Brownsea Island

Brownsea Island

Brian Bleese

Photo showing ferry boat crossing to Brownsea Island

Credit: Jonny Owen

 

Spoonbills on Brownsea lagoon

Hamish Murray / Spoonbills on Brownsea lagoon

Visitors to Brownsea Island

Alastair Cook

Brownsea lagoon

Jonny Owen

Black tailed godwit on Brownsea Island Lagoon by Hamish Murray

Black tailed godwit on Brownsea Island Lagoon by Hamish Murray

Brownsea Island © Brian Bleese
Brownsea lagoon sunrise

Nicki Tutton / Brownsea lagoon sunrise 

Brownsea boardwalk

Brian Bleese

Dorset Wildlife Trust manages 100 hectares of land on the northern side of Brownsea Island in partnership with the National Trust. Two bird hides give fabulous views of the birds on the lagoon and surrounding reedbeds, wetlands and woods are home to a wealth of flora and fauna. Located in the heart of Poole Harbour, Brownsea Island forms part of the Purbeck National Nature Reserve and is an internationally important area for wildlife.

Location

Brownsea Island
Poole
Dorset
BH13 7EE

OS Map Reference

SZ0317787743
A static map of Brownsea Island

Know before you go

Size
101 hectares
z

Entry fee

Ferry fares and admission charges apply - please see below for further information
P

Parking information

Public car parks at Poole Quay

Bicycle parking

N/A

Grazing animals

No

Walking trails

A network of paths and boardwalks runs along the reedbeds which border the lagoon, to the bird hides and through the wetland and woodland areas to the Wetland and Wildlife Centre run by Dorset Wildlife Trust.

 

Access

If you are planning to visit Brownsea Island, you will need to get the foot ferry service which operates from Poole Quay – fares apply for all visitors but no booking is required.

If visiting as a Dorset Wildlife Trust member, please bring your membership card which will allow access only to the area that we manage. If you wish to explore the rest of the island which is managed by National Trust, please note that you will need to pay the National Trust island admission feeunless you are also a National Trust member.

All visitors are welcome to visit the lagoon, bird hides and the surrounding area that Dorset Wildlife Trust manages - for visitors who are not members of Dorset Wildlife Trust, we ask for a small donation of £2 per person to help us to manage and maintain this important habitat.

  • Please note that only guide dogs are allowed on Brownsea Island. 
  • The Seahorse landing craft can provide wheelchair access to the island – booking is essential.
  • Please note that groups larger than 15 need to book directly for entry to the Dorset Wildlife Trust lagoon and wetland area. Email: brownsea@dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk or phone 01202 709445 to make a booking.  

Find information on the ferry service,

Dogs

Assistance dogs only
i

Facilities

Visitor centre
Bird hides
Toilets
Picnic area
Accessible toilet

When to visit

Opening times

Brownsea Island is open from March/April - October. If you're planning a trip to Brownsea, then you'll need to catch a foot ferry which runs every day from Poole Quay only. Visit the National Trust website for more information about ferry crossings https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/dorset/brownsea-island

Best time to visit

Spring and summer for nesting terns, autumn for winter bird arrivals and red squirrels.

About the reserve

Brownsea Island is a very special place. It is one of the few places left in the UK where you can catch a glimpse of a red squirrel. We estimate that 250 of these iconic creatures live on the island and are often seen scampering up and down the trees gathering and devouring nuts. If you have adopted one of these beautiful and playful creatures from Dorset Wildlife Trust, this is the chance to see them for yourself – a wonderfully comical sight in autumn when they busily start caching food for the winter ahead, searching out just the right spot to hide them in- a process that can take some time! Read more about our exciting Wild Brownsea project which has been successful in attracting more wildlife and people to Brownsea.

And it’s not just the red squirrels that the nature detectives in the family will be able to spot – the lagoon plays a vital role in providing a safe haven for overwintering birds including avocets, black-tailed godwits and large numbers of wildfowl. In winter it’s also possible see huge groups of spoonbills. These tall white birds can be seen swishing their spoon-shaped bills through the water as they feed. 

In the summer, the lagoon bird hides are a great place to watch common terns, sandwich terns and gulls. The reedbeds and alder carr are home to water voles, sika deer, kingfishers and water rails.

Brownsea Island was saved for wildlife and people to enjoy in 1962 when the National Trust took ownership and leased the northern part to Dorset Wildlife Trust. Since then we have worked in partnership to protect the habitats of rare and threatened wildlife, which find sanctuary in its woods, reedbeds and lagoon. Take a walk through the woods following the footpaths to see glorious views across Poole Harbour.

Our Wildlife and Wetland Centre is situated in the middle of the reserve. Although it is currently under refurbishment, you are welcome to bring a picnic and sit on the benches in the sun, watching birds and squirrels nibbling seeds from the nearby feeders. 

You can read more about Brownsea Island's place in the Purbeck National Nature Reserve here.

 

Contact us

Environmental designation

National Nature Reserve (NNR)
Ramsar
Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)
SPA

Brownsea Lagoon webcam

The Brownsea lagoon webcams are back! You can now enjoy viewing the fantastic wildlife Brownsea lagoon has to offer from the Tern Hide and Avocet Hide - all from the comfort of your own home. This has been made possible thanks to our collaboration with Birds of Poole Harbour.

Map of Brownsea Island 2022

Dorset Wildlife Trust

Would you like to help wildlife havens like Brownsea ?

Sign up for email updates

Or if you already receive our updates, please consider...

Becoming a member

Gift memberships and adoptions

Upcoming Events on Brownsea Island