List of local nature reserves in Hampshire
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Local nature reserves (LNRs) in England are designated by local authorities under Section 21 of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949.[1] LNRs are sites which have a special local interest either biologically or geologically. Local authorities have a duty to care for them, and must control the sites by owning or leasing them, or by having an agreement with the owners. The local authorities can apply local byelaws to manage and protect LNRs.[2]
As of April 2020, there are 65 LNRs in Hampshire,[3] of which 28 are Sites of Special Scientific Interest, 15 are Ramsar sites, 15 are Special Areas of Conservation, 16 are Special Protection Areas and one is a national nature reserve and one is a Nature Conservation Review site. Two sites are managed by the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust.
Other designations and wildlife trust management
- HIWWT = Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust
- NCR = Nature Conservation Review site
- NNR = National nature reserve
- Ramsar = Ramsar site, an internationally important wetland site
- SAC = Special Area of Conservation
- SM = Scheduled monument
- SPA = Special Protection Area
- SSSI = Site of Special Scientific Interest
| Site | Photograph | Area[lower-alpha 1] | Location[lower-alpha 2] | Borough | Other | Map[lower-alpha 3] and details[lower-alpha 4] |
Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anton Lakes |  |
33.1 hectares (82 acres) |
Andover 51.220°N 1.486°W SU 360 469 |
Test Valley | Map | The River Anton rises in the site and flows through former watercress beds into the lakes, which were created by gravel extraction. Another habitat is chalk grassland, which has butterflies such as marbled white and gatekeeper. There is also an area of wet meadow, and mammals include otters and water voles.[4] | |
| Berry Coppice | 3.0 hectares (7.4 acres) |
Winchester 50.871°N 1.231°W SU 542 082 |
Winchester | Map | |||
| Bishops Waltham Branch |  |
1.6 hectares (4.0 acres) |
Bishop's Waltham 50.950°N 1.223°W SU 547 170 |
Winchester | Map | This site is a 1 kilometre (0.62 miles) footpath along the former railway line from Bishop's Waltham to Botley. The path is lined by trees such as oaks and field maples, and flowering plants including wood avens and herb robert.[5] | |
| Boldre Foreshore |  |
193.3 hectares (478 acres) |
Boldre 50.752°N 1.497°W SZ 356 948 |
New Forest | HIWWT,[6] Ramsar,[7] SAC,[8] SPA,[9] SSSI[10] | Map | This large site has a vartiety of habitats, including saltmarsh, shingle, grassland, fresh and brackish pools and mudflats. It has breeding populations of gulls, terns and waders, together with many wintering waders and wildfowl.[11] |
| Brook Meadow (Emsworth) | .jpg) |
3.9 hectares (9.6 acres) |
Emsworth 50.849°N 0.936°W SU 750 060 |
Havant | Map | Most of this site is grassland, which is surrounded by woodland and flanked by two streams. The diverse wildlife includes water voles.[12] | |
| Broxhead Common, Bordon |  |
41.8 hectares (103 acres) |
Bordon 51.132°N 0.849°W SU 806 376 |
East Hampshire | SPA,[13] SSSI[14] | Map | The common has dry heath and birch and oak woodland. Woodlarks and nightjars, which are rare and protected birds, breed on the site, and there is also a population of the nationally rare sand lizard.[15][16] |
| Buriton Chalk Pit |  |
5.7 hectares (14 acres) |
Buriton 50.973°N 0.955°W SU 735 198 |
East Hampshire | Map | This former chalk quarry was worked up to the end of World War II and it still has large heaps of spoil. It has gradually developed into a rich habitat with chalk loving plants. Many paths follow the routes of narrow gauge railway lines which were used to move chalk and lime.[17][18] | |
