstanding group of fellow volunteers, while meeting visitors of all ages and interests. Most importantly learning something new every day. After all, every day is a school day." Nige is a valued member of our volunteer team and brings enthusiasm, and a wiliness to help in everything he does. Through volunteering, he has enjoyed meeting people from all walks of life, supporting visitors as they explore the reserve, and working alongside a dedicated team committed to protecting wildlife.
💚 Could you be our next volunteer?
Whether you are passionate about wildlife, enjoy meeting new people, or want to learn new skills, or put your DIY skills to good use volunteering at RSPB Arne is a fantastic way to make a difference while spending time in one of Dorset's most special places.
To find out more click the link below or email [email protected]
https://www.rspb.org.uk/get-involved/volunteering


Address

Arne Road
Wareham
BH205BJ

Opening Hours

Monday 9:30am - 4:30pm
Tuesday 9:30am - 4:30pm
Wednesday 9:30am - 4:30pm
Thursday 9:30am - 4:30pm
Friday 9:30am - 4:30pm
Saturday 9:30am - 4:30pm
Sunday 9:30am - 4:30pm

Telephone

01929 553360

Website

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