We are lucky enough to have a diverse range of habitats in Milford on Sea and Keyhaven spread over the following 10 locations.
The Pleasure Grounds (Woodland):
*Access from Park Lane at the west end of village centre. Gate 2.
The Danes Stream forms part of the Milford on Sea conservation area & runs the length of the parish, through the Pleasure Grounds, Westerly towards Studland Common & Sharvells Copse, and Eastwards along the rear of the village shops towards Sturt Pond.
The Pleasure Grounds have 14 acres of woodland with a network of footpaths along the Danes Stream which runs parallel to the coast.
Nature Reserve Walk Maps are also available from:
- Salt Water Cafe
- Milford News
- Needles Eye Cafe
- Shorefield Country Park
- Community Centre, Sea Road
Find out more about the Management of the Pleasure Grounds Community Woodland
Studland Common and Meadow (Grassland & Scrub):
Studland Common is made up of two separate grazing components:
- The Meadow
- The Common
Both have been recognised by Natural England for their unimproved grassland habitat. Saying that, they have the potential to be of high biodiversity value for wildlife. The Common is managed by the Parish Council and the MCV under a ten-year Higher Level Stewardship agreement (see link left). The Meadow has been over-grazed for many years and will now be nurtured to enhance its value as a flower rich meadow. The Common is made up of about 70% scrub and 30% grassland (see the Grazing Project booklet ). The management objective is to remove about 20% of the remaining scrub over the next seven to ten years, while rotationally coppicing the remaining scrub to create better age diversity. Studland Common can be accessed via a new Disabled Access track at gate 12 at Pless Road, at its junction with Westminster Road.
Community Orchard (Orchard and Pasture supporting Bumblebees and Butterflies):
The Orchard is situated just inside the second gate on the left leading into Studland Meadow from Pless/Westminster Road. It was first planted in 2014 and has about 35-40 fruit trees and shrubs. Varieties include apple, crab apple, damson, pear, plum, cherry and blackberry. The Orchard is partially grazed by our friendly Dexter cattle with a little extra help from flailing and mowing. It is a good area for bumblebees and butterflies.
Sturt Pond Saltmarsh, Reedbed Nature Reserve, Bird Hide and Tern Raft:
Sturt Pond lies just East from Milford on Sea beach at the start of Hurst Spit. The pond is a haven for swans, ducks, Brent geese, mallard, teal, shelduck & grebes. Two wooden bridges cross the stream which runs from Sturt Pond to the salt marshes. A hidden sanctuary for bird watchers which is the Bird Hide that overlooks the Sturt Pond area of the extensive Keyhaven nature reserve.
The bird hide can be found at the end of the concealed metal gated path between the Lighthouse restaurant and the black council sheds.
Sturt Pond Meadow (Grazing Pasture with Dexter Cattle):
This village has it’s very own Dexter cattle in the grazing meadow at Sturt Pond. The cattle graze four acres of land between Sturt Pond and Hurst Road. In doing so, they eradicate course grass and improve habitat for wild flowers and herbs.
Saltgrass Saline Lagoon (Brackish Lagoon, Reed and Fen – Supporting rare Invertebrate and Flora):
The Lagoon runs about 650 meters west to east along Saltgrass Lane from the high-water tide gate towards Keyhaven Quay. It is gradually being desalinated owing to too much freshwater feeding in to it. MCV and the Keyhaven Forum groups have called on the Hampshire Wildlife Trust and Natural England to return the SSSI lagoon to more favourable conditions to allow important invertebrate and rare plants to thrive. Golden Samphire (Nationally Scarce), Parsley Water Dropwort (County Scarce), Foxtail Stonewort (Nationally Rare) and many other unusual flora & fauna once featured at this site.
The Pans and Avon Water Bird Observatory (Fresh water – supporting Wintering Wildfowl):
Through the generosity of the J & D Edgar Ltd. family with assistance from Simeon Morgan Farming, MCV has been given an occupancy licence for a redundant farm building (old pumping station) at the westernmost end of the Ancient Highway. The brick-building is being converted into a small Bird Observatory looking up The Pans and across to the lower Avon Water. The Pans has been designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) due to its gatherings of winter wildfowl. MCV is working closely with the Scouting and Guiding Associations to make the facility available to youngsters.
| The following reports were conducted by local ornithologist and bird ringer Graham Giddens. The Pans bird Ringing Report 2020 The Pans bird ringing report 2021 |
Keyhaven Marshes (Shallow Brackish Lagoons and Islands):
Folow the stream eastward from Sturt pond and you come to the beginning of the Keyhaven Nature Reserve These marshes have an abundance of wading birds including little egret, redshank, ringed plover, oystercatcher, dunlin & curlew, plus a whole variety of regularly changing visitors.
Cliff Face and Cliff Top (the cliff face is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest – Supporting rare Fossils):
The Cliff Top (area adjacent to West Road in the west to The White House in the east) has several components e.g. Hordle Cliff, Rook Cliff & Shinglebank. Most of the cliff top is owned and looked after by New Forest District Council under a rotational Vegetation Management Plan. They have agreed to retain its variety of habitat types (close-cropped grass footpath edges, medium length rougher vegetation and the higher scrub layers). The variety of habitats are rotationally cut or flailed annually. We still have some brown-tailed moth problems, which vary from year to year, but the cleared vegetation areas close to footpaths and behind beach huts have now been widened so that walkers can enjoy the spectacular views without getting too close to the moth tents.
Downton Manor Farm
Freshwater Lakes Nature Reserve
The newest addition to the nature reserves in and around Milford is Downton Lakes. Situated North of Shorefieds caravan site, it can be access from Shorefield Road, at the end of Blackbush Road in Milford. There is another entrance to the north of the site, but access is not easy as it is along the Christchurch Road, A337, with no parking area nearby. The land is owned by New Milton Sand & ballast who have provided a permissive footpath around the 5 lakes. MCV are in close contact with NMS advising on biodiversity improvements. MCV commissioned a survey of the area in 2021 by local ornithologist and bird ringer Graham Giddens.