A CELEBRATED Dorset wildlife reserve is to introduce ponies and cattle to help it support its rare wildlife – which includes an unusual black adder.

The grazing beasts will be introduced within fencing on the newly acquired land in the centre of Upton Heath, Poole.

All six British reptiles thrive on the heath, a Dorset Wildlife Trust nature reserve, and the ponies and hardy Shetland cattle will help keep it in good shape.

“Grazing heathland has been practised for hundreds of years and is the most natural and effective way of improving the land for wildlife,” said Nigel Brooks, urban and east warden at the trust.

“The cattle and ponies that we will be using are great at browsing through the scrub and grass that would otherwise take over the beautiful heathers and gorse that the wildlife here thrives on.

“They are also very domesticated and happy to be around people and dogs.

“The areas access points are being maintained and everyone is still welcome to enjoy this area of the reserve,” he said.

The reserve is open all year round and supports rare wildlife such as the Dartford warbler, nightjars, smooth snakes and sand lizards.

The distinctive long-tailed warbler with a dark red breast suffered badly during last winter’s severe weather and the trust estimated numbers dropped by around 50 per cent across Dorset reserves.

Upton Heath is extremely important for the small British population of the birds, as its south-facing position close to Poole Harbour protects it from the heavier snow experienced on other heaths.

On Friday July 1 at 9pm there will be a field trip to Upton Heath to look for nightjars, bats and to explore the reserve in the evening.

People attending should meet at the end of Beacon Road, off Pinesprings Road, Creekmoor.