| Calshot Marshes |  |
51.1 hectares (126 acres) |
Southampton 50.818°N 1.316°W SU 483 023 |
Southampton | Ramsar,[7] SAC,[8] SPA,[9] SSSI[19] | Map | This saltmarsh site is internationally important for dark-bellied brent geese and nationally important for wigeon, teal, ringed plover, grey plover, black-tailed godwit, redshank and dunlin.[20] |
| Catherington Down |  |
12.8 hectares (32 acres) |
Horndean 50.924°N 1.018°W SU 691 143 |
East Hampshire | SSSI[21] | Map | This western sloping site is chalk grassland with prominent lynchet strips dating to the Middle Ages. It is managed by grazing and has a variety of chalk herbs, such as pyramidal orchid, round-headed rampion and autumn lady's-tresses. There is also a narrow belt of woodland.[22] |
| Catherington Lith, Horndean | 9.2 hectares (23 acres) |
Horndean 50.922°N 1.004°W SU 701 141 |
East Hampshire | Map | |||
| Chessel Bay |  |
12.9 hectares (32 acres) |
Southampton 50.913°N 1.376°W SU 440 128 |
Southampton | Ramsar,[7] SPA,[9] SSSI[23] | Map | This is the last remaining stretch of undeveloped shoreline along the lower River Itchen. Most of it is mudflats, which provide feeding grounds for birds at low tide. There are also areas of saltmarsh, woodland and shingle.[24] |
| Chineham Woods | 9.2 hectares (23 acres) |
Basingstoke 51.292°N 1.059°W SU 657 552 |
Basingstoke and Deane | Map | |||
| Claylands |  |
5.8 hectares (14 acres) |
Bishop's Waltham 50.959°N 1.223°W SU 547 180 |
Winchester | Map | This former clay working has woodland, ponds, meadows and scrub. The ponds have populations of great crested newts.[25] There are butterflies such as marbled white, common blue and green hairstreak.[26] | |
| Crab Wood |  |
37.8 hectares (93 acres) |
Winchester 51.065°N 1.378°W SU 437 297 |
Winchester | SSSI[27] | Map | This site has been wooded at least since the sixteenth century. It has a hazel layer which has been coppiced, large oaks and some beech, ash and birch trees. There is a rich butterfly fauna, including purple emperors.[28] |
| Danebury Hillfort |  |
39.0 hectares (96 acres) |
Nether Wallop 51.137°N 1.535°W SU 326 376 |
Test Valley | SSSI[29] | Map | This Iron Age hillfort has been the subject of extensive research and excavation. It was occupied from the seventh to the first centuries BC, with many phases of development.[30] There are large beech around the perimeter.[31] |
| Daneshill Park Woods |  |
4.4 hectares (11 acres) |
Basingstoke 51.280°N 1.059°W SU 657 538 |
Basingstoke and Deane | Map | These woods have hazel coppice, an old orchard, scrub and a sunken lane. Ground flora include wood anemone, celandine and bluebells.[32] | |
| Deadwater Valley | .jpg) |
35.9 hectares (89 acres) |
Bordon 51.107°N 0.857°W SU 801 348 |
East Hampshire | SM[33] | Map | This site along the west bank of the River Deadwater has a pond, a meadow, wet and dry heath, alder carr and broadleaved and coniferous woodland.[34] There are Civil War earthworks in the south of the reserve.[33] |
| Dell Piece West | 4.1 hectares (10 acres) |
Horndean 50.909°N 1.006°W SU 700 126 |
East Hampshire | Map | |||
| Dundridge Meadows |  |
7.5 hectares (19 acres) |
Bishop's Waltham 50.960°N 1.200°W SU 563 181 |
Winchester | Map | These meadows are chalk grassland managed for hay. There are also two ponds, ancient woodlands and species-rich hedges. Flowering plants include cowslips and hayrattle.[35] | |
| Elvetham Heath |  |
20.0 hectares (49 acres) |
Fleet 51.295°N 0.847°W SU 805 557 |
Hart | Map | Typical heathland plants such as heather and gorse are regenerating naturally on the heath, and there are other habitats such as reedbeds and wet woodland, which has the rare plant bog myrtle.[36] | |
