East Dorset: Leigh Common woodland nature reserve

Car park at the Centre.

Many buses to Wimborne, but, from Leigh Road, the Wilts & Dorset no 88 from Queen Elizabeth School via Wimborne Square and 315 from Blandford to Ringwood.

[1] Walk away from the Community Centre, down the LH side of Gordon Road crossing Barnes Crescent to the main road (Leigh Road).

(To avoid steps at the main road, take the lower RH path near road at railings)

[2] Turn L to cross at the traffic lights and turn R on Leigh Road. Pass another set of traffic lights and past the sign welcoming you into Colehill to reach Northleigh Lane. 

[3] Turn L and immediately take the gravel track on the R (Leigh Common) running parallel to Northleigh Lane. Just before houses ahead, enter woods on the R through wooden entrance gates. Follow path to first Path Junction.

[4] Turn L  onto a boardwalk as it zig-zags over streams and marsh. Shortly after the boardwalk ends  you reach a path T Junction    

(The path to the L crosses a wooden bridge and If you go through the gate exiting Leigh Wood , there's a nearby bench from which to enjoy the view of a large open field with paths leading to a pond.)

[5] Turn right at this junction onto a path around the wood. At next junction turn sharp R, then straight ahead at the next Path Junction [4] (completing the loop) with the start of the boardwalk on your right.  Retrace your steps to the nature reserve entrance. Turn left and return to Leigh Park Community Centre the way you came.

A. Leigh Park Community Centre has a community room for hire, a kitchen and an outdoor play area for under 8's.  There are many activities, including residents' coffee mornings, toddler group, art classes, bingo, Girl Guides, yoga, Tai Chi, Young Actors workshop and a food bank. Residents can become members and attend annual general meetings.

B. Leigh Common Nature Reserve is owned by the Hanham Estate and managed by East Dorset Countryside Management Service. In the past, the wetland provided an overnight holding pen for stock on the way to market. It provides a habitat for water voles, water shrews, dragonfly, long-winged conehead, a rare meadow cricket and plants such as the Southern marsh orchid, marsh St John's wort and ragged robin.