The first 'super nature reserve' in Britain is taking shape - creating a 'savannah' where animals can wander and 'mimic their wild ancestors'. The huge area of Purbeck Heaths in Dorset is intended to 'turn back the clock thousands of years' to a place where cattle, pigs and ponies can roam.
They will graze like extinct species to help wildlife such as sand lizard, southern damselfly and heath tiger beetle to thrive in precious heathland landscape. The site was declared a nature reserve in December 2020 after the trust managed to finally 'knit together' the vast area.
The 3,400 hectare wetlands in Dorset was once home to a 1,370 hectare savannah - where now extinct ancient cattle called 'aurochs' roamed freely several millennia ago. Without the ancient beasts though, they've instead turned to cattle, pigs and ponies to help restore the area.