| Farlington Marshes |  |
119.7 hectares (296 acres) |
Portsmouth 50.834°N 1.029°W SU 685 043 |
Portsmouth | HIWWT[37] NCR,[38] Ramsar[39] SAC,[8] SPA,[40] SSSI[41] | Map | This area of flower-rich grazing marsh is internationally important for its bird population. Wintering wildfowl include dark bellied brent geese, wigeons, avocets, redshanks and dunlins. There are also spring and summer visitors such as Cetti's, reed and sedge warblers, skylarks and lapwings.[37][42] |
| Fleet Pond |  |
48.3 hectares (119 acres) |
Fleet 51.288°N 0.824°W SU 821 550 |
Hart | SSSI[43] | Map | This large and shallow lake is surrounded by reed beds, alder carr and oak and birch woodland. The lake has a rich aquatic flora and fauna, including large populations of reed warblers and other wetland birds.[44] |
| Gull Coppice | 12.7 hectares (31 acres) |
Fareham 50.881°N 1.255°W SU 525 093 |
Fareham | Map | |||
| Gutner Point |  |
69.0 hectares (171 acres) |
Hayling Island 50.809°N 0.954°W SU 738 016 |
Basingstoke and Deane | Ramsar[39] SAC[8] SPA,[40] SSSI[45] | Map | This site in Chichester Harbour has inter-tidal muds, grassland and saltmarsh. Flora includes sea-lavender. Many birds feed on invertebrates in the mud at low tide and rest on foreshore at high tide.[46] |
| Hackett's Marsh | .jpg) |
20.4 hectares (50 acres) |
Fareham 50.878°N 1.308°W SU 488 089 |
Fareham | Ramsar,[7] SAC,[8] SPA,[9] SSSI[47] | Map | This site has saltmarshes and species-rich grassland. Its diverse insects, which include some species which are nationally rare, provide an important source of food for waders, such as golden plovers, black-tailed godwits and curlews.[48] |
| Hayling Billy |  |
42.0 hectares (104 acres) |
Hayling Island 50.812°N 0.987°W SU 715 019 |
Havant | Ramsar,[39] SAC,[8] SPA,[40] SSSI[41] | Map | This is a footpath along the former Hayling Island branch railway line along the eastern shore of Langstone Harbour between Havant and South Hayling.[49] |
| Hazleton Common, Horndean | .jpg) |
17.5 hectares (43 acres) |
Horndean 50.902°N 1.001°W SU 703 119 |
East Hampshire | Map | The common is mainly lowland heath, together with ponds and areas of woodland. Fauna include common lizards, adders, grass snake, slow worms, broad-bodied chaser dragonflies, green woodpeckers and partridges.[50] | |
| Herbert Plantation | .jpg) |
25.6 hectares (63 acres) |
Newtown 51.357°N 1.318°W SU 476 622 |
Basingstoke and Deane | Map | The reserve is named after its former owner, Herbert Fox, who died in World War II. It has oak, birch, alder and pine, and ground flora includes some species typical of ancient woodland, such as common solomon's-seal and wood sorrel. Invertebrates include 22 species of butterfly, such as silver-washed fritillary and white admiral.[51] | |
| Hocombe Mead |  |
8.3 hectares (21 acres) |
Chandler's Ford 51.001°N 1.389°W SU 430 226 |
Eastleigh | Map | The site has two species-rich meadows. The north one, which is grazed by cattle, has a large colony of ringlet butterflies, while the south one is maintained by cutting. There are also woods, with some parts more than 400 years old. There are small areas of bog and heath.[52] | |
| Holly Hill Woodland Park |  |
28.1 hectares (69 acres) |
Fareham 50.866°N 1.297°W SU 496 076 |
Fareham | Map | The park has landscaped areas with lakes, waterfalls, islands and woods with exotic trees and flowers, as well as native trees such as oaks. There is also a less formal area of ancient semi-natural woodland.[53] | |
| Hook with Warsash |  |
251.6 hectares (622 acres) |
Fareham 50.843°N 1.300°W SU 494 051 |
