Natural England announced on 15 September 2026 the creation of the Lyscombe National Nature Reserve in Dorset, the 16th reserve in its King's Series. The 334-hectare site, described as the size of 468 football pitches, lies in the Dorset Downs, a chalk landscape that inspired Thomas Hardy's novels.

According to the announcement, the reserve contains chalk grassland with at least six species of orchid, including pyramidal and bee orchids, as well as rare chalkhill blue butterflies. Natural England said the site has the potential to support nature recovery across the wider 5,700-hectare Dorset Downs landscape. The designation was made in partnership with Dorset Wildlife Trust, which acquired the site with Natural England in 2024.

Natural England said around 1.4 million people live within 5km of a King's Series reserve, and that it aims to create or extend 25 such reserves by 2028. The announcement also cited reduced historic pollution in the River Piddle and grazing by English Longhorn cattle as part of the site's management.