Purbeck Heaths, Dorset: On a 22-mile fundraising walk, I spotted two rusty-red birds about to embark on their own epic journey

Twenty miles in, two to go. I had spent the previous 12 hours walking around Poole Harbour, Dorset, for a birthday fundraiser in aid of a local environmental charity, Birds of Poole Harbour. I was just passing through Hartland Moor as the sun hovered above the distant pine trees, casting an orange hue on the gorse and heather below.

This last section of the walk took me through the stunning Purbeck Heaths “super” reserve. This 3,331-hectare area encompasses three national nature reserves and stretches from Arne to Studland. Organisations such as the RSPB and National Trust, along with private landowners, work in partnership to manage this landscape, allowing wildlife to thrive. It’s fantastic to see such positive and hopeful conservation work taking place locally.