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Curbridge Nature Reserve
Ancient and newly-planted woodland adjacent to the river Hamble
Curbridge Nature Reserve, Hampshire
Opening times for 26 April 2024
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Visitors to the reserve can park in Burridge Village Hall car park (owned by Fareham Borough Council) for up to two hours
Dogs
Dogs welcome, on a lead or under close control to protect wildlife
Car park a short walk from site. Established footpaths. Rough ground. Gentle slopes. Wet areas.
Steps/uneven terrain
Established footpaths creating walking routes, with some rough ground, gentle slopes and areas that can be wet due to the nature of the reserve
By road
Use Burridge Village Hall car park, SO31 1BS, off the A3051/Botley Road between Curbridge to the north and Burridge to the south.
Parking: Free parking at the Burridge Village Hall car park (owned by Fareham Borough Council) for up to two hours, shared with visitors to the village hall and recreation ground.
Planning your visit
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Visiting Curbridge Nature Reserve with your dog
Well-behaved dogs are always welcome, kept under control to protect reed bed birds. Professional dog walkers can also use this site, if licensed with us.
Highlights
Ancient woodland
Mature oak trees mingle with an understorey of hazel coppice, holly and wild service trees.
New woodland
We've planted 6,000 trees and created a new pond here to expand and protect this vital nature reserve.
River's edge
Salt marsh, reed bed and estuary mudflats create important habitats for wetland birds.
Things to see and do
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Things to see and do at Curbridge Nature Reserve
Explore Curbridge Nature Reserve on the River Hamble, an ancient riverside woodland important for wild birds, waterfowl, salt marsh and rare invertebrates.
About Curbridge Nature Reserve
A winding strip of woodland leading to salt marsh, reed bed and estuary mudflats. The reserve holds several designations, including a Site of Special Scientific Interest.
There has been woodland here for hundreds of years. Mature oak trees mingle with an understorey of hazel coppice, holly and wild service trees. The woodland floor hosts thousands of bluebells and other wildflowers in spring and summer.
Well-loved by the local community, the woodland is home to a ‘fairy tree’. To ease pressure and protect the ancient woodland, we planted 6,000 new trees in 2019.
The reed-fringed estuary is a particularly important habitat for over-wintering wetland birds. Fish such as bass and mullet thrive within the water.
Our work
Project
Project
Creating a new woodland at Curbridge Nature Reserve
A donation from SC Johnson enables us to create a woodland for the future, while protecting ancient woodland today; providing new wildlife habitats and new spaces for the community.
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Our work in the south-west Hampshire countryside
We’re doing lots of work to look after the countryside sites of Stockbridge Down, Stockbridge Marsh and Curbridge Nature Reserve in order to provide key habitats for rare species.