Completed

April 2018 The second set of new steps were installed, opened 9th April, linking the access from Elgin Road to close to the viewpoint with outstanding views of Poole Harbour and Brownsea Island. Thank you for your patience. Work then continued to enhance biodiversity and access, with felled timber stacked into log piles, footpath improvements and new timber finger posts.

March 2018 The tree and holly clearance* works at the viewpoint are complete; we are now awaiting delivery of the second set of steps and the finger posts … the team have done a sterling job in pretty poor weather at times!

Saturday 17th February 30 bird boxes were lovingly made, decorated and installed as part of the National Nest Box Week event hosted by the newly formed Viewpoint Volunteers. A great day was enjoyed by all!

• The Viewpoint Volunteers will be meeting on site once a month to help maintain this wonderful natural space.

* Holly Clearance

Whilst the holly clearance may at first glance seem a little heavy handed, in the long term will improve diversity of the site. Holly berries provide a valuable food source for birds but left unchecked this species can dominate a site and reduce diversity in both the ground and shrub layer. A wider diversity of flora will in time provide a varied habitat for a wider species range of birds and fauna.

The Project

The viewpoint is a popular local green space of approx. 1.81 hectares (4.5 acres) with seven access points bordering Elgin Road, Blake Dene Road, Brownsea View Avenue and Blake Hill Crescent. It benefits from wonderful views of Poole Harbour and is a local haven for wildlife providing a very valuable natural space that is popular with walkers, dog walkers and locals. The purpose of this project is:

• to improve access to and enjoyment of the viewpoint, including improvements to the terrain at access points
• to replace aged signage / improve signage from all access points
• to improve stepped areas with uniformly spaced steps of a consistent height
• to replace or make remedial repairs to ground retention timber rounds & handrails

Access in places could be significantly improved, providing a much improved welcome. At the majority of entrances the footpath borders private property with boundary fencing in private ownership, some shrubbery exists that could be removed allowing for better access, improved sight lines and passive surveillance. Whilst improvements to access points may enable those with mobility problems to enjoy some aspects of the site, due to the terrain many areas of the viewpoint are only accessible only to the able bodied.