Farlington Marshes Wildlife Reserve
Best Time to Visit
Winter - wildfowl
Autumn / spring - migratory waders
Summer - breeding birds, butterflies, dragonflies
Size of Reserve 125 hectares / 308 acres
The majority of the circular walk around the reserve is on the sea wall, about 4km long in total (approximately 2.5 miles). Several areas of the reserve are open access. Please keep dogs on leads at all times. Wellingtons or sturdy boots may be needed if conditions are wet.
Farlington Marshes is the Hamshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust’s oldest reserve and a great favourite amongst the many visitors, who keep coming back to enjoy the internationally important wildlife and lovely views. Although Farlington is not far from Portsmouth there is a sense of being out in the wild as you walk out on the sea wall footpath with views inland over the reserve or out over Langstone Harbour. Farlington, was reclaimed from the sea centuries ago and is internationally important for the bird populations that it supports, as well as being a blaze of colour in spring and summer with many flowers and butterflies. To make sure that Farlington stays as a haven for wildlife the open grassland is maintained by grazing cattle and scrub control is managed by the Reserves Officer. The marsh is grazed by cattle for most of the year, which helps to maintain it at the right length for Brent Geese to graze.
Internationally important populations of migratory birds, particularly large populations of Dark-bellied Brent Goose and Black-tailed Godwit, can be seen here. Thousands of waders can be seen on the lake at high tide especially in the Autumn, and the Deeps (see map) are particularly good for wildfowl. Looking out over the mudflats of the Harbour thousands of feeding waders can be seen in the winter. During the summer, islands in the harbour have large numbers of breeding gulls and terns.
Farlington Marshes has ongoing bird research projects carried out by the Trust in partnership with other organisations (local and international). This important work not only helps us to better understand the behaviour of the birds on our reserve, but also the wider context which will help us to ensure their survival.
The Reserves Officer for Farlington Marshes can be contacted on tel 01489 774429 Mob 07917 616696.
For more information or to join the Wildlife Trust, visit www.hwt.org.uk
