Slop Bog — Attraction in Ferndown Town

Great little nature reserve hemmed in by man-made developments, including housing estates and the A31. It is not well known and many people who drive past never even know it is there! For such a small reserve (22.6 hectares) tehre are many different habitats and lots of wildlife to see. It is a brilliant place to spot lizards, dragonflies, snakes and spiders from the long boardwalk and children love a walk there. I have often found it productive for macro photography. Sadly the reserve tends to be used heavily for dog-walking and you have to be ever alert for piles of dog excrement thanks to those lazy owners who don't pick it up. Some even think its fine to leave it on the boardwalk! Words fail me! Please try to keep the reserve healthy and pleasant for others, especially...

Hidden away to the north of Ferndown, just off the road to West Moors, the less-than-appeallingly named Slop Bog is actually a charming and beautiful survivor of the now rare heathland which once covered the south of England. A sturdy boardwalk takes you out safely across the bog, with numerous little paths in all directions across the dry heath. Well worth a walk with the dog - you'll never believe this is here, so close to the...

I was looking for somewhere new to go walkies today and found Slop Bog in Google Maps. After reading previous reviews here I resolved to visit, and I wasn’t disappointed. The only negative was the ever-present hum of traffic on the A31 Ferndown Bypass but if you look past that you witness a rather special place. We will...