A 125-hectare nature reserve in Portsmouth with internationally important birdlife. Visit in spring or autumn for best birdwatching.
Outdoors Attraction
Family Friendly Attraction
Accessible in some areas
Dog friendly
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Farlington Marshes is a 125-hectare (308-acre) nature reserve located in Portsmouth, England. It is owned by Portsmouth City Council and managed by the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust. The reserve is internationally important for its populations of migratory wildfowl and wading birds, and is a Site of Special Scientific Interest.
The reserve is a mix of flower-rich grazing marsh and saline lagoon, and is home to a wide variety of wildlife, including:
* Wading birds: avocets, redshanks, dunlins, black-tailed godwits, curlews, snipe, lapwings
* Wildfowl: brent geese, wigeons, teals, pintails, mallards, shovelers, gadwalls
* Other birds: short-eared owls, kestrels, herons, swallows, warblers
* Mammals: water voles, foxes, rabbits, bats
* Plants: sea lavender, marsh marigold, ox-eye daisy, buttercup, reedmace
Farlington Marshes is a popular spot for birdwatching, walking, and cycling. There are several trails through the reserve, ranging from easy to challenging. The reserve is open all year round, but is best visited during the spring and autumn when the birdlife is at its most abundant.
There are no toilets or facilities on the reserve, so visitors should be sure to bring everything they need with them. Parking is available at the Eastern Road car park, which is a short walk from the reserve entrance.
Farlington Marshes is a beautiful and important wildlife site, and is well worth a visit if you are in the Portsmouth area.
Here are some additional tips for visiting Farlington Marshes:
* Wear waterproof shoes or boots, as the ground can be muddy.
* Bring binoculars or a telescope for birdwatching.
* Be respectful of the wildlife and do not disturb the birds.
* Leave no trace of your visit.