Purbeck businesses are being invited to take free guided tours around the RSPB Arne reserve in Dorset to help raise its profile in the local community.
The nature reserve and wildlife haven has seen public awareness dip since the BBC Springwatch programme moved on to a new location in 2025 and it is keen to encourage more people to discover everything it has to offer.
RSPB Arne visitor engagement volunteer Jeanette Huish led the guided walk for local businesses
Guided walk around the reserve
Now a new meet a guide initiative is giving local groups the chance to experience the reserve first-hand, so they can recommend it with confidence to their customers, guests and visitors.
Swanage Information Centre, Norden Campsite and Wareham Library have been among the local organisations to take advantage of a tour around RSPB Arne to try out its walks, wildlife and hospitality.
The experience lasts around two hours and includes a guided walk around the reserve with an RSPB guide, with the chance to use a pair of binoculars from the reserve during the walk and ending with free refreshments in the cafe.
RSPB Arne visitor engagement volunteer Jeanette Huish, who leads some of the tours, said the scheme was designed to help put the reserve back on the map following the departure of BBC Springwatch.
Heathland, gorse, woods and even a beach or two are on the tour of Arne
“It’s more than just about birds”
Jeanette Huish said:
“When Springwatch was filming here in 2023 and 2024, people started to pay us some attention, but that has faded a little bit since, so we wanted to showcase RSPB Arne to groups who can spread the word through the community.
“The idea is to get Arne better known in the area – visits are free for companies, and the food is free as well, it’s a way of us publicising Arne in a way which benefits the whole community.
“We want to show that RSPB Arne is more than just about birds, it’s about nature, a place to bring children and grandchildren to explore with amazing trails, scenery, wildlife and even some beautiful sandy beaches to enjoy.
“It is not expensive to visit – it’s free for RSPB members and their children, for cyclists, blue badge holders, carers, children under 5 and young people aged 18 to 24. Even for non members it’s only £7 for adults and £3.50 for children, and even then the first child gets in free.”
Binoculars are loaned out to the walking groups to get a closer look at Arne’s wonderful wildlife
“Learn about nature and have fun”
Jeanette added:
“There is so much to do here, we have three established wildlife trails and have just opened a seasonal trail by the lagoon, which will stay open until the end of October.
“We have trampers so that anyone with mobility issues can get around our trails, and there’s an accessible carpark for the disabled in the middle of the reserve so they can get so much closer to the hides and the beaches.
“A lot of cyclists will just come here for coffee and cake, and a chance to recharge their batteries, then go off again, and we have stickers and games for children with spotting sheets they can take out with them.
“We do free school trips here and get a lot of home schooling groups coming in, Arne is a wonderful place to learn about nature and have fun at the same time!”
Jeanette Huish, right, with Wareham Library staff Sarah Collins, Sharon Barton, Tina Carter and Becky Hassett on Shipstal beach
“Wonderful day with great hospitality!”
Wareham Library staff members Becky Hassett, Tina Carter, Sarah Collins and Sharon Barton were the latest to experience a walking tour, which took in Arne’s two storey Harbour Hide and the little known golden sands of Shipstal Beach.
Sarah Collins said:
“There isn’t a tourist information centre at the moment in Wareham, so we do get a lot of people coming in asking for information. We do have some leaflets, but it’s nice that we can give personal recommendations, like visiting Arne.
“People do ask supplementary questions like, can you take a dog, or is it wheelchair friendly, and having been here and spoken to Jeanette we now know a lot more about what Arne offers.
“Libraries are a community space now, and we are encouraged by our team leaders to do community outreach, so we currently have a display to tie in with Arne
“Our library is closed on a Wednesday, so we were all able to come down here as a group, and it has been a wonderful day with great hospitality!
“The Arne reserve has changed massively in recent years, so it has been very useful to see what they now offer. We try to be as approachable and friendly as we can, and being furnished with extra information is really helpful.”
Staff from Swanage Information Centre have also been given the complimentary tour of RSPB Arne
“Help even more visitors discover us”
Visitor experience manager at RSPB Arne Roz Aldred said:
“The experience highlights the wildlife, habitats and seasonal interest that make Arne such a special place and is a great opportunity to learn a little more about the work we do here at Arne.
“Staff at Swanage Information Centre were among the first to join us when we started offering these experiences – it’s a key contact point for visitors exploring the area, and the team at Swanage plays a vital role in helping people discover the very best of Purbeck.
“It was a pleasure to show them around the reserve, share some of Arne’s incredible wildlife, and highlight the experiences visitors can enjoy throughout the year, from peaceful woodland trails to stunning heathland views.
“Our team is passionate about working with our local tourism community and businesses to help even more visitors discover this special place and feel confident recommending it to the people they meet every day.”
One of Arne’s hides and screens which allow visitors to get closer to nature
Annual BirdFest at RSPB Arne
However there’s also an opportunity for anyone to take a tour around RSPB Arne during its annual Bird Fest event on Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th September 2026.
The event includes guided walks, bird talks, exclusive binocular demos and tasting sessions for local cider and beer. Tours and talks are ticketed and need to be booked in advance on the RSPB website.
Guest speakers at the festival include BBC Springwatch’s Jack Baddams, who will lead two guided walks along Arne’s new seasonal lagoon trail and will also be signing his new book, Birdtopia – A Miscellany of British Birds.
There’s also a chance to hear from Gen Crisford of the National Trust about the Trust’s inspiring Purbeck Beaver Project at Littlesea, near Studland.
Other speakers include Paul Morton from Birds of Poole Harbour, Peter Robertson of RSPB Dorset Reserves, nightjar expert Brian Cresswell, Rob Farrington of Dorset Wildlife Trust, and YouTube and TikTok star Helen Hutchings-Cox who runs Helen Likes Plants.
Jack Baddams of BBC’s Springwatch will be leading guided tours at the annual Bird Fest in early September 2026
There’s always something new to discover at RSPB Arne
Further information
- Local businesses looking to arrange a complimentary visit can reach out directly via email at arne@rspb.org.uk or call the reserve on 01929 553360
- More details about RSPB Arne and BirdFest are on its website
