Blashford Lakes
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Blashford Lakes is a series of former gravel pits surrounded by grassland and willow, birch and alder woodland. The Dockens Water stream flows through the reserve and is bounded by ancient woodland of oak and beech. Click here for more on wildlife and landscape features. |
Family I Spy Trail
Enjoy a wintery walk around Blashford Lakes and see how many of our photos you can spot. Make sure you go in all the hides! Download and print a copy of the trail or pick one up from the Education Centre when you arrive.
Dates: All of December and January (except Christmas day). Any time between 9am-4.30pm. FREE!
The Blashford Lakes Project
The Blashford Lakes Project is a partnership between Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, Sembcorp Bournemouth Water, New Forest District Council and Wessex Water.
Please click here to find out more about how the project is funded.
Annual Report
The 2009-2010 Annual Report for Blashford Lakes can now be downloaded here.
Monthly update
The year has turned, although the weather is still not really wintery, in fact the start of January has felt more like March. The winter wildfowl numbers are now at their peak, with over five thousand ducks, geese, swans and coot on the lakes. Two highlights have been a smew and, even rarer, a ferruginous duck. Meanwhile at Ivy Lake at least two bitterns have been making occasional appearances. On warmer days there is now a lot of birdsong, song thrush, robin, great tit and blackbird are all very vocal and with percussion provided by the great spotted woodpeckers. We may not be far from seeing the first frog spawn and soon the primroses and snowdrops will be in bloom.
For more regular updates on what's happening at Blashford Lakes visit the Blashford Blog. This is a new server. The blog entries before November 2011 can still be found here.
There are now several cameras set up around the reserve, the output can be watched in the Centre or online. Each one gives a peek into a hidden corner of the reserve. It might be the badger sett, the comings and goings of the grass snakes and mice in the compost bin or the underwater world of the pond." Click here to see the latest webcam footage.
Blashford Lakes video
Here is a video from YouTube about Blashford taken by one of our supporters, Noel Coates. He said: "I've only recently discovered Blashford Lakes at the beginning of spring. Embarrassingly enough I have been living in the area for about 10 years. I think Blashford Lakes is one of Hampshire's best keep secrets."
How to get there
Blashford Lakes is 2 miles north of Ringwood on the A338, turn right (east) onto Ellingham Drove, the reserve entrance is after 500 yards with main car park to the left and Education Centre to the right. Main car park is at SU151083, Education Centre is at SU151079, postcode BH24 3PJ. View a map. Note to sat nav users: You may be misdirected at the crossroads so follow the written directions as well.
Public transport:
Bus, the X3 Bournemouth-Salisbury service stops at Ellingham Cross 500yds west of the main reserve entrance.
Group Visits
To avoid clashes of dates all organisers of group visits to the reserve are asked to book as far in advance as possible. On occasion it may not be possible to accommodate a group that arrives without a booking. To make a booking please email the reserve using the contact on this page.
Getting around
The main paths are all rolled gravel with shallow gradients. At access points the kissing gates have RADAR keys for wider opening to allow passage of wheelchairs and buggies. A key can be borrowed from the Education Centre by arrangement. There are disability buggies available to borrow - to book, call 01425 472 760.
Opening times:
Open from 09:00 to 16:30 daily apart from Christmas day. During these hours the car park, all bird hides and Centre building with toilets are open. Outside these hours the paths are accessible but there is no vehicle access.
Information:
There are blackboards with recent sightings in the car park, at the Education Centre and in several of the bird hides. Also check latest reserve news. Leaflets, including a site map are available at the main car park, in the hides and at the Education Centre. Download a copy of the new reserve leaflet. Please note, that dogs are not allowed on the reserve.
Contact information
Call 01425 472760 or 07917 616695
Find your way there by SatNav
Our reserve descriptions include maps and information on how to get there. To make things even easier, we have set up POIs (Points of Interest) for some of our larger reserves, which you can download into a satnav.
Download to your computer, the files which contain the POI definitions for Garmin and TomTom satnavs and the small logo which will show where the reserve is. To download these files, right click on the links above and choose Save Target As ... (or similar).
