Blashford Lakes Nature Reserve

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Created from flooded gravel pits, Blashford Lakes is now a bustling centre of activity, used by thousands of birds all year round including kingfisher, lapwing and oystercatcher.

Location

Ellingham Drove

Ringwood

Hampshire

BH24 3PJ

OS Map Reference

Main car park: SU151083
Education Centre SU151079

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Please note that Blashford Lakes is NOT signposted from the A338: follow signs to Moyles Court / Linwood at Ellingham Crossroads

Know before you go

Size

150 hectares

Entry fee

Entry by donation – suggested donation £4

Parking information

The main car park is on north side of Ellingham Drove. Education Centre parking is on the south side of Ellingham Drove.

Bicycle parking

At the Education Centre. But, no cycle routes on site.

Grazing animals

Our sites are grazed all year by livestock. Please follow the signage on site.

Walking trails

There are 8km of rolled gravel paths suitable for wheelchairs and electric buggies. Gates are accessible with RADAR keys. Hides have ramped access, but are not suitable for electric buggies.

Public footpaths enter the site from the south (Ringwood) and east (Moyles Court).

Access

The main car park is on north side of Ellingham Drove. Please note, there is a height restricting barrier but there is ample off-road parking outside the barrier. Education Centre parking is on the south side of Ellingham Drove.

Bus stop: Ellingham Cross ( 1/3 mile).

Size: 150 hectares.

Paths: 8km of rolled gravel paths suitable for wheelchairs and electric buggies. Public footpaths enter the site from the south (Ringwood) and east (Moyles Court).

Gates: Accessible with RADAR keys. Hides have ramped access but are not suitable for electric buggies.

Slopes: A level site with ramps to all viewing hides. Seating: Benches at regular intervals around the reserve.

Dogs

Assistance dogs only

“Working” registered assistance dogs only. Visitors exercising their dog may do so only on the permissive path between Ivy & Rockford Lakes, accessed via the public footpath along the river from the Moyles Court New Forest car parks & the Avon Valley path

Facilities

Bird hides

Toilets

Accessible toilet

Baby changing facilities

Disabled parking

Accessible trails

When to visit

Opening times

Main gates open at 9am. Hides open by 9.30am. Gates and hides closed from 4:30pm every day but Christmas Day.

Best time to visit

This reserve is spectacular in the winter, when huge flocks of overwintering birds fly onto the lakes to roost. Spring is a great time to see warblers and the wild daffodils in flower. Summer for observing many dragonfly species.

About the reserve

Blashford Lakes is a stunning nature reserve, well known among birdwatchers. This 150 hectare reserve has a unique mix of habitats and spectacular views across Ibsley Water. With six bird hides, four viewing screens, 8km of surfaced waymarked trails and mobility scooters for hire, this is a great destination to bring family and friends all year round.

Come and see

Created from flooded gravel pits, Blashford Lakes is now a bustling centre of activity, used by thousands of birds all year round including kingfisher, lapwing and oystercatcher.

The reserve’s welcome hut has volunteers on hand to offer visitors trail guides and wildlife highlights. Enjoy the ‘Wild Walk’ trail with wildlife sculptures along the route.

Watch the colony of common terns from the vantage point of the large Tern Hide that overlooks the main lake and offers panoramic views.

Gather on the viewing point near the Tern Hide at dusk to watch incredible starling murmurations overhead.

Take a trip to the Goosander Hide on a warm summer day and witness the feeding frenzy of our migrant visitors, the sand martin, as they snatch insects from the air. The Woodland Hide offers close-up views of great spotted woodpecker, nuthatch, brambling and redpoll. The Trust works in partnership with Bournemouth Water and Wessex Water to maintain Blashford Lakes.

Seasonal highlights

• In spring, hear warblers singing and enjoy bluebell and daffodil in the woodland.

• In summer, watch the aerial acrobatics of 25 species of dragonfly and damselfly.

• In winter, up to 5,000 wildfowl, including gadwall, goldeneye and goosander flock to the lakes from Scandinavia.

Blashford Lakes has its very own Education Centre, a hive of activity and learning, fully equipped with a large classroom, toilet facilities and two mobility scooters which can be hired out by prior arrangement. We have reviewed our COVID-19 precautions and are open for booked groups to visit us in line with current Government guidance. To find out more, please visit the Blashford Lakes Education Centre webpage.

Download the trail guide