Fareham | Ramsar,[7] SAC[8] SPA,[9] SSSI[23] | Map | This nature reserve on the banks of the River Hamble and Southampton Water has diverse habitats, intertidal mud, saltmarsh, grazing marsh, reedbed, scrapes, shingle and woodland. Flora include sea kale, yellow horned poppy, slender hare's ear, marsh marigold, English stonecrop and wild carrot.[54] |
| The Kench, Hayling Island |  |
6.0 hectares (15 acres) |
Hayling Island 50.793°N 1.020°W SZ 692 997 |
Havant | Ramsar,[39] SAC,[8] SPA,[40] SSSI[41] | Map | This site on the south shore of Langstone Harbour is an area of saltmarsh and intertidal mud. Birds use the mud as a feeding area at low tide and roost on a shingle ridge during high tide.[55] |
| Kites Croft | 17.0 hectares (42 acres) |
Fareham 50.856°N 1.251°W SU 528 065 |
Fareham | Map | |||
| Lepe Point | 4.5 hectares (11 acres) |
Exbury 50.786°N 1.357°W SZ 454 987 |
New Forest | SSSI[56] | Map | ||
| Liss Riverside Railway Walk North | .jpg) |
6.9 hectares (17 acres) |
Liss 51.051°N 0.890°W SU 779 285 |
East Hampshire | Map | This footpath follows part of the route of the former Longmoor Military Railway from Liss to Liss Forest. The path goes through willow and alder woodland.[57] | |
| Liss Riverside Railway Walk South | .jpg) |
1.6 hectares (4.0 acres) |
Liss 51.045°N 0.893°W SU 777 279 |
East Hampshire | Map | This footpath through woodland is the southern continuation of Liss Riverside Railway Walk North, following the route of the former Longmoor Military Railway.[58][59] | |
| Lymington-Keyhaven Marshes |  |
167.9 hectares (415 acres) |
Lymington 50.736°N 1.542°W SZ 324 930 |
New Forest | HIWWT,[6] Ramsar,[7] SAC,[8] SPA,[9] SSSI[10] | Map | This coastal site has saltmarshes and intertidal muds. Birds of prey include peregrine falcons, marsh harriers and merlins, while black-headed gulls and sandwich terns feed on fish in the marshes. Yellow-horned poppies, sea campions and sea aster grow in the salty mud.[6] |
| Manor Farm | .jpg) |
144.1 hectares (356 acres) |
Botley 50.900°N 1.289°W SU 501 114 |
Eastleigh | Ramsar,[7] SAC,[8] SPA,[9] SSSI[60] | Map | This large country park on the north bank of the River Hamble has woodland with roe deer and meadows with wild flowers and skylarks.[61] |
| Mercury Marshes |  |
6.4 hectares (16 acres) |
Hamble-le-Rice 50.866°N 1.311°W SU 486 076 |
Eastleigh | Ramsar,[7] SAC,[8] SPA,[9] SSSI[23] | Map | This site on the west bank of the River Hamble has intertidal mud, reedbeds, islands, saltmarsh, creeks and woodland. The saltmarsh and islands are dominated by sea purslane, cordgrass, sea aster and glasswort. The reserve is important for invertebrates and waders.[62] |
| Milford on Sea LNR |  |
20.6 hectares (51 acres) |
Milford on Sea 50.728°N 1.606°W SZ 279 921 |
New Forest | Map | The Danes Stream runs through this nature reserve, which has ancient woodland, grassland and winding paths.[63] | |
| The Mill Field |  |
11.7 hectares (29 acres) |
Basingstoke 51.276°N 1.051°W SU 663 534 |
Basingstoke and Deane | Map | The field has a large area of grassland together with scrub and hedgerows. There are water voles and dormice, while insects include waved black, lunar yellow underwing and water carpet moths and marbled white butterflies.[64] | |
| Miller's Pond | _(geograph_3353269).jpg) |
8.1 hectares (20 acres) |
Southampton 50.896°N 1.360°W SU 451 109 |
Southampton | Map | he pond is managed for both angling and wildlife.[65] There are also areas of acid grassland and semi-natural woodland.[66] | |
| The Moors, Bishop's Waltham |  |
14.5 hectares (36 acres) |
Bishop's Waltham 50.950°N 1.204°W SU 560 170 |
Winchester | SSSI[67] | Map | These unimproved wet meadows and alder carr drain into Mill Pond at the centre of the site. The meadows have a rich and diverse flora, dominated by greater pond sedge in wetter areas, while there are plants such as purple moor-grass and meadow foxtail in drier parts.[68] |
