The
South east Dorset conurbation (also known as the
South Dorset conurbation,
Poole-Bournemouth urban area and
Bournemouth urban area) is a multi-centred
conurbation on the south coast of
Dorset in England. The area is rapidly becoming an amalgamation with the area of South West
Hampshire immediately on the fringe of the newly formed New Forest National Park. The main population centres are
Bournemouth,
Poole and
Christchurch; however, the urbanised area spreads as far east as
Barton on Sea in Hampshire. There are a number of satellite towns peripheral to these main urban centres. In clockwise rotation these include:
Wareham,
Upton,
Wimborne,
Ferndown,
Verwood and
Ringwood (Hampshire). The urban area is generally surrounded by a
green belt.