TON–KEY G HA Management of the reserve IN V Introduction E M N Control of water levels, Y Welcome to the – L salinity and grazing are Nature Reserve. crucial. During the County Council summer cattle and ponies Nature Reserve purchased this beautiful area from the of coastline between 1973 graze the reserve. Grazing and 2006 to protect its unique animals help control scrub historical and wildlife heritage. The reserve covers nearly and invasive species such 200 Ha (500 acres) between the mouth of the Lymington as rush. Many of the specialist plants and insects depend River and the village of Keyhaven. on wet ditches and ponds being of the right salinity. The adjacent and salt marshes outside the seawall A system of sluices and tidal flaps are used to control are leased by Hampshire and Wildlife Trust flooding and water flow around the reserve. and form their Keyhaven and Pennington Marshes Reserve. Together these two reserves ensure the protection of an How you can help extensive area of coastal habitat. Both reserves lie within the New Forest National Park, recognising their importance b Please ensure dogs do not foul paths or enter areas where birds may be nesting, roosting or feeding for both wildlife and people. b Please take your litter home. Leave this beautiful You can obtain good views of the marshes and their coast for others to enjoy wildlife from Way which runs the length of the b Please stay on the footpaths and ensure all gates reserve. There are also several attractive circular walks on are closed local footpaths which cross the area. b C yclists please be considerate to other users on The reserve is open every day of the year for quiet narrow paths informal recreation on designated paths and tracks. Contact information Hampshire County Council, Countryside Service Normandy Farm, Normandy Lane, Lymington Hamshire SO41 8AE Tel 01590 674656 www.hants.gov.uk/countryside www.newforestnpa.gov.uk

Lymington-Keyhaven Nature Reserve is situated in the New Forest National Park, a historic landscape with a diverse wildlife and cultural heritage.

Designed by R&H Graphic Unit 01962 826747 Photos by Dennis Bright, Pete Durnell and Marcus Ward; illustrations by Nick Skelton and Dan Powell. Printed on 75% post-consumer waste paper by Hampshire Printing Services. Wildlife of The coastal grazing the Reserve marshes Varied wildlife habitats The mosaic of ponds, ditches, and lagoons on The Lagoons the reserve support a large number of wetland plants and animals. In winter wading birds A rare and special habitat including Black-tailed Godwit, Curlew and Just inside the seawall lie a series of shallow, Lapwing feed in the flooded pastures alongside brackish lagoons connected to the sea through a Wigeon and Brent Geese. Spring sees the arrival system of sluices and tidal flaps. The salinity in of migrants from the south. Wheatears appear these lagoons varies widely, but is generally lower on the shingle at Iley Point and Whitethroats sing than seawater. This specialised habitat supports from clumps of bramble along the Ancient its own distinctive plants and animals, some of Highway. In early summer look out for Linnets which are only found in this type of environment. and Stonechats perched on Gorse bushes around the reserve. The lagoons are some of the most important in Britain with populations of rare species including Plants flowering on the seawall include Sea Pink, Foxtail Stonewort, Lagoon Shrimp and Starlet Sea- Rock Samphire and Sea Campion. In late anemone. summer the ditches are full of the purple- flowered Sea Aster, often attracting Wall Brown In winter the flooded lagoons are home to and Painted Lady butterflies. Several species of wildfowl such as Mallard, Shoveler and Teal. Spring dragonfly patrol the waterways catching insects and autumn bring migrant wading birds including or searching for a mate. Mammals too make a Whimbrel, Curlew Sandpiper and Little Stint. home on the reserve, Roe Deer and Hares are The islands within Normandy Lagoon enable Little frequently seen around Normandy Marsh while Tern, Ringed Plover and Oystercatcher to breed in numerous mice and voles provide food for relative safety. hunting Barn Owls. Main photo: Heron and Little Egret. Heron Main photo: Brown Hare Barn Owl Ringed Plover Thrift Ruddy Darter Black-tailed Godwit Shelduck A323 M3 A343 A30

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A343 TON–KEY A325 G HA Railway A33 IN V Station A30 A34 E M N Y Lymington L Stanley Road A30 Nature Reserve A31 All Saints Road Road A3

Woodside Lane Normandy Lane King's Saltern Yacht Marina

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Normandy History and Archaeology Viney Road Farm Poles Lane Normandy 10 Signs within the landscape Maiden Lane Barn A3 Normandy The landscape we see today has been shaped by more than N 11

2000 years of human activity. If you look carefully there are Ridgeway Lane Marsh signs of a major industry which once thrived here. 8 Acre Normandy Artist’s impression of salt works Platoff Road Salterns Pond Maiden Lagoon The manufacture of salt Cottage Dock 12

Lower Pennington Salt was made by impounding seawater in shallow lagoons, and A337 to Lymington Salterns known as salterns where it was left to evaporate. Wind The Chequers Marsh Oxey Hampshire Wildlife Trust pumps were then used to draw off the brine solution into Old Salt Moses 13 PH Nature Reserve large metal pans where it was heated until only the salt Buildings Dock Lake Oxey 14 4

remained. Oxey Barn Marsh 4 5 A series of narrow docks were constructed to enable sailing Lane Key 2 3 barges to import coal for the boiling houses and to export the salt. Moses Dock is the only remaining navigable dock, but NEW FOREST Access point for walkers Pennington 7 1 other examples include Maiden Dock and Pennington Dock. Marsh OxeyNATIONAL 1 The production of sea salt was important in this area from Lagoon Car Park 2 Middle Ages until 1865, when cheaper mined salt from Pennington PARK 8 Cheshire forced the closure of the last saltern. Dock Toilet The Lymington-Keyhaven Nature Reserve contains the best Iley Lane Efford 3 preserved examples of medieval and later salt workings in Landfill site Pennington Long-distance trail 9 Lagoon 10 southern . 4 A323 M3 A343 Footpath A30 11

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ok Ca A325 A331 Ancient Highway e A331 A342 A287 5 (vehicles restricted) Lagoon A30 Path not suitable for wheelchairs 7 A339 12

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Keyhaven Rd Keyhaven Lagoon 9 A32 Lymore Lane Keyhaven

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12 B3054 to New Forest 13 National Beaulieu 14 The 4 4 5 Park Boundary Gun Inn Iley Point 2 3

7 1 1 SOUTHAMPTON A337 to Lymington PH 2 8 Christchurch

3 Isle of Wight ferry 9 10 Hampshire Wildlife Trust 4 11 A27 Nature Reserve NEW FOREST 5 Saltgrass Lane 12 CHRISTCHURCHNATIONAL B305813 PARK

NATURE RESERVE Milford-on-Sea to The distance between Lymington and Keyhaven and Keyhaven along the sea wall is approximately CHRISTCHURCH Hurst Spit 5 miles and takes about 11/2 hours. ISLE OF WIGHT ISLE OF WIGHT