Farming In A Protected Landscape
At Highlands End, we are more than just an award-winning Holiday Park; we are also a working farm. With over 80 hectares of land to manage, a flock of around 300 sheep and a small herd of alpacas, our Farm Team are always kept busy. As well as our animals, the park is also home to vast numbers of wildlife, and we take care to ensure that we create a wide range of habitats for all kinds of creatures. There’s also a number of public footpaths running through our land that must be managed and maintained so that guests and the people who live nearby can enjoy walking through the countryside.
We’ve recently received a grant that will allow us to undertake a large Rewilding project during 2024 and 2025. Through this project we hope to create a number of habitats for wildlife, and educate visitors walking along our paths about the different creatures that they might find there. Highlands End sits within the Dorset National Landscape, which was previously known as the Dorset Area Of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and is also located along the UNESCO World Heritage Site The Jurassic Coast. Both of these designations signify how important the natural landscape is here, and we’re dedicated to protecting it.
We’ve got a long list of plans for this project, here’s what we’re working towards:
- Planting 100m of hedgerow including 30 trees and almost 50 additional shrubs. Re-establishing long-lost blossom hedges will improve biodiversity and create wildlife corridors so that animals can safely move between existing hedgerows.
- Grassland restoration over an area of 3 hectares. Species of grass will be chosen to maximise carbon storage within the soil, and sheep grazing will be kept to a minimum during key flowering times. A permissive path will be created to expand on our existing Nature Trail, and allow visitors to walk around the new grassland areas.
- Creating a mobile nature hide at our wildlife lake for visitors to enjoy. This will encourage nature watching for visitors of all ages, and people will be encouraged to share photos and reports on social media. The hide being mobile will allow us to locate it in the best possible location with minimal disruption to wildlife.
- Putting up informative signage and information boards to help educate visitors on wildlife species that they might come across.
- Sharing farming updates on our website and social media. To encourage engagement with the farm as well as the holiday park, and hopefully inspire the next generation of farmers.
Based on 1902 reviews
Highlands End
Highlands End boasts stunning clifftop views and a 5-star experience. With modern amenities and pristine facilities, this award-winning park delivers breathtaking scenery, serene relaxation, and vibrant entertainment for all.
View park
Based on 1902 reviews
Published
Facebook
WhatsApp
X
Email