This area is a paradise for many visitors as well as local people, and their dogs. Often though while we marvel at the forest, we forget its margins, and particularly the coastline. Here also are great opportunities to walk with dogs. However, the nature and environment here can be fragile, and walkers need to be aware, take care, and particularly ensure excited dogs don’t damage the wildlife or its chance of success.

One of the groups working hard to promote the environment and ecology is the Hurst and Keyhaven Coastal Nature Reserve Forum, which NFDOG supports and is engaging with. The Coastal Forum’s Communication Officer, Keith Metcalf, from Milford on Sea, explains the background.

‘In 2023 Wings Wildlife Heritage had a site visit with the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust to understand the extent of their reserves; the large area of saltmarsh along the coast and inland habitat along Saltgrass Lane; both inconspicuous without signage.  During this fortuitous meeting, we looked at various birding locations around Hurst Spit, Mount Lake and Keyhaven River. Where there were signs, these were confusing, and importantly none of which explained that the wildlife here is in serious decline and needs help.

We discussed that little visible protection or habitat management for the birds and wildlife is being undertaken, and how we might work together to do something about this; to protect and enhance habitats that provide breeding sites for seabirds and waders during the summer and 125,000 wintering birds that use the Solent.

We believe that few visitors realise, for example, that the land is protected with the highest possible UK, national and international designations e.g. SPA, SAC, Ramsar Wetland, SSSI and IBA (Important Bird & Biodiversity Area).  We saw an opportunity to reach out to the thousands of visitors to the area by raising awareness, with an ask e.g. ‘when walking on Hurst Spit, be aware of ground-nesting birds that try each spring and summer to breed on the gravels and vegetated areas’.

The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust convened a meeting with representatives from various groups, local authorities and interested organisations to decide how best to raise public awareness about the tremendous declines in local breeding birdlife populations in these areas. For instance, 576 pairs of nineteen distinct species nested here in 2007 but just 31 pairs of eight species in 2023.  This meeting was welcomed as a way for us all to work together and subsequently the group has become the Hurst & Keyhaven Coastal Nature Reserve Forum, known simply as the Coastal Forum. A list of participants appears at the end.

Most visitors to the Hurst and Keyhaven coast don’t realise the battle for life and death going on around them and literally under-foot; with these tiny birds trying so hard to protect their young whilst also having to go off and find food to raise them.  During winter exhausted flocks of shorebirds are trying to rest and refuel to be fit enough to fly back to their own breeding grounds many miles away in the spring. Disturbance by recreational users including boaters, walkers, and dogs, is all part of the potential (and often actual) damage.

So, looking toward to the future and without further help, the decline of red-listed ringed plover (pictured above) in our coastal area will continue. With four-eggs per nest, just a little success could make a big difference.  Without help, little terns (pictured below) and common terns are unlikely to re-establish themselves unless there is active intervention. We know that interventions such as protective fencing in breeding areas and specially designed ringed plover nest-cages work elsewhere. We just need to spread the word to minimise disturbance.

We thank NFDOG for the opportunity to spread our message and look forward to updating readers in future.'

** Participating organisations (who may have individual views) currently include Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, Hampshire Ornithological Society, Bird Aware Solent, Wings Wildlife Heritage, Milford Conservation Volunteers, New Forest National Park Authority, Hampshire County Council, New Forest District Council, Milford Parish Council, Natural England, Environment Agency, English Heritage, Hurst Marine, Marine Management Organisation, Wild New Forest, Hurst Sailing Club, Keyhaven Yacht Club, Keyhaven Forum and NFDOG.

For further information contact: keithmetcalf2022@btinternet.com. Picture credits: David Woodfall and Natural England.