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.
History
Historically, Canford Heath was part of the Canford Estate; in the Domesday Book, the manor of Cheneford was held by Edward of Salisbury. Canford Heath was common land. 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’". 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", and during the Second World War, Canford Heath was used as a munitions storage. In 1938, most of the heathland was destroyed by a series of massive fires. In 1944, it was suggested that Canford Heath should be "preserved from business development" after the War, 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. In 1947, there was another large heathfire. 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. The first Supermarket on the Heath was Waitrose, which opened in June 1970 sharing its car park with the also recently opened Fighter 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 became North Canford Heath's first supermarket. 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. 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. The application was accepted in 1988, 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", 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. In 1991, then Secretary of StateMichael Heseltine revoked planning consent for development on all of Canford Heath. In 2008, planning permission was given to develop homes on a former landfill site not in the SSSI. 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. Around 34-45 hectares of heathland was destroyed. In 2015, another fire damaged 2 hectares of heathland, and required 70 firefighters; the damage caused could take 15–25 years to repair. 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, and much of it is a Site of Special Scientific Interest and part of the Dorset Heathlands Special Protection Area. Canford Heath is the largest lowland heath in the United Kingdom, and is home to many rare species, including the smooth snake, sand lizard and dartford warbler. To maintain the heathland and its unique wildlife a 10-year management plan was introduced in 2010. In 2009, an episode of Springwatch was filmed at Canford Heath's Hatchpond.
Geography
Canford Heath has grown its own community life with two public houses, 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
In September 2013, Poole Council changed its Age of Transfer, adopting the primary school system in favour of the previous middle school system. As such, all First and middle schools became infant and junior schools. There are two infant schools in Canford Heath, two junior schools and two secondary schools. Poole Grammar School is a selective all-male school. There is also a special educational needs school.
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. 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. The current MP is Michael Tomlinson, who won the seat in 2015.
