A DORSET farm is proposing to turn one of its fields into a lake to improve biodiversity on the estate.

Work already taken place on the Stubhampton Estate includes the creation of several dew ponds, tree and shrub planting, the re-purposing of buildings and the introduction of bird boxes.

The latest proposal is for a 9,000 square metre lake area which the estate says will make a difference to the establishing wildlife.

The new lake will be enclosed by native woodland within a herb-rich pasture with clumps of oak and beech). Beneath the lake, a new wetland will benefit amphibians and absorb natural flows from the main water body.

The Stubhampton Estate is located within the parish of Tarrant Gunville, approximately 1.5 kilometres from Stubhampton to its east and Iwerne Minster 3 kilometres to its west and lies within the Cranborne Chase and West Wiltshire Downs National Landscape.

Said the application to Dorset Council for the latest stage of the regeneration of the estate: “The masterplan has revealed and accentuated the land form by planting the ridges with native deciduous woodland and opening the valleys as herb-rich, grazed meadow. Floral diversity, insects, birds and small mammals have thrived with the changes but the valleys are dry and surface water will make all the difference to the establishing wildlife. Six dew ponds have already been created but the aim is to make a larger body of water for maximum biodiversity.”

The full details of the application, and other recent local farm applications, can be found by using the references provide, below, on the Dorset Council website. All of the applications are open for public comment.

P/FUL/2024/01328: Land At E 390804 N 113711 The Stubhampton Estate Furzey Down Farm And House: Access Road To Tarrant Gunville. Form wildlife lake and carry out associated landscaping works.

P/PAAC/2024/03774: Ley Farm From Ashes Farm Access To Lane Leading To Londonderry Cottages Crendell SP6 3EB. Change of use and conversion of agricultural building into a single residential dwelling (use class C3).

P/FUL/2024/03804: Marvins Farm West Bourton Road Bourton SP8 5PQ. Erection of solar array.

P/VOC/2024/02578:Storage Building Great House Farm East Orchard Shaftesbury SP7 0LQ. Convert redundant storage building into 1 No. dwelling (demolish agricultural building); (without compliance with Condition Nos. 5 (landscaping) and 9 (demolition); of Planning Permission No. 2/2018/0508/FUL). Granted.