In March 2024, Dorset Wildlife Trust and Natural England acquired 335 hectares of chalk downland and farmland at Lyscombe, around 10 miles north-east of Dorchester. The former organically managed farm was acquired for nature conservation and environmental restoration, with funding from Natural England’s National Nature Reserves programme and its planned nutrient mitigation credit scheme, alongside donations from Dorset Wildlife Trust members and supporters. In 2026, Lyscombe became the 16th site in the King’s Series of National Nature Reserves. Natural England formally declared the reserve on 17 August, while its new status was publicly announced and celebrated on 15 September. The formal declaration covers 333.57 hectares, while Dorset Wildlife Trust describes the original acquisition as 335 hectares. The landscape includes chalk grassland, wildflower meadows, scrub, ancient woodland and historic features, with restoration work focused on restoring habitats and creating better-connected spaces for wildlife. This significant conservation achievement demonstrates how strategic land acquisition and sustained ecological restoration can transform former agricultural landscapes into thriving nature reserves benefiting wildlife, water quality and cultural heritage preservation.
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