Hengistbury Head Nature Reserve is perfect for wildlife and bird watching

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Wildlife & Bird Watching in Bournemouth

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Bournemouth might be famous for its golden sand, but did you know that we’ve got over 100 parks and public spaces, including 10 nature reserves? We’re also proud to have four SSSIs (sites of specific scientific interest) – Hengistbury Head, Kinson Common, Southbourne Overcliff and Turbary Common. These areas host a wide variety of habitats, from heathland and woods to meadows and marshland, which makes it the perfect place for plants and animals to set up home.

There are hundreds of different species in and around the resort and our nature reserves are also home to some very rare and special creatures. Hengistbury Head is a favourite of wildlife enthusiasts and you’ll find a whole host of animals, insects, reptiles and amphibians scuttling about this historic headland.

If you don’t know your nuthatches from your natterjacks, fear not! You’ll find help and information at the Hengistbury Head Visitor Centre. There’s even a programme of guided walks and outdoor events throughout the year.

The Stour Valley on the north-west edge of Bournemouth is a riverside nature reserve. It was one of the first to be awarded a green flag and incorporates a two mile stretch of riverside walks, meadows, hedgerows and woodland. Look out for Cetti’s warbler, kingfishers and otters!

There’s a team of rangers based nearby at Kingfisher Barn and a visitor centre which opened in May 2016. The centre and its staff will help you to explore the Stour Valley Nature Reserve and uncover all its wonderful flora and fauna. Again, there’s a calendar of events and walks throughout the year if you need a bit of guidance.

Bournemouth is also well known for its majestic clifftops. But it’s not only people that settle in thanks to a string of luxury hotels, there’s also a thriving ecosystem on these picturesque precipices. Our cliffs are home to more than 300 plant species that thrive on the dry, sandy soils. Some of them have very unusual names like mossy stonecrop, suffocated clover and hairy birdsfoot trefoil!

The rarest sight on our cliffs is the Dartford warbler but you’ll be able to spot many other birds including stonechats and kestrels. Sand martins cheekily excavate our sandy cliffs, nesting in the burrows that remain.

In the summer, you can look out to see and catch sandwich terns plunging down from the sky as they pick off sand eels close to the shore. Perched on the red groyne markers, you can often see cormorants and, further out to sea, gannets.

The cliffs are particularly important for preserving the rare sand lizard but there are also common lizards and, in certain areas, wall lizards and green lizards can be spotted. You’re also very likely to see the British feral goats from the Isle of Wight grazing on the steep scrub-covered slopes at Honeycombe Chine next to Boscombe Pier.

If you walk through Bournemouth’s Lower Gardens to the Central Gardens, you can follow our tree trail. See trees from all over the world, including Persian ironwood, Californian redwood and Monterey pine. Look out for the pretty red bridges and gothic water tower home to a colony of bats.

Our public parks are very popular and not just with residents and visitors to the resort. At Queens Park, north of the town, you may find you’re sharing a Sunday afternoon stroll with stag beetles, emperor dragonflies, green woodpecker, red foxes and speckled wood butterflies. The park is home to a golf course so, to help you explore safely and without interrupting play, there are a number of active discovery routes. There’s also a wildlife route – a 1.75km circular walk which takes you through different habitats and on the hunt for five carved sculptures celebrating some of the local species.

Many of the local Boat Tour opertators, located in our neighbouring town of Poole offer bird watching cruises.

With such fascinating hidden treasures on your doorstep, you can go really wild here on the South Coast!

Scroll down the page to view a range of attractions that include wildlife.

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Oceanarium, The Bournemouth Aquarium

Bournemouth

Oceanarium, The Bournemouth Aquarium takes you on a magical underwater adventure above and below the waves.

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3013 reviews
Paultons Park Home of Peppa Pig World

The New Forest

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Paultons Family Theme Park has over 70 wonderful rides and attractions. Paultons is of course home to the world’s first & UK exclusive Peppa Pig World!

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8423 reviews
Monkey World Ape Rescue Centre

Wareham

Come to visit the location of the TV show Monkey Life! Monkey World assists governments around the world to stop the smuggling of primates from the wild.

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5799 reviews
Kingfisher Barn Visitor Centre

Bournemouth

For all updates and information regarding Covid-19 please visit our website
Kingfisher Barn Visitor Centre is the gateway to the Stour Valley Nature Reserve. It is run in partnership between BCP Council and the Bournemouth Parks Foundation.
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The Etches Collection - Museum of Jurassic Marine Life

Wareham

COVID-19 VISITENGLAND WE’RE GOOD TO GO ACCREDITED BUSINESS
- A brand new immersive museum housing the finest single collection of Kimmeridgian fossils all found by one man.

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202 reviews
Farmer Palmer's Farm Park

Poole

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Farmer Palmer’s is the fabulous Farm Park where young adventurers can frankly ‘let their hair down’ without older children around to stifle their enjoyment!

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1254 reviews
Sea Fishing Poole

Poole

Sea Fishing Poole, book a fishing trip, buy your equipment or charter a boat - have a day's adventure.
Marwell Zoo

Winchester

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Marwell’s 140-acre park is home to an incredible range of exotic and endangered species, in beautiful, landscaped surroundings. Just by visiting Marwell Zoo (owned and operated by…

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3055 reviews
Upton Country Park

Poole

Whatever the season, there's something for everyone - enjoy the wildlife along the shoreline, try the Woodland Play Trail, visit an exhibition at The Gallery, try one of the many events – or simply find a quiet spot to admire the grounds and…
New Forest Wildlife Park

Nr Ashurst, Southampton

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Enjoy a wildlife adventure in this lovely park, set in 25 acres of unspoilt woodland.

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1372 reviews
Hengistbury Head Visitor Centre

Bournemouth

A day at Hengistbury Head Nature Reserve is truly a great day out, even outside of the summer. It is still full of wildlife, rare plants, and of course, the thousands of years of important archaeological history.

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235 reviews
Dorset Heavy Horse Farm Park

Verwood

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Multi award-winning attraction for ALL ages! One of the last remaining Heavy Horse Centre's left in Great Britain.

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1444 reviews
Bournemouth Lower Gardens

Bournemouth

The Lower Gardens in Bournemouth are only a five minute walk from the main shopping centre, the beach and the pier.
Bournemouth Gardens Tree Trail

Bournemouth

Learn how to recognise your trees with this gardens trail. It takes approximately two hours and identifies 12 types of tree including Redwood, Cypress and Palm, and is totally free!
Greenslade Pleasure Boats

Poole

Board a Greenslade boat & see the wonderful Poole Harbour or take a trip up the Wareham river.

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79 reviews
Bournemouth Upper Gardens

Bournemouth

The Upper Gardens hold many unusual tree species including a North American Giant Redwood (believed to be the largest in the country) and a group of mature Persian Ironwood trees.
Bournemouth Central Gardens

Bournemouth

The Central Gardens extend from the town centre to Coy Pond. They are now the home of the tennis courts, a children’s playground and a war memorial with beautiful rose borders, a Rhododendron Walk and heather beds.
City Cruises Poole

Poole

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A wide range of cruises departing from Poole Quay and Swanage Pier.

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422 reviews

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Hengistbury Head Nature Reserve is perfect for wildlife and bird watching

Wildlife & Bird Watching in Bournemouth

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