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What Can I Do?

· Stay on footpaths, keep dogs under control and leave gates as you find them. Do not pick plants or drop litter;

· Leave roosting or feeding birds undisturbed;

· Become a volunteer at one of the country parks;

· Contact the local Wildlife Trust for more information on visiting sites of nature conservation importance. The Hants and Wight Wildlife Trust can be contacted on, Tel: 01489 774 400;

· Join and support your local branch of the Wildlife Trust or RSPB. Become a conservation volunteer.

The Solent's rich and diverse coastal environment hosts a wealth of natural wonders, which are enjoyed and appreciated by many local people and visitors. Its habitats, both above and below the water, provide a home to many seabirds, marine mammals, fish, shellfish and other underwater life. Its main habitats are mudflats (important for providing food for all the birds that use the Solent), saltmarsh (important for rare plants and useful for protecting the shore from flooding) and grazing marsh (home to many of the birds that visit).

Places To See Wildlife

Birdwatching is a popular pastime in the Solent with good viewing places including Farlington Marshes, Titchfield Haven and Brading Marshes and the Hersey Nature Reserve on the Island. They are particularly good to visit in winter as many thousands of shorebirds use them for roosting and feeding. More information on viewing birds is available from the RSPB on Tel: 01273 775333.

Another good place to view birds is whilst they are at sea, particularly in the sheltered harbours such as Langstone, Portsmouth and Chichester. Details of boat trips or boat hire are available from the relevant Harbour Authority Office.

At sites of wildlife interest you can find out more about the Solent's wildlife and habitats and popular sites are listed below. Visiting such sites is a good way to enjoy and understand habitats, as they are managed to allow access without causing environmental damage. Interpretation boards and leaflets are commonly provided to enable you to obtain information about the location. Organised tours are also offered at some of the larger sites.

· Beaulieu Estuary. Tel: 01590 612345.

· Browndown (near Gosport). Tel 023 9252 2944.

· Brownwich and Chilling (near Fareham). Tel: 01329 662145

· Farlington Marshes (near Havant). Tel: 023 8061 3636.

· Hamble Common (near Southampton). Tel: 023 8046 6091.

· Hersey Nature Reserve (Isle of Wight). Tel: 01983 855400.

· Hook with Warsash Local Nature Reserve Tel: 01329 662145.

· Lower Test Nature Reserve (Totton, Southampton). Tel: 023 8061 3636.

· Lymington-Keyhaven Marshes. Tel: 01590 674656.

· Newtown Harbour (Isle of Wight). Tel: 01983 531622.

· Titchfield Haven (Hill Head). Tel 01329 66214.

The seabed of the sheltered harbours of the Solent are characterised by fine muds and silts. The tidally swept Western Solent has deposits of gravels and small stones and at the Solent's eastern end there are extensive areas of sand and gravel. These underwater habitats provide a home to many kinds of worms, bivalves such as cockles and oysters, slipper limpets, shrimps, crabs, lobsters, fish, anemones and even dolphins.

More information on the Solent's underwater life is available from the Wildlife Trusts' Southeast Marine Programme (www.southeastmarine.org.uk or Tel: 01489 774400).

Country Parks

Another excellent way to enjoy and learn about the Solent is to visit one of its country parks or visitor centres. These provide a wide range of information about the site in which they are located, easy access to the coast and facilities such as toilets, parking and cafés. They also run special programmes of events throughout the year for both adults and children.

Lepe Country Park

Lepe occupies a narrow stretch of land on the New Forest coast with superb views of the Solent and Isle of Wight. It lies within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The area is popular for summer relaxation, bird watching, windsurfing, sea-fishing, and bracing walks along the shoreline. There is a cafeteria (open 9am - 5pm, daily in summer), information centre and gift shop, toilets (inc disabled), children's play area, dog-free and dog-welcome beaches and car parking.

For more information telephone 023 8089 9108, or visit www.hants.gov.uk/countryside/lepe/.

Royal Victoria Country Park

Located near Netley on the shores of Southampton Water, this Park covers over 200 acres and gives scenic and delightful views across the Solent and Hampshire coast. It was once the site of a military hospital and its fascinating story can be viewed in the Heritage Centre. The park also offers play areas, a model railway, woodland trails and walks, a sensory garden and a calendar of events, exhibitions and organised walks. Toilets, parking and a tearoom are all available on site.

For more information telephone 023 8045 5157, or visit www.hants.gov.uk/countryside/rvcp/index.html.

Fort Victoria Country Park

Built on the north shore of the Isle of Wight to guard the Solent the remains of Fort Victoria now house a Marine Aquarium, a Sea Bed Archaeology Exhibition, a Planetarium and a Model Railway. The surrounding Country Park offers seashore and woodland walks and the site is one of the best vantage points for watching the Solent's boats and shipping. The Fort's attractions, together with the availability of a Countryside Ranger to give guided walks, make it an excellent interesting and educational place for any visitor.

For more information telephone 01983 760283, or visit www.fortvictoria.co.uk.

Visitor Centres

Visitor centres are an excellent source of information both about the local area in which they are situated and the wider Solent. They offer special events such as talks and guided walks and advice on what to see and do. For more active pursuits you should contact one of the Solent's many activity centres (see Taking to the Water page).

Haven House Visitors Centre

Overlooking Hill Head harbour, Haven House is situated next to Titchfield Haven Nature Reserve and provides access to the reserve. You will need to call into the Visitor Centre first to buy a ticket to enter the nature reserve and check the wildlife sightings board for the day. The centre has an excellent tearoom, shop, toilets and children's activities. You can also find out where to walk, ride or cycle locally. Organised events also run throughout the year.

For more information telephone 01329 662145 or visit www.hants.gov.uk/countryside/titchfield. We advise that you ring for opening times before visiting as the centre is not open every day throughout the year.

Isle of Wight Coastal Visitors Centre

The Isle of Wight Coastal Visitors Centre is located at Ventnor and provides an accessible point of contact for anyone with an interest in the Island's coastline. It comprises ten themed rooms each examining a different aspect of the Island's coastline and its management. These range from the geology and scenery, to the plant and animal life that inhabit the varied coastline as well as the marine and inter-tidal archaeology. It also offers an extensive education programme and a continuous programme of events such as fairs, guided walks, rambles, children's activities and illustrated talks.

For more information telephone 01983 857220, or visit www.coastalwight.gov.uk/coastalcentre.html.

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Last Updated 10 Jun 05