Blue Pool, Dorset

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} [[Image:Blue Pool, Furzebrook, Dorset - geograph.org.uk - 720161.jpg|thumb|Blue Pool, Furzebrook, Dorset.]] [[Image:The Blue Pool, Furzebrook - geograph.org.uk - 78921.jpg|thumb|The Blue Pool, Furzebrook.]] '''Blue Pool''' is a flooded, disused [[clay pit]] where [[Purbeck Ball Clay|Purbeck ball clay]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pmmmg.org/Progress.htm |title=Progress |accessdate=2008-06-11 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080509102804/http://www.pmmmg.org/Progress.htm |archivedate=2008-05-09 }} The Purbeck Mineral & Mining Museum</ref> was once extracted. It is now a lake within the Furzebrook Estate, a {{convert|25|acre|ha|adj=on}} park of [[Heath (habitat)|heath]] woodland and [[gorse]] near [[Furzebrook, Dorset|Furzebrook]] on the [[Isle of Purbeck]], in the county of [[Dorset]], southern [[England]].<ref name=autogenerated1>http://www.bluepooltearooms.co.uk/ www.BluePoolTeaRooms.co.uk</ref>

Furzebrook Estate is about {{convert|5|km|mi|0|abbr=on|order=flip}} south of [[Wareham, Dorset|Wareham]] and {{convert|3|km|mi|0|abbr=on|order=flip}} west of [[Corfe Castle (village)|Corfe Castle]].

The pool started life early in the 17th century as a [[chalk pit]]. Purbeck ball clay was dug from the pit from the mid-17th century to the early 20th century. The ball clay was used to make fine [[ceramic]] products, such as [[smoking pipe (tobacco)|smoking pipe]]s, plates, cups and [[tea pot]]s. The pit became disused before the [[First World War]], but ball clay is still extracted from other pits in the area.

The title 'blue' arose because there are minute particles of [[clay]] in [[colloid]]al [[suspension (chemistry)|suspension]] within the water. These suspensions variously [[diffraction|diffract]] the light depending on the particles' size (with differences in size often linked to changes in [[concentration]] and [[pH]]), yielding colours from red-brown, through grey and green, to the more typical [[turquoise (color)|turquoise]]. The metallic blue sometimes found in photographs is more likely to be a reflection of the sky, as the attraction's own website makes no such claim for the water, and their leaflets call it “a turquoise jewel set in the heart of Purbeck”.

In 1935 a café was opened at the site. There is also a museum and gift shop.<ref name=autogenerated1 /> In 1985 the estate was declared a [[Site of Special Scientific Interest]].<ref name=autogenerated2>{{cite web|url=http://www.english-nature.org.uk/citation/citation_photo/1000266.pdf |title=Archived copy |accessdate=2008-06-12 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110525074542/http://www.english-nature.org.uk/citation/citation_photo/1000266.pdf |archivedate=2011-05-25 }}</ref> Now law protects the habitat of a variety of rare plants and animals. The site includes nature reserves managed by the [[Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Trust|Amphibian and Reptile Conservation]] and a private nature reserve.

Blue Pool is now a popular tourist attraction, especially because it is a place of peace and tranquillity. The pool is surrounded by {{convert|25|acre}} of [[heathland]]. The nationally rare [[Erica ciliaris|Dorset heath]] and [[Gentiana pneumonanthe|marsh gentian]] are common to the area. The estate is crossed by a network of sandy paths. There are steps down to the edge of the pool and there are also steps on some paths around the pool, but there is also a completely flat route around the pool, which is suitable for wheelchairs.

The lush vegetation around the pool is inhabited by [[grey squirrel]]s, [[European rabbit|rabbit]]s and [[European badger|badger]]s. The Estate supports numerous rare birds, amphibians and reptiles.<ref name="autogenerated2"/> Visitors may therefore be lucky enough to spot the [[Dartford warbler]] or the [[nightjar]]. Both of Britain's endangered and protected reptiles, the green [[sand lizard]] and the [[Coronella austriaca|smooth snake]], live here in considerable numbers. There are also many [[dragonfly|dragonflies]] and the rare [[Sika deer]].

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== {{Commons category inline|Blue Pool}}

[[Category:Isle of Purbeck]] [[Category:Geology of Dorset]] [[Category:Tourist attractions in Dorset]] [[Category:Sites of Special Scientific Interest in Dorset]] [[Category:Chalk pits]]