LESLEY HASKINS fascination with the heathlands of Dorset started at the age of ten when she was taken on a school nature walk over Talbot Heath, and she went on to make its history the subject of her PhD thesis. Carrying out her studies at Furzebrook Research Station near Wareham first placed her in contact with the many scientists and conversationists who, over the years, gave her both the inspiration and the knowledge to campaign for the protection of Dorset’s heathlands – on which she is an acknowledged authority.