You will need to consult the satnav manual to find out how to load the POIs (HIWWT_reserves.ov2 for TomToms or HIWWT_reserves.csv for Garmins) and the logo (HIWWT_reserves.bmp) onto the satnav device.
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Family I Spy Trail
Enjoy a wintery walk around Blashford Lakes and see how many of our photos you can spot. Make sure you go in all the hides! Download and print a copy of the trail or pick one up from the Education Centre when you arrive.
Dates: All of December and January (except Christmas day). Any time between 9am-4.30pm. FREE!
Upcoming events
06/02/12 Mini Beasts – “Feathered Friends” - Blashford Lakes Centre
A morning of games, stories and woodland bird watching for pre-school aged children and their parents or carers
09/02/12 Winter Wildfowl Walk - Blashford Lakes Reserve car park
Join Bob Chapman for a guided walk to see the spectacular array of visiting winter wildfowl at Blashford Lakes
11/02/12 Tracks and Tracking - Blashford Lakes
16/02/12 Big Blashford Birdwatch - Blashford Lakes Centre
A playday for 8-12 year-olds. Join the team for a winter birdwatch. We will be exploring the further flung hides and footpaths so children should be equipped (and prepared) for a good walk.
17/02/12 Little Blashford Birdwatch - Blashford Lakes Centre
A playday for 5-7 year-olds. Join the team for a winter birdwatch. We will be exploring the further flung hides and footpaths so children should be equipped (and prepared) for a good walk
18/02/12 Dabbling Ducks and Fab Finches - Blashford Lakes Centre
Discover birds together at this family event. Drop in anytime during the session and follow the trail between the hides where our experts will be on hand
19/02/12 Birding at Blashford - Blashford Lakes car park near the Tern Hide (Map ref. SU 151 083).
Join John Clark for a visit to Blashford Lakes
21/02/12 Marine Conservation and the Solent - Blashford Lakes Centre
An illustrated talk by Amy Dale, Marine Officer for the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust
05/03/12 “Mini Beasts” – March into Spring - Blashford Lakes Centre
A morning of games, stories and exploration looking for signs of Spring for pre-school aged children and their parents or carers
16/03/12 Moonlit March - Blashford Lakes Centre
Discover Blashford Lakes by night with moon magic tricks and sensory delights
20/03/12 Caterpillars of Butterflies and Moths - Blashford Lakes
A talk by Dave Green of Butterfly Conservation
22/03/12 Spring Firsts - Blashford Lakes Reserve
Join Bob Chapman for a guided walk around Blashford Lakes Nature Reserve to look out for the first signs of spring
02/04/12 “Mini Beasts” – Eggs-travaganza - Blashford Lakes Centre
What’s in a nest? Find out through games, stories and activities for pre-school aged children and their parents or carers
03/04/12 Pondemonium - Blashford Lakes Centre
A Playday for 8-12 year-olds. Discover the weird and wonderful denizens of the deep on a pond and river exploration
04/04/12 Pondemonium - Blashford Lakes Centre
A Playday for 5-7 year-olds. Discover the weird and wonderful denizens of the deep on a pond and river exploration
05/04/12 Family Pond Dip - Blashford Lakes Centre
Family fun, discovering the wonderful wildlife lurking in the weedy depths of the Blashford pond
06/04/12 Easter Nature Trail - Blashford Lakes Centre
Drop in any time during the session to discover spring wildlife on a family trail around Blashford Lakes
07/04/12 Easter Nature Trail - Blashford Lakes Centre
Drop in any time during the session to discover spring wildlife on a family trail around Blashford Lakes
17/04/12 New Forest Stream Restoration - Blashford Lakes
An illustrated talk by Sarah Oakley of the Forestry Commission about this work, with special reference to the local stream, Ditchend Brook, near Godshill
27/04/12 Traps, Tracks and Signs - Blashford Lakes Centre
An opportunity to discover more about the mammals that live at Blashford Lakes. Friday evening will include setting and putting out small mammal traps and the opportunity to use a bat detector
