Blashford Lakes Wildlife Reserve

Located within the Avon Valley on the western edge of the New Forest, only two and a half miles outside Ringwood, the Blashford Lakes were created by the quarrying of sand and gravel. This 490-acre wildlife reserve is managed by the Wildlife Trust in partnership with the New Forest District Council and landowners Wessex Water and Bournemouth and West Hampshire Water. Blashford Lakes is an internationally important site for thousands of wildfowl that visit the area every winter to avoid the harsh winters of the frozen north.

The on-site centre provides excellent education opportunities for children and adults whilst the reserve offers routes for walkers, wheelchair accessible kissing gates and hides, allowing you to discover the ponds, stream, grassland and woodland areas and their wildlife.

Highlights:
Winter: Gadwall, Tufted duck, Pochard, wigeon and Shoveler.
Autumn: Green sandpiper and black-tailed godwit are among the waders stopping off on their migration.
Other highlights: lichen-rich grassland.

Location and access:
The reserve is open to the public, free of charge. Ellingham Drove, nr Ringwood, Hampshire BH24 3PJ.

For more information please visit www.hwt.org.uk or contact 01489 774400.

Grid ref: SU153075