The Coast
The coastline of Hampshire and the Island has shaped our livelihoods, our landscape, and our wildlife. The historic ports of Southampton and Portsmouth are hugely significant economically, and many local people use the coast for its natural resources, for leisure and navigation. The Solent, with its harbours and estuaries and the large navigable inlet at Southampton Water, separates Hampshire from the island, and is one of the world's busiest waterways.
These wetlands and waterways are also one of the world's most important wetlands for wildlife. There is a huge range of interest year round. In winter the saltmarshes and mudflats are home to hundreds of thousands of wintering birds from across the northern hemisphere. In summertime habitats such as wildflower-rich shingle beaches, lagoons and grazing marshes come into their own.
