TEENAGERS have been illegally riding motorbikes on nature reserves in Poole.

While walking on Talbot Heath earlier this month, Nick Dobbs spotted a teenage boy of around 13 years old using a motorbike while two friends watched.

The heath is a Site of Special Scientific Interest and a Special Area of Conservation with Ramsar designation. The area is home to many species of wildlife, including sand lizards, adders, and ground-nesting birds.

Mr Dobbs, who runs the Preserve Talbot Heath Facebook page, approached the group and spoke to them. He also reported the incident to Dorset Police.

In a post to members of the Preserve Talbot Heath group, Mr Dobbs said: “As displayed on notice boards at all the main entrance points to the heath, it is illegal (Road Traffic Act 1988, Section 34) to use motorised vehicles on SSSI nature reserves and this lad, I think, knows this because I think that I have spoken to him and his dad before.

“I spoke to the three lads who were a bit cheeky and indifferent, but they are teenagers so it kind of goes with the territory.

“I only wish I was able to offer the lads advice on where they can enjoy their pastime legally.”

Mr Dobbs is appealing to any visitors to the heath who spot people on motorbikes to call the police on 101.

People commenting on the incident included Alderney & Bourne Valley councillor Tony Trent who said there had been a similar issue on the Bourne Valley nature reserve.

He said the problem had become “almost continuous”, with people riding motorbikes on the heath until 11pm some days.

He added police had “prioritised the problem” but “the resources have been a bit short”.

"To the best of my knowledge the incident I reported was not indicative of a spate of scrambling on Talbot Heath but rather a one-off incident," he said.

"I understand that other protected heathland sites in the Poole and Bournemouth conurbation are experiencing a significant rise in illegal scrambling - especially Canford Heath."

Mr Dobbs is urging any witnesses to motorbike riders on Talbot Heath, or other nature reserves, to contact police.

A Dorset Police spokesperson said: "We were called at 6.42pm on Sunday, June 9, to reports of two young people riding around on and off the road at Talbot Heath on a scrambler bike."

As previously reported in the Daily Echo, Burton Common, an SSSI in Christchurch, has also suffered issues with off-road motorbike riders in recent months.

Estate manager Liam Aggett said landowner Meyrick Estates were "quite concerned about the level of nuisance and degradation of the site" and hoped to work with Hampshire Constabulary to make sure the area was not damaged further.