Waste found left at Upton Heath. Picture: Martin Adams
“Last year we had the massive heath fire at Wareham Forest,” he said.
“With the weather at the moment, the heath is bone dry. Just one barbecue left there could set the heath on fire and do incredible damage to an important habitat used by nesting birds, like Dartford warbler, stonechat, linnet and nightjar.”
He added that lowland heaths, like Upton Heath, are also the one habitat where the six native species of British reptile can be found.
Upton Heath is managed by Dorset Wildlife Trust, which said it was “extremely upset” to see the litter and furniture discarded.