Nearly a third of all UK moth species have been recorded at Hengistbury Head! That’s thanks to the site’s rich mix of habitats - perfect for breeding and feeding.

Did you know Bournemouth is a national hotspot for stag beetles - the UK’s largest beetle?

• Males can grow up to 7cm and fly at dusk in summer
• Their huge jaws (like deer antlers) are used to wrestle rivals
• Most live just a few weeks as adults, but spend up to 7 years as larvae in rotting wood
• Old names include billywitch, oak-ox, and thunder-beetle—folklore once blamed them for starting fires and summoning storms!

Natterjack toads, one of Britain’s rarest amphibians, are thriving at Hengistbury Head thanks to our protected, man-made ponds. Listen for their raspy calls on warm spring nights!