The Isle of Purbeck, with its rich mosaic of habitats and unique biodiversity, has undergone significant change over the past century. While much of this change reflects shifts in land use, climate, and conservation priorities, restoration efforts, such as those spearheaded by the Purbeck Heaths National Nature Reserve (NNR), have made remarkable progress in reversing some of the losses. By combining historic OS maps from 1900 with modern OS mapping, our Lost Habitats  data enables landowners and conservationists to uncover the potential for targeted restoration, helping to reconnect fragmented habitats and restore ecosystems to support biodiversity and climate resilience. Reduced wetland, increased woodland At the turn of the 20th century, North Purbeck was a seamless mosaic of rough pasture , scrub , patches of coniferous trees  and wetlands , forming an interconnected and thriving ecosystem. Today, this landscape tells a different story, but one filled with opportunities for recovery: ​ In the centre , at Rempstone Heath, there are coniferous plantations, managed by Forestry England, which could offer spaces for natural regeneration or strategic habitat restoration, including heathland corridors. To the west , at Hartland Moor, wetlands have been drained over time but hold great potential for rewetting projects under National Trust and Natural England stewardship. In the east , around Studland, increases in wetland and non-coniferous woodland managed by the National Trust point to positive changes that can be built upon. These habitat transformations, illustrated in our slider images, provide a foundation for identifying restoration priorities and monitoring progress. Figure 1. Slider showing modern OS habitats (left) and historic habitats (right) at North Purbeck. Drag the slider to see the changes between these time slices. Zooming in on restoration opportunity at Studland Studland provides a detailed glimpse into how our Lost Habitats product helps reveal significant changes in habitat and land use over time, offering actionable insights for restoration. The analysis of this area highlights notable shifts: 1. Habitat Classification Summary: Rough pasture  dominates the total area historically but has seen significant destruction (79 ha) alongside widespread maintenance (408 ha). Non-coniferous woodland  has experienced substantial creation (68 ha), indicating natural succession or restoration efforts. Wetlands , a UK priority habitat, have undergone changes (25 ha) and destruction (10 ha), pointing to potential areas for rewetting or enhancement. ​​ 2. Habitat Changes: The largest change (57 ha) is from rough pasture  to non-coniferous woodland , reflecting succession or restoration. Wetland  changes to non-coniferous woodland  (23 ha) highlight opportunities for careful management to preserve or reintroduce wetland habitats. ​​ 3. Land Use and Habitat Destruction: Agriculture has been the most significant driver of habitat destruction (83 ha), followed by recreational developments such as golf courses (22 ha). ​​ 4. Breakdown of Habitat Destruction by Historic Habitat: Rough pasture  has been most affected by land uses like agriculture (43 ha) and golf courses (22 ha). Wetlands  (9 ha) have been impacted primarily by the loss of reedbeds to water. Fig 2. Overview of Studland, showing lost habitats at the golf course in the bottom west, agricultural activity in the centre/west and Little Sea lake in the centre/east. Table 1. Summary of habitat classification comparison from historic to modern OS maps. Numbers represent hectares. Habitat Changed Created Lost Maintained Coniferous 21 1 4 10 Mixed woodland 0 1 0 1 Non-Coniferous 0 68 2 26 Orchard 0 0 1 0 Rough pasture 70 0 79 408 Scrub 18 0 38 13 Wetland 25 0 10 47 Total 135 70 134 504 Table 2. Top 5 habitat changes (Historic -> Modern). Historic Modern Changed (ha) Rough pasture Non-Coniferous 57 Wetland Non-Coniferous 23 Scrub Non-Coniferous 15 Rough pasture 9 Coniferous Non-Coniferous 8 Table 3. Top 5 modern OS land cover (+land use) that caused Lost Habitats grouped by historic habitat. Modern OS land cover (+ land use) Historic habitat Lost (ha) Bare Earth Or Grass (Agriculture) Rough pasture 43 Bare Earth Or Grass (Agriculture) Scrub 37 Bare Earth Or Grass (Golf) Rough pasture 22 None (Built-up) Rough pasture 10 Water (None) Wetland 9 Illustrating Change and Restoration Potential Following this data-driven overview, we delve into specific changes through slider images, highlighting three key areas: 1. Agriculture with Restoration Potential In some areas, land once dominated by scrub and rough pasture has been converted to agriculture. Here lies a significant opportunity to restore elements of nature while maintaining productivity—through techniques such as agroforestry or rewilding parts of less intensively used farmland. Fig 3. Heath lost to agriculture, illustrated using a slider with ESRI satellite imagery (left) and a 1900s Ordnance Survey 25-inch historic map (1890-1915) from NLS (right). 2. Managing Golf Courses for Nature The conversion of heathland into a golf course demonstrates a shift in land use, offering opportunities to integrate nature-friendly management practices. ​ Note: In the the centre of the same image is a historic wetland that has changed to deciduous woodland. This presents another opportunity: rewetting the site to reintroduce wetland habitats, which may be prioritised over maintaining the woodland depending on conservation goals. Fig 4. Heath lost to golf course (and wetland change to woodland), illustrated using a slider with ESRI satellite imagery (left) and a 1900s Ordnance Survey 25-inch historic map (1890-1915) from NLS (right). 3. Little Sea: Reedbeds to Wet Woodland Historically a reedbed, Little Sea now features wet woodland and marsh. While its current state is biodiverse, the potential to reintroduce reedbeds—rare and ecologically significant—alongside existing habitats provides a restoration opportunity. Fig 3. Reedbeds lost to water (and marsh wetland change to wet woodland), illustrated using a slider with ESRI satellite imagery (left) and a 1900s Ordnance Survey 25-inch historic map (1890-1915) from NLS (right). These findings, supported by data and visualised through our Lost Habitats product, highlight the potential for Studland to balance restoration with current land use. By reconnecting fragmented habitats, enhancing wetland diversity, and integrating biodiversity into managed landscapes, this area can serve as a model for targeted and informed restoration efforts. ​ Want to learn more about our historic map products? Email the team at  iris@archai.io