Canford Heath

Canford Heath is a suburb and area of heathland in Poole, Dorset, known for being the largest heathland in Dorset, and the largest lowland heath in the UK. It is also the name of the housing development built on the heathland in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. The area is split into 2 wards, and at the 2011 census, the combined population of the 2 wards was 14,079.[1][2]

Canford Heath

View across the modern settlement of Canford Heath
Canford Heath
Location within Dorset
Population14,079 (2 Wards 14,079)
OS grid referenceSZ027946
District
  • Poole
Shire county
Region
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townPOOLE
Postcode districtBH17
Dialling code01202
PoliceDorset
FireDorset and Wiltshire
AmbulanceSouth Western
UK Parliament

History

Historically, Canford Heath was part of the Canford Estate; in the Domesday Book, the manor of Cheneford was held by Edward of Salisbury.[3] Canford Heath was common land.[4] In 1810, it was subdivided among Poole's Proprietors, in response to the 1805 Enclosure Act, which "enabled the enclosure of over 9000 acres of ‘Common Meadows, Heaths, Waste Lands and Commonable Grounds’".[3][5]

In the early 20th century, Canford Heath had many different uses. In 1929, Canford Heath staged a hillclimb event for the "Motorcycle and Light Car Club",[6] and during the Second World War, Canford Heath was used as a munitions storage.[7] In 1938, most of the heathland was destroyed by a series of massive fires.[8]

In 1944, it was suggested that Canford Heath should be "preserved from business development" after the War,[9] although in 1946, a plan was issued by Professor Abercrombie, which suggested the use of Canford Heath as a housing development, in preference to building in the New Forest.[10] In 1947, there was another large heathfire.[11]

Building work began on a housing development in 1963 in South Canford Heath, whilst Parkstone and Poole grammar schools were relocated to the edge of the heath in 1962 and 1968 respectively, and the first Combined school opened in Canford Heath in 1970.[12] The first Supermarket on the Heath was Waitrose, which opened in June 1970 sharing its car park with the also recently opened Fighter Pilot (now The Pilot) public house and Canford Heath United Reformed Church. Waitrose closed in 1982 to be replaced by Kwik Save. The current supermarket at Adastral Square is Iceland. Housing development began in 1973 in North Canford Heath, and in 1980, International Supermarket and formerly Somerfield (now Asda) became North Canford Heath's first supermarket.[12]

In 1984, planning permission was given for development of all of Canford Heath, providing that the site did not become a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).[13] In response, an application was made in 1985 for much of Canford Heath to become a SSSI, due to the rare habitat and wildlife on the heathland.[14][15] The application was accepted in 1988,[14][16] although developers were still permitted to build houses on land not in the SSSI. A report by the Conservation Committee of the British Herpetological Society to the House of Lords in 1988 said that "more than half of Canford, our largest single heath, is being built over with most of its reptiles doomed or already lost",[17] and a 1988 New Scientist article criticised that houses could be built as little as 50 metres away from the SSSI, continuing to endanger rare reptiles.[18] In 1991, then Secretary of State Michael Heseltine revoked planning consent for development on all of Canford Heath.[19] In 2008, planning permission was given to develop homes on a former landfill site not in the SSSI.[20]

In 2006, a heathfire caused by arson caused around 100 people to be evacuated from their homes, and required around 170 firefighters to put out.[21][22] Around 34-45 hectares of heathland was destroyed.[23]

In 2015, another fire damaged 2 hectares of heathland, and required 70 firefighters;[24][25] the damage caused could take 15–25 years to repair.[26] There is also a bunker located on the heath that no one seems to know any history about it.

Heathland

Canford Heath is Dorset's largest heathland,[27] and much of it is a Site of Special Scientific Interest and part of the Dorset Heathlands Special Protection Area.[28][29][30] Canford Heath is the largest lowland heath in the United Kingdom,[31][32] and is home to many rare species, including the smooth snake, sand lizard and dartford warbler.[32][33] To maintain the heathland and its unique wildlife a 10-year management plan was introduced in 2010.[27] In 2009, an episode of Springwatch was filmed at Canford Heath's Hatchpond.[34]

Geography

Canford Heath has grown its own community life with two public houses (The Haymoor & The Pilot), a selection of churches, an ASDA supermarket, five schools and a range of social activities for young people. The Tower Park leisure complex is nearby.

Schools
Further information: List of schools in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole

In September 2013, Poole Council changed its Age of Transfer, adopting the primary school system in favour of the previous middle school system.[35] As such, all First and middle schools became infant and junior schools. There are two infant schools in Canford Heath (Ad Astra Infant School and Canford Heath Infant School), two junior schools (Haymoor Junior School and Canford Heath Junior School) and two secondary schools (Magna Academy and Poole Grammar School). Poole Grammar School is a selective all-male school. There is also a special educational needs school (Longspee School & Service).

