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OS 50K Sheet 196, SU 4809.
Introduction
Hamble Common and Copse together form a 48 acre site
at the end of the Hamble peninsula between Southampton Water and the
Hamble estuary, owned and managed by the Countryside Service of
Eastleigh Borough Council. The site consists of an area of wet coastal
heath bordered by areas of woodland, scrub, meadow, saltmarsh and
intertidal mud and shingle. Coastal heath has become increasingly
scarce as a result of development and other losses in recent years,
and the importance of this site has been recognised by its inclusion
within the lee-on-Solent to ltchen Estuary SSSI.
Site History
The site has a long history of occupation by man,
particularly for defensive purposes. Much of the common is a Scheduled
Ancient Monument, having been an Iron Age promontory fort which was
bounded by a ditch-and-bank which runs north-east/south- west across
the site. Some remains of a Tudor coastal fort are exposed on the
foreshore of Southampton Water, near to the more extensive structure
of a gun battery of Napoleonic date. The most recent remains are at
the southern corner of the site where a WWII anti-aircraft gun
emplacement can be found, complete with Bofors gun! The site has been
owned by the Borough Council since 1984 and conservation management
began in 1986.
Habitats
Wet heathland occupies much of the area to the south
of the small creek dominated by Purple Moor-grass, Grey Heather and
Bracken, but being encroached upon by Gorse, Willow, Birch and Oak
scrub. On the north-west side this scrub has developed into young Oak
woodland bordering Hamble Copse. This area of ancient woodland was
heavily modified by the planting of exotic species when it formed part
of the grounds of a large private house, and again by more natural
forces in the storm of October 1987. The site now contains a mixture
of large mature Oaks, regeneration mostly of young Birch since 1987,
Azaleas and Rhododendrons.
To the north of the creek lies a 5 acre unimproved
meadow of species-poor but herb rich acid grassland, a habitat
uncommon in Hampshire, which contains Southern Marsh Orchids among
other more common species.
On the Southampton Water shore intertidal mud and
shingle extends for up to 300 yards at low tide. To the north of
Hamble Point marina a narrow creek separates the common proper from
the meadow to the north. In this more sheltered environment the shore
consists of soft mud with areas of saltmarsh at the high tide limit,
and a brackish lagoon at the head of the creek. On the opposite side
of School Lane at this point lies a freshwater pond bordered by
Reedmace and Willow scrub.
Management
Sporadic flailing/grazing of the heathland and
clearance of scrub to prevent further encroachment took place between
1986 and 1991. In late 1991 the Council entered into a Countryside
Stewardship agreement with the Countryside Commission for management
of the site. Since that time grazing has been extended to most of the
remaining heathland areas and to areas from which mature scrub has
been cleared with the aim of restoring them to heathland. Grazing
takes place from May to October and was initially by beef cattle but
New Forest ponies are to be introduced this summer in an effort better
to control scrub regrowth.
Birds
In winter the main interest of the site is for the
waders and wildfowl found on the intertidal areas. On the Southampton
Water shore, Oystercatchers, Grey Plovers, Ringed Plovers, Dunlin,
Turnstone, Curlew and Brent Geese are common. In the creek wader
numbers are lower and Redshank, Lapwing and Dunlin dominate, with one
or two Greenshank occasionally to be found. Teal, Mallard and Shelduck
are also likely to be present here as are herons, and this is a
regular wintering area for Kingfishers with one or sometimes two
present in most years. Most waders leave to roost in the Fawley area
at high tide, but small numbers mostly of Lapwing and Dunlin can be
found on saltmarsh islands at the mouth of the creek.
Offshore in Southampton Water, Great Crested Grebes
and Red-breasted Mergansers are regular, and other grebes and divers
are a possibility as these species are regularly if not frequently
recorded at Warsash and Weston Shore.
Elsewhere on the site Stonechats and Reed Buntings
may remain and Snipe may be flushed from wetter areas of the heath.
Other records in recent years have included a Woodcock, and a Cetti's
Warbler which took up residence in the area of the lagoon and pond one
winter and into the following spring.
The location of the site a little way up Southampton
Water means it is unlikely to be the first landfall of migrants in
spring, but its good cover and mix of habitats make it likely to find
most of the commoner warblers, with other Species such as Redstart and
Whinchat a possibility. Passage waders such as Common and Green
Sandpipers are most likely to be found around the creek.
Summer is a fairly quiet period, with breeding
species on the heath including Meadow Pipit, Reed Bunting and possibly
Stonechat. In the areas of scrub and woodland Chiffchaff, Willow
Warbler and Blackcap are present, and Sedge Warblers are found around
the lagoon, and Treecreeper, Nuthatch and Great Spotted Woodpecker
breed in the more mature woodland of Hamble Copse. Common, Sandwich
and possibly Little Terns may be seen offshore, and Moorhen and
Mallard breed around the pond and lagoon.
Autumn sees the return of waders and wildfowl, and
again migrants are a possibility. This is the most likely time of year
to find Dartford Warblers at the site as juveniles disperse from
breeding areas in the New Forest from August through to November.
Access
Hamble Common is reached via Copse Lane from the
B3397 Hamble lane, which links with the A27 and M27 at the Windhover
roundabout near Bursledon. Car parks are at Hamble Green, Hamble Point
and near the pond, and are linked to each other and the rest of the
site by a good network of footpaths. In summer ground conditions are
good, but from November to April and at other times after rain stout
waterproof footwear is advisable.
For more information about Hamble Common or other
sites managed by Eastleigh Countryside Service, contact Richard Mould
on (01703) 466091, or write to: High Wood Barn, ltchen Valley Country
Park, Allington Lane, West End, Southampton, S030 3HQ.
Richard Mould |
