Opening Information
Brownsea Island reopened on the 14th March 2009 with ferries operating from Sandbanks. Ferries from Poole Quay to Brownsea started on 28th March 2009. From Easter there will also be a new hourly service from Bournemouth Pier to Brownsea.
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 Sandbanks from 10am 14th March - November (9th); check for details. Ferries from Poole Quay started on 28th March 2009
Access to the reserve is 150m from the National Trust Quay on the island.
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Our nature reserve on
Brownsea Island has been kindly supported by Barclays
Downloads:
> Nature Trail Leaflet
> Warden's Sightings - June 09
> Warden's Sightings - May 09
> Warden's Sightings - Aug 08
> Warden's Sightings - Sept 08
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