| Canford Heath | |
View across the modern settlement of Canford Heath |
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Canford Heath
Canford Heath shown within Dorset |
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| Population | 14,418 |
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| OS grid reference | SZ027946 |
| District | Poole |
| Shire county | Dorset |
| Region | South West |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | POOLE |
| Postcode district | BH17 |
| Dialling code | 01202 |
| Police | Dorset |
| Fire | Dorset |
| Ambulance | South Western |
| EU Parliament | South West England |
| UK Parliament | Mid Dorset and North Poole |
| List of places: UK • England • Dorset | |
Canford Heath is a suburb and area of heathland in Poole, Dorset with a population of just under 14,500.[1]
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Canford Heath has also given its name to a housing development built on the heathland during the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. Now an established part of Poole, Canford Heath has grown its own community life with two public houses (The Haymoor & The Pilot), a selection of churches, two supermarkets (Asda and Somerfield), five schools and a range of social activities for young people. The Tower Park leisure complex is nearby.
Much of the remaining heathland is a Site of Special Scientific Interest and part of the Dorset Heathlands Special Protection Area.[2] It is home to the smooth snake, the sand lizard and the Dartford warbler.
On 19 March 2006 a large fire swept across part of the heathland requiring almost 170 firefighters to extinguish. Approximately 100 people were forced to leave their homes temporarily.[3]
To maintain the heathland and its unique wildlife a Canford Heath Nature Reserve Management Plan (2010-2020) has been prepared, integrating the Council's duties to provide a safe and welcoming open space with the responsibilities of the national and international conservation designations in place to protect it.
There are two primary schools in Canford Heath (Ad Astra First School and Canford Heath First School), two middle schools (Haymoor Middle School and Canford Heath Middle School) and two secondary schools; Ashdown Technology College and Poole Grammar School. There is also a special educational needs school (Longspee School & Service).