A ONCE-BARREN patch of land on the edge of Blandford has been transformed into a thriving wildlife haven helping one of Britain’s rarest bats while creating new green space for the community.

The 13-hectare site, which extends the popular Milldown Nature Reserve, has been turned into a flourishing chalk downland meadow after more than three years of work by Dorset Council, volunteers and conservation partners.

What was previously described as a wildlife-poor field is now home to a rich mix of habitats designed to support insects such as moths, beetles and spiders – a vital food source for the endangered Greater Horseshoe Bat.

The project was made possible after the council purchased the land from a local owner with support from the Cranborne Chase National Landscape’s Farming in Protected Landscapes programme.

More than 120 volunteers played a key role in the transformation, planting over 3,000 native hedgerow whips and 70 trees donated by Blandford residents.

The new hedgerows provide food and shelter for a wide range of wildlife.

Dorset Council leader Cllr Nick Ireland said he was “astonished” by the scale of the change.

“I am astonished at the transformation of this site – going from a wildlife desert to a wildlife oasis,” he said.

“This area is now bustling with wildlife, which is testament to all of the hard work our teams have done, along with volunteers, to create a beautiful haven.”

The reserve’s expansion also gives residents greater access to nature with new opportunities for recreation, education and wellbeing on the edge of the town.

The project could also benefit the area’s growing population of Greater Horseshoe Bats.

Numbers recorded at nearby Bryanston School have risen steadily from 538 in 2022 to 685 last year.

Wildlife experts will continue monitoring the site, with bat, moth and wildflower surveys planned throughout the summer as the meadow develops and new species become established.