This dataset is a compilation of water quality data for the River Frome catchment, Dorset, UK. The data have been sourced from the Environment Agency and from Wessex Water Ltd., the water utility company for the catchment area. The monitoring sites are specifically located in the lower part of the River Frome, between the Environment Agency gauging stations at Dorchester and East Stoke. The dataset includes water quality measurements for boreholes, sewage treatment work (STW) final effluents, tributaries, and main river channels. In total there are 21 monitoring sites. Water quality measurements date from 1976 to 2022. The main river channel and tributary sites are typically monitored on a monthly basis and the STW final effluents typically on a weekly basis. The borehole data can vary from weekly to monthly, depending on the determinand and borehole measured. Full details about this dataset can be found at https://doi.org/10.5285/9d98e1a7-7602-490f-9896-0eeed6eb1d40

This is a dataset of spot gauged river flows (m3 s-1) at multiple sites along the River Frome, Dorset, UK, conducted during the year 2022. All sites are contained within the stretch of river between the Environment Agency gauging stations located at Dorchester and East Stoke, i.e. the lower part of the River Frome. The monitoring sites included the major tributaries along this river reach, which are: the South Winterbourne, Tadnoll Brook, and the River Win. In total, 19 river channels were spot gauged at 11 river cross-sectional locations. Due to the braided nature of the river, some locations required multiple channels to be measured to produce a total cross-sectional flow for that part of the river. The river cross-sectional locations were evenly spaced, approximately every 3 km along the river reach. Measurements were taken on multiple flow accretion survey days between 12/04/2022 and 05/11/2022. On each day, as many of the sites were spot gauged as possible, working upstream to downstream. Full details about this dataset can be found at https://doi.org/10.5285/0d5c7e45-2c43-4276-af0d-8d941db2e124

Vascular plant and bryophyte survey data from a 33-year chronosequence on bare chalk, used to investigate primary succession. The bare chalk plots were created from archaeological excavations on Down Farm, north Dorset, between the years 1986 and 2018, resulting in 13 different plots. The vascular plant survey was carried out in July 2019 using 50 cm x 50 cm quadrats. Quadrats were recorded every 1 m along a 16 m transect in each of the 13 plots. The bryophyte survey was carried out in February 2020 using 20 cm x 20 cm quadrats, along the same transects for 11 of the 13 plots. Full details about this dataset can be found at https://doi.org/10.5285/358eb380-74a0-4acd-9df2-696fdf13a6d7

This dataset contains pollinator abundance data from 13 calcareous grassland, 13 heathland and 12 woodland sites within Dorset, UK. The sites were selected to represent a range of habitat types across a condition gradient as measured by levels of degradation from the original habitat. The original habitats were identified as being calcareous grassland, heathland or woodland from a survey conducted in the 1930s. Butterflies, bees, hoverflies, flies and beetles were recorded to species level and the plant species insects were foraging on was also recorded. Data were collected on three different dates in 2017 and 2018: calcareous grassland in June, July and August; heathland transects in May, August and September; and woodland transects in May, June and July. Full details about this dataset can be found at https://doi.org/10.5285/190b7ef8-1997-4424-a087-882cd7673e23

This dataset is a census of the heathland and associated vegetation from Dorset, UK. The Dorset heathlands are situated in South West England, and are generally associated with free-draining and acidic soils overlying Tertiary sands and gravels. The heathlands comprise a mosaic of different vegetation types, characterised by dwarf shrub communities dominated by members of the Ericaceae (e.g. Calluna vulgaris, Erica spp.), together with areas of mire, grassland, scrub and woodland. Unless they are managed heathlands undergo succession to scrub and woodland. Therefore the majority of heathland sites are currently under some form of conservation management, which is implemented to reduce succession to scrub and woodland. Management interventions include cutting and burning of vegetation, and grazing by livestock. Individual heathland patches are also managed for ecosystem services, such as recreation and timber production, as well as biodiversity conservation. Full details about this dataset can be found at https://doi.org/10.5285/4c347ec4-0beb-4355-9780-89dad718b2f3

[This dataset is embargoed until September 1, 2024]. Vegetation data from field surveys undertaken at two experimental trials at Martin Down NNR, to investigate the potential for reducing dense Brachypodium pinnatum cover (experiment 1) and preventing further expansion of sparse cover (experiment 2). Experiment 1 explores the use of herbicide and reseeding, whilst experiment 2 examines cutting and grazing in the spring, autumn and both seasons. Percentage cover of all vascular plant species were recorded in 50 cm x 50 cm quadrats in each treatment replicate for both experiments. Surveys were undertaken in 2019 as a baseline before the experiments commenced, and post treatment in 2020, 2021 and 2022. Full details about this dataset can be found at https://doi.org/10.5285/f15e64c0-db65-40ec-8b6d-50573f5f6694

Data from weekly water quality monitoring of the River Frome at East Stoke, Dorset (National Grid Reference SY 867868). The dataset consists of nitrate, soluble reactive phosphorus, dissolved silicon, pH, alkalinity, potassium, sodium, calcium and magnesium concentrations for the entire 44-year monitoring period, with total phosphorus, total dissolved phosphorus, electrical conductivity, water temperature, chloride, sulphate and ammonium concentration data for periods within the monitoring period. Daily average river flow on the day of sampling (extracted from the National River Flow Archive) is included. Full details about this dataset can be found at https://doi.org/10.5285/AA82FA99-D38C-47A7-9405-F0773EDCD7A8

This data resource consists of a nutrient concentration time series for the River Frome at East Stoke, Dorset, gathered between January 2004 and February 2006. Total phosphorus concentration data was gathered for the full duration of the project. Soluble reactive phosphorus, total oxidisable nitrogen and dissolved reactive silicon concentration was only gathered from Jan 2005 until Feb 2006. Sampling interval varied throughout the monitoring period, from a minimum of two samples to day, to eight per day during storm events (with an average of three samples per day throughout the duration of the monitoring period). Samples were taken from the main flow of the river using an automatic water sampler, and analysed using standard colorometric methods, at the CEH Dorset laboratories. Further details of the field and laboratory procedures are outlined in Bowes MJ, Smith JT, Neal C. The value of high resolution nutrient monitoring: a case study of the River Frome, Dorset, UK. Journal of Hydrology 2009; 378: 82-96. Full details about this dataset can be found at https://doi.org/10.5285/7af4c236-5148-4d3d-815c-b6451aee67a5