Brownsea Island Nature Reserve

This year the Island has extended opening until 9 November 2008, 9am to 4pm Daily

General Information

Size: 101 hectares

Diverse habitats & wildlife, including a red squirrel population. The reserve is leased from the National Trust, situated in Poole Harbour with a large sheltered lagoon; particularly important for overwintering & summer breeding birds. A day spent exploring its flooded woodland, lakes, reedbed & pine woods is unlikely to disappoint.

Wildlife interest:

Large flocks of waders, particularly avocets, black-tailed godwits & visiting wildfowl over winter.
In the summer breeding common and sandwich terns, gulls & little egrets.
The reedbeds & alder carr are home to water voles & sika deer, with kingfishers & water rails providing avian interest.
Red Squirrels!

Best time to visit:

Boats travel to the island from March to November.
Come early in the year for winter bird visitors, or in summer for breeding terns.
Autumn is best for red squirrel watching.

Access:

Good viewing from hides and a system of well-maintained paths & boardwalk give access for all abilities to most of the habitats .

Location:

Map ref. SZ 028878. No road access.

Public ferries run daily to the island from Poole Quay and Sandbanks from 10am March - November (9th); check for details.

Access to the reserve is 150m from the National Trust Quay on the island.

Brownsea Island map