Moors River
The Moors River is a small river which for much of its course marks the border between Dorset to the west and Hampshire to the east. Its upper course is known as the River Crane.
The name 'Crane' is a back-formation from Cranbourne - the manor's name is derived from the stream and the stream then from the manor – 'Cranbourne' means a stream frequented by cranes (or herons).[1]
Course
- Location map: 50°49’57"N, 1°51’28"W
The River Crane rises in Bowldish Pond in the east of Dorset and carves a modest valley south-eastwards down to the grounds of Cranbourne Manor, and the village of Cranborne.[2][3] It curves south then east around Verwood to be joined by the Ebblake Stream at the Hampshire border, where it becomes the Moors River, and marks the county border downstream.
The Moors River then runs south. By Trickett's Cross (Dorset) the river leaves off its border duty: the county border heads due south while the Moors River enters Hampshire and heads south-east, past Bournemouth International Airport and Hurn to join the River Stour at Blackwater.
Wildlife
The river is well known to dragonfly enthusiasts as the last site in Britain where Orange-spotted Emerald occurred.[4]
References
- ↑ Mills, David: 'A Dictionary of British Place-Names' (Oxford University Pres) ISBN 978-0-19-960908-6; pages 135–6
- ↑ Richards, Alexandra: 'Dorset (Slow Travel)' (Bradt Travel Guides, 2015) ISBN 978-1-84162-867-7; pages 77–9
- ↑ Lane, Roger A.: 'Cranborne Chase: A Secret Landscape' (Amberley Publishing Limited, 2015) ISBN 978-1-4456-4985-6 pages 43–5
- ↑ Orange-spotted Emerald: british-dragonflies.org.uk
