A nature haven is to be created on the Isle of Purbeck by adapting 150 hectares of low-lying grassland into wetlands.

Planning permission has been granted for The Moors at Arne, a project to provide space for nature to replace areas lost elsewhere in Poole Harbour due to rising sea levels.

New tidal embankments will create a mosaic of saline and freshwater areas. These new areas will take several years to establish and will continue to evolve over time, but in doing so will protect natural surroundings, while improving and maintaining flood resilience.

Without these works, this unique coastal landscape and its protected species is at risk from sea level rise and could be lost in the future.

When the Moors at Arne is complete, visitors will be able to enjoy new permissive walking paths and bird-viewing points all year round to catch a glimpse of avocets, and other winter-waders hoped to use the newly created wetland.

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With the RSPB and Natural England working together, the construction programme is designed to safeguards the site’s rare plants and resident creatures which include water voles, sand lizards, and birdlife.

Dante Munns of the RSPB said: "We are delighted that this scheme has been approved. It has taken a long time to plan and develop and is an exemplar of how technical specialists, stakeholders and the wider public have worked together.

"This will create fantastic homes for wildlife, with opportunities for people to experience the wonderful birdlife this area has to offer.

Extensive archaeological investigations have also been conducted, revealing insights into how the landscape has changed over time and the evolution of human interaction with the moors.

The three-year programme of construction will start in spring in this project, partnered between the Environment Agency, RSPB, and Natural England.