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Langstone
Harbour Langstone
Harbour, the sea area between Portsea and Hayling Island, with about
25km of shore line is an internationally important site for wildlife of
many sorts and birds in particular. In the winter there are
thousands of wildfowl and waders including large flocks of Brent Geese and
Black-tailed Godwits. In the summer the harbour is home to breeding
gulls, terns, lapwing, redshank and much more. The migration seasons
also bring huge numbers of temporary visitors usually including some
rarities to excite the twitchers.
The harbour contains several nature reserves including
An attractive leaflet illustrated with some of Dennis Bright's excellent photographs and showing, among other things, the locations of the main reserves is published by the County Council. This tidal inlet on the eastern side of the entrance to the harbour and the northern shore of the Sinah peninsula is important as an intertidal feeding area for birds and its shingle ridges which are used in winter by large numbers of waders at high tide. If you do visit at high tide do try to view the birds without disturbing them. The RSPB protect a group of salt marsh islands and the surrounding intertidal mud - covering about a quarter of the harbour. This summer there are 2890 black-headed gulls, common, sandwich and little terns, and an increasing number of Mediterranean gulls breeding on the islands. Little Terns did not do too well here in 2000 but it may be that was because some of them moved onto the Oyster Beds where there is much less competition for sites to nest and where the species did very well. In the winter the islands provide high tide roosts for waders and resting territory for wildfowl. There is a small landing area on the south of Long island, but frankly you will see all the birds just as well from elsewhere, particularly from the eastern edge of Farlington marshes. The 350 acres of Farlington Marshes extend out into the Harbour and gives fine views of the bird life, while providing a range of habitat for birds insects and plants. You will find notes of what has been seen on the reserve from time to time on the Nature Notes page. The reserve was the first managed by the Hampshire Wildlife Trust having been established in 1962. It is leased from Portsmouth City Council and besides being a remarkable nature reserve it provides well used open space for the people of the city who flock here in their hordes on a sunny Sunday. (So that is not always the best time to visit!) In itself the marsh is a significant example of once common coastal grazing marsh and it is still grazed in the summer by cattle brought in from a local farm. Its real importance however stems from its relationship with the harbour. You never know what birds will turn up here and the reserve is a Mecca for bird watchers particularly in the winter. In the summer there is still plenty to see - for example the breeding yellow wagtails. Over 300 flowering plants have been recorded including scarce species like sea barley, bulbous foxtail and slender hare's-ear. Bob Chapman, the reserve warden, tells me that over a third of Britain's native grass species are represented on the marsh. The insects include some scarce spiders but these are for the experts. We owe an immense debt to the group of enthusiasts who worked to establish this reserve - and the Hampshire wildlife trust - in the early sixties. The reserve is wardened, partly to ensure we respect it by keeping out of non-access areas, don't abuse it by riding bikes or letting dogs run free etc.
West Hayling Local Nature Reserve The old Oyster Beds on the North East shore of Hayling island (Grid Ref SU715035 is roughly in the middle of them) and some of the surrounding mud and land has been adopted as a local nature reserve and a warden has been appointed. The Friends of Langstone Harbour have been doing work to improve the area. Earlier the Council took out some of the old bunds which were becoming more and more dangerous but enough have been left to maintain one lagoon which does not drain at low water. This lagoon needs a lot of work to bring up to the standard required for a saline lagoon and funding has been obtained by the council to do this. The Island in the lagoon is now an important bird site in the summer and the open sheltered water often holds wildfowl like merganser and goldeneye in the winter. The mud of the old lagoons has become a significant feeding area for waders.
The rising sea level is a very significant problem in this area and all the authorities concerned are considering what to do. Sea level rises are thought to be between 5 and 13 mm per year with the figure of 6mm being adopted for planning. That is 300mm (about 1 foot) in 50 years. This problem is compounded by the effects of increased storm activity and wave heights associated with global warming. 30cm in 50 years does not sound horrific but that is only an intelligent guesstimate and its wise to think about and plan now while there is some time to react to the changes. The Environment Agency has already published a strategic plan for the Hayling Island coast defences which is being studied by the local authorities and wildlife groups. A leaflet is widely available- you can probably get it from their Hampshire Office at 01962 713267. Farlington Marshes must be threatened as funds available for protection work are much more likely to be used for protecting people than wildlife. Studies are proposed on to how to resolve the problem here, at South Moors and Langstone, and the Wildlife Trust is fully involve din these. It is not all gloom - there are places, e.g. on the western shore of Hayling, where managed retreat would provide important new habitat to replace losses elsewhere.
Langstone Harbour is part of a huge sea water network involving the three harbours (Portsmouth, Langstone and Chichester) and the outer Solent. The Solent Forum has its own Web Site at www.solentforum.hants.org.uk There is a lot of information, not much on wildlife, at http://www.langstoneharbour.org.uk Friends of Langstone Harbour Work Parties.
Map of The Harbour(Please wait while this file downloads)
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