Brownsea
Island
I
have known Ian Johnson as a friend for 305years, from
the time we lived in trendy Hampstead, to when we
both resided in the trendy Cotswolds, trendy Bloomsbury,
and trendy Oxford, and now he resides most conveniently,
200 yards from trendy Poole Quays. Much of his life
was spent in Grimsby. Grimsby is not trendy. (It is
a pleasant town, there are well known birdwatching
spots, some of the countryside and the Wolds is as
good as anywhere, but parts of the surrounding fen
countryside, flat fields of 100 acres, bereft of hedgerows,
must be amongst the most desolate sights in Britain.
There is literally nowhere left for wildlife. Not
only is this dire for nature, but it cannot make the
farmers jump out of bed with joy and anticipation
at first light each day)
Back to Poole Quays; you can eat, drink, take in the
views, then pop onto a boat to enjoy a cruise to a
variety of beautiful locations. No need to book, and
ferries leave every few minutes.
I
would suggest you treat yourself to a weekend retreat
at Sandbanks. Here you may enjoy the view across to
Poole harbour and its islands, including Brownsea.
(True, Sandbanks is the 3rd most expensive place in
the world for land prices, but if you avoid the top
of the market, bargains can still be picked up for
less than £5 million)
SANDBANKS
BROWNSEA
ISLAND
Brownsea
has a magical feel to it, with Peacocks, Golden Pheasants
combined with the strong connotations with Enid Blyton
and the Famous Five (Whispering Island was Brownsea).
It is fantastic for birdwatchers, with 4 hides overlooking
the lagoon. There are huge numbers of waders, demonstrating
how rich a saline lagoon can be. For 6 months of the
year there are 1,000 Avocets, whilst for the warmer
months of the year, breeding Terns give fabulous photographic
opportunities.
You may see Sika Deer, Kingfishers,
Spoonbills, but the star attraction is the Red Squirrel.
The only other location within 200 miles to see this
animal is on the Isle of Wight, but Brownsea has the
advantage of its small size, a mere 500 acres. The
most opportune time to see the squirrels is autumn,
they are busy feeding and stocking-up for the winter,
and as the leaves do not overwhelm the trees, it rewards
us with the best views. You Might also be lucky to
see them at the feeding station. To visit during the
winter months you need to join the Dorset Wildlife
Trust, or at least know a member.
If after all this you are not enchanted
by this whispering island, then regrettably, there
is no Hope. Give up. Try a new hobby. Stick with a
PlayStation. Faith is extinguished.
BROWNSEA ISLAND
IAN JOHNSON
Map Ref: SZ 028878
Area: 500 Acres
Brownsea
Island is a National Trust Property lying in Poole
Harbour, the world’s second largest natural
harbour and a Special Protection Area (SPA). As a
RAMSAR wetland it is an area of outstanding national
and international importance for its assemblages of
waterfowl and migratory species of bird.
The
harbour provides a relatively sheltered environment
compared to the open coast. Over-wintering waterfowl
such as avocet, shelduck, dunlin and passage waterfowl
such as black-tailed godwit visit the inter-tidal
mudflats, sandflats, reedbeds,and saltmarsh to feed
and roost.
The
island itself consists of heath and coniferous and
mixed woodland, a haven for wildlife including sika
deer and red squirrels, quite hard to spot but you
may get a glimpse particularly in the autumn. Some
paths are rough, but most of the island is accessible.
Dorset Wildlife Trust leases the northern 200 acres
of the island. Hides overlook the saline lagoon, providing
spectacular close-ups of birds including Common and
Sandwich terns. Along the nature trail the patient
watcher may see water rails, reed warblers, water
voles and dragonflies.
Historically
the island is the site of Baden-Powell’s experimental
camp in the summer of 1907, which resulted in the
World Scout and Guide Movements. 50 acres around that
site in the south-west corner of the island are set
aside for Scout and Guide camping.
Access
to the island is available from March to October (exact
dates alter each year) and is free to National Trust
members. The island can be reached from Poole Quay
and Sandbanks (Brownsea Island Ferries) and from Bournemouth
Pier and Swanage (Dorset Belles). See below for current
times and charges. If you are not a member of the
Dorset Wildlife Trust or the National Trust, you will
have to pay a small fee.
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