| Netley Common |  |
12.8 hectares (32 acres) |
Southampton 50.903°N 1.324°W SU 476 117 |
Southampton | Map | This lowland heath site also has areas of grassland, woods, scrub and gorse. Reptiles include common lizards and adders. A Roman road crosses the site, and there is also a Bronze Age barrow.[69] | |
| Oxenbourne Down, Clanfield |  |
84.8 hectares (210 acres) |
Buriton 50.966°N 0.986°W SU 713 190 |
East Hampshire | SAC,[70] SSSI[71] | Map | This is part of Queen Elizabeth Country Park. It has unimproved grassland on low fertility soils, which is controlled by grazing. There are also areas of ancient semi-natural woodland.[72] |
| Pamber Forest |  |
190.1 hectares (470 acres) |
Tadley 51.342°N 1.118°W SU 615 607 |
Basingstoke and Deane | HIWWT,[73] SSSI[74] | Map | Pamber Forest has hazel coppice dominated by oak standards. At the southern end are plants associated with ancient woodland, such as orpine, wood horsetail, lily of the valley, wild daffodil and the rare mountain fern. The woodland has over forty nationally rare or uncommon species.[75] |
| Popley Ponds | .jpg) |
1.4 hectares (3.5 acres) |
Basingstoke 51.286°N 1.087°W SU 638 545 |
Basingstoke and Deane | Map | This former quarry is now a pond which has a diverse range of amphibians, including great crested newts. There is also an area of woodland.[76] | |
| Rotherlands | _cropped.jpg) |
7.6 hectares (19 acres) |
Petersfield 51.008°N 0.911°W SU 765 237 |
East Hampshire | Map | The River Rother and its tributary, Tilmore Brook, runs through this reserve, and it also has unmanaged grassland, wetland, woodland and scrub. Fauna include badgers, otters and crayfish.[77] | |
| Round Coppice | 6.4 hectares (16 acres) |
Winchester 50.881°N 1.248°W SU 530 093 |
Winchester | Map | |||
| Sandy Point | 18.3 hectares (45 acres) |
Hayling Island 50.779°N 0.940°W SZ 748 982 |
Havant | Ramsar[39] SPA,[40] SSSI[45] | Map | ||
| Shawford Down |  |
19.7 hectares (49 acres) |
Winchester 51.021°N 1.331°W SU 470 248 |
Winchester | Map | The down has strip lynchets, dating to the period in the Middle Ages when the area was cultivated as common land. The site has a range of chalk grassland habitats, with flora including wild parsnip, red bartsia, cowslip and common rock-rose. There are also areas of woodland and scrub.[78] | |
| Shortheath Common |  |
57.8 hectares (143 acres) |
Whitehill 51.124°N 0.894°W SU 775 367 |
East Hampshire | SAC,[79] SSSI[80] | Map | The common has areas of bracken, woodland, heath and a pond, but its main ecological interest is a large valley mire. Much of it is covered by Sphagnum mosses, but there are also many vascular plants, such as velvet bent and the insectivorous round-leaved sundew. The invertebrates are also of particular interest, including 23 breeding species of dragonfly.[81] |
| Sturt Pond |  |
10.9 hectares (27 acres) |
Milford on Sea 50.721°N 1.585°W SZ 294 913 |
New Forest | Ramsar,[7] SAC,[8] SPA,[9] SSSI[10] | Map | Sturt Pond itself is tidal, and the reserve also includes Dane Stream, reedbeds, lagoons and saltmarsh. These habitats attract many birds, and there is also an area of grassland which is grazed by New Forest ponies.[82] |
| Tadburn Meadows |  |
5.1 hectares (13 acres) |
Romsey 50.992°N 1.476°W SU 369 215 |
Test Valley | Map | The Tadburn Stream runs through this valley site, which has wet willow and alder woodland lower down and dry habitats higher up. Fauna include green woodpeckers, kingfishers and water voles. There is grassland south of the stream.[83] | |
| Titchfield Haven |  |
93.0 hectares (230 acres) |
Fareham 50.823°N 1.240°W SU 536 029 |
