Brownsea Island - Dorset Wildlife Trust Reserve Wildlife

The Dorset Wildlife Trust reserve on the island provides opportunities to see red squirrels and large flocks of waders and wildfowl attracted by the lagoon.

Situated in Poole Harbour, the reserve (101 ha) on Brownsea Island includes a diverse range of habitats: a brackish lagoon, lakes, reed bed, flooded alder carr and pine woods. Large flocks of waders, particularly avocets, black-tail godwits & visiting wildfowl over-winter on the lagoon; in summer they are replaced by breeding common & sandwich terns, gulls and little egrets. The reed beds are home to water voles and sika deer, kingfishers and water-rails. The pine woods provide one of the last refuges of the red squirrel in southern England.

Visit in the spring for over-wintering birds or in summer for breeding terns; autumn is the best time for seeing red squirrels. There are six bird hides, boardwalks, a shop, exhibition and toilets at the quay.

Opening Times

Mid March – Mid October

Costs

There is a charge for the ferry and a National Trust landing fee payable on the island. There is no additional charge to enter the DWT reserve.

Directions

The reserve is in Poole Harbour; there is no road access; parking is available on the mainland; public ferries to the island run from Poole Quay and Sandbanks between March and October.
(O.S. map reference: SZ 028 878).

Additional Information

Public passenger ferries run from Poole Quay and Sandbanks from 10 am between March and October. In addition to the ferry charge there is a National Trust landing fee payable on the island. The entrance to the reserve is about 150m from the National Trust Quay. No dogs are allowed.

Nearest refreshments: National Trust café at Brownsea Quay

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