A POPULAR beauty spot in East Dorset infamous locally for its vivid name has been declared a nature reserve.

Slop Bog at Ferndown has been given the protected status by Dorset County Council because of its richness and diversity of wildlife. The area is a haven for reptiles, birds and insects.

The county bought the 54-acre site, which lies to the south of Ferndown bypass about ten years ago to save it from being developed for housing.

Now it has been officially been given reserve status its future is safe for local people to enjoy.

Plans are afoot to improve access to the site, add information boards and get local people involved in looking after it.

Danny Alder, countryside officer at DCC, said: "There has been a bog here for around 6-7,000 years. Back in the 19th century it was known as either Beaufoys Heath or Beaufoys Plantation.

"The name Slop Bog has been around for around 20 to 30 years at least but I don't know where it came from - possibly a local term which has become commonplace and now that is what it is known by."

He added: "The council has looked after it for ten years and it has always been on the cards to turn it into a nature reserve.

"We are having to complete a review of the site to look at where best to put up signs so people know it's a reserve and what can be found there.

"Access is a fairly urgent priority, particularly for wheelchair users - we need to resolve that. We also have a fledgling Friends group being set up and we are trying to arrange a meeting for them in the New Year.

"There are lots of events we have planned where we want to get local people involved and particularly the schools as we know children like to visit. Things like nest box building and putting up interpretation panels."