Fareham | NNR,[84] Ramsar,[7] SPA,[9] SSSI[85] | Map | This was formerly a tidal estuary, but one way valves block salt water and it is now freshwater river and marshes, wet meadows bisected by ditches, and fen. It is important for wetland breeding birds, such as bearded reedlings, sedge warblers and reed warblers.[86] |
| Up Nately LNR |  |
2.8 hectares (6.9 acres) |
Up Nately 51.264°N 0.997°W SU 701 521 |
Basingstoke and Deane | SSSI[87] | Map | This is a section of the Basingstoke Canal between Up Nately and the Greywell Tunnel. There is water in the canal and the towpath is a public footpath.[88] |
| Valley Park Woodlands |  |
24.8 hectares (61 acres) |
Chandler's Ford 50.981°N 1.406°W SU 418 204 |
Eastleigh | Map | This site has ancient woods, coppice, glades, woodland rides, rough grassland and ponds.[89] | |
| Warsash Common | 23.4 hectares (58 acres) |
Warsash 50.850°N 1.288°W SU 502 058 |
Fareham | Map | |||
| Wealden Edge Hangers |  |
48.0 hectares (119 acres) |
Hawkley 51.050°N 0.959°W SU 731 284 |
East Hampshire | SAC[90] SSSI[91] | Map | Natural England describes this site as "arguably,... one of the ecologically most interesting and diverse series of chalk woodlands in Britain". The rich ground flora includes many rare species, and 289 species of vascular plants have been recorded. There are more than 111 species of bryophytes and the lichen flora is the second richest in the country with 74 species.[92] |
| West Hayling |  |
76.2 hectares (188 acres) |
Bedhampton 50.826°N 0.989°W SU 713 034 |
Havant | Ramsar,[39] RSPB,[93] SAC,[8] SPA,[40] SSSI[41] | Map | This site has large areas of intertidal mudflats and lagoons with vast numbers of marine invertebrates, which provide food for tens of thousands of wintering and breeding birds.[94][93] |
| West of the River Alver | .jpg) |
11.6 hectares (29 acres) |
Gosport 50.798°N 1.178°W SU 580 001 |
Gosport | Map | This site on the west bank of the River Alver has a reedbed which is one of the largest in England, and which is maintained by annual cutting. There are also three ponds and areas of grassland, some of which are kept short by rabbit grazing. Seventeen species of butterfly have been recorded.[95] | |
| Westwood Woodland Park |  |
49.5 hectares (122 acres) |
Southampton 50.883°N 1.356°W SU 454 095 |
Southampton | Map | In the Middle Ages this park was part of the estate of Netley Abbey. Its habitats include ancient woodland, with haze coppice and oaks, streams, ponds, marshes and grassland. There are several rare beetles, and birds include barn owls, skylarks, linnets and meadow pipits.[96] | |
| The Wild Grounds |  |
28.4 hectares (70 acres) |
Gosport 50.805°N 1.178°W SU 580 009 |
Gosport | SSSI[97] | Map | This site was probably common land until around 1600, after which it developed into woodland dominated by oak trees. It is not rich in flora, but is of great interest ecologically and historically for its natural origin and its structure, being composed of old trees of uneven age which will be allowed to live their natural life span.[98] |
| Yoell's Copse |  |
5.5 hectares (14 acres) |
Horndean 50.911°N 1.021°W SU 689 129 |
East Hampshire | Map | This ancient wood has coppiced mature oak trees and wild service trees. There are uncommon plants such as butcher's-broom and common cow-wheat.[99] | |
| Zebon Copse | 7.8 hectares (19 acres) |
Fleet 51.260°N 0.855°W SU 800 518 |
Hart | Map |
- Details are on the pages on each site in the Natural England database of local nature reserves.[3]
Wikiwand in your browser!
Seamless Wikipedia browsing. On steroids.
Every time you click a link to Wikipedia, Wiktionary or Wikiquote in your browser's search results, it will show the modern Wikiwand interface.
Wikiwand extension is a five stars, simple, with minimum permission required to keep your browsing private, safe and transparent.