Politics

For the purpose of local elections, Canford Heath comprises two wards, Canford Heath East and Canford Heath West, each of which elect 2 councillors. At the 2015 council election, Canford Heath East elected two Liberal Democrat councillors, and Canford Heath West elected two Conservative councillors.[36]
Poole's Mayor for the civic year 2018-19is Cllr Sean Gabriel who represents the Canford Heath West Ward. For the purposes of national elections, since 1997 Canford Heath has been part of the Mid Dorset and North Poole constituency; previously it was part of the Poole constituency.[37] The current MP is Michael Tomlinson, who won the seat in 2015.[38]

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References
  1. "Canford Heath East Demographics (Poole, England)". Qpzm. Retrieved 3 June 2015.
  2. "Canford Heath West Demographics (Poole, England)". Qpzm. Retrieved 3 June 2015.
  3. "Ironmaster to wildlife – the Canford Estate". Dorset Life. October 2014. Retrieved 3 June 2015.
  4. Wentworth, John (1797). A Complete System of Pleading (Volume 7). G. G. and J. Robinson. p. 124. Retrieved 25 June 2015. canford heath.
  5. Gee, Richard (5 February 1810). "Canford Enclosure". Salisbury and Winchester Journal. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
  6. "Exciting Motor Trial at Canford Heath". Western Gazette. 26 April 1929. p. 3. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
  7. "Theft of Phosphorous Bombs". Western Gazette. 12 October 1945. p. 6. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
  8. "Ringed by Heath Fires". Western Gazette. 15 April 1938. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
  9. "What Poole Will Be Like". 9 June 1944. p. 6. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
  10. "Future of Three Coastal Towns". Western Gazette. 15 February 1946. p. 8. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
  11. "Huge Geath Fires". Western Gazette. 5 September 1947. p. 8. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
  12. "BBC - Domesday Reloaded: Canford Heath Now And Then". domesday.
  13. Elworthy, Sue; Holder, Jane (April 2005). Environmental Protection: Text and Materials. p. 292. Retrieved 25 June 2015.
  14. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 June 2015. Retrieved 25 June 2015.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  15. Moore, N.W. (1987). The Bird of Time: The Science and Politics of Nature Conservation - A Personal Account. CUP Archive. p. 83. Retrieved 25 June 2015. canford heath.
  16. "Geographic information: the yearbook of the Association for Geographic Information". 1991. Retrieved 25 June 2015.
  17. Sessional Papers Printed by Order of the House of Lords: Minutes of Proceedings ... Public Bills ... Reports from Committees ... Miscellaneous, Volume 11. 1988. Retrieved 25 June 2015.
  18. "A new game of snakes and ladders". New Scientist. 25 August 1988. p. 61. Retrieved 25 June 2015.
  19. Miller, Chris (2012). Environmental Rights: Critical Perspectives. Retrieved 25 June 2015.
  20. "Families can live on toxic tip, says council". Bournemouth Echo.
  21. "Homes evacuated as heath blazes". BBC News. 19 March 2006. Retrieved 16 September 2007.
  22. "Jail for man who planned Canford Heath fire". Bournemouth Echo. 24 September 2009. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
  23. "Canford Heath fire: scorched earth reveals devastating effects of blaze". Bournemouth Echo. 18 July 2013. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
  24. "Fire destroys part of Canford Heath". BBC News. 17 April 2015. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
  25. "70 firefighters tackle 'deliberate' blaze at Canford Heath near Poole". Blackmore Vale Magazine. 17 April 2015. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
  26. "Canford Heath could take up to 25 years to recover after 70 firefighters tackle 'deliberate' blaze". Bournemouth Echo. 17 April 2015. Retrieved 3 June 2015.
  27. "Managing Dorset's largest heathland 2010-2020". Borough of Poole. July 2011. Archived from the original on 26 June 2015. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
  28. "Dorset Heathlands". Joint Nature Conservation Committee. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
  29. "SSSI: Planning Advice By Natural England". Borough of Poole. Archived from the original on 26 June 2015. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
  30. "Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)". Borough of Poole. Archived from the original on 26 June 2015. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
  31. Country Life - Volume 184. 1990. p. 38. Retrieved 25 June 2015.
  32. Lake, Sophie; Liley, Durwyn; Still, Robert; Swash, Andy (2014). Britain's Habitats: A Guide to the Wildlife Habitats of Britain and Ireland. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
  33. "The Dartford Warbler in the United Kingdom in 1994" (PDF). British Birds. 1994. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
  34. "Poole's star attractions". Bournemouth Echo.
  35. "Schools set for Age of Transfer".
  36. "Local Elections Results 2015". Poole Council. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
  37. Waller, Robert; Criddle, Byron (2002). The Almanac of British Politics. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
  38. "MID DORSET AND NORTH POOLE". UK Polling Report. Retrieved 3 June 2015.
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