Local Nature Reserves (LNRs) are for both wildlife and people. They are places with wildlife or geological features that are of special interest locally. They offer people opportunities to study or learn about nature, or simply enjoy it. In Southampton, we have three very different LNRs –
- Chessel Bay, on the eastern bank of the River Itchen,
- Miller’s Pond along the Shoreburs Greenway and
- Peartree Green between Woolston and Bitterne.
Chessel Bay was designated Southampton City’s first Local Nature Reserve in 1989.
About Chessel Bay
Chessel Bay is situated in Southampton City on the eastern bank of the River Itchen, south of Northam Bridge. The main entrance is through the end of Quayside Rd, SO18 1DP.
The Bay is the only remaining long stretch of undeveloped, natural shoreline in the lower Itchen River. A narrow strip of woodland, with oak, beech, brambles and hawthorn, runs along the edge of the Reserve which is bounded by a railway line to the northeast. A parallel strip of shingle and salt marsh contains iris, sea club rush, reeds and sea asters. The largest proportion of the site is composed of mudflats, which at low tide provide feeding grounds for wading birds and wildfowl. The distinctive sight and sound of oystercatchers are common throughout the year, as is the song of birds that inhabit the woodland.
Wildlife
Wading birds can often be seen on the mudflats when the tide is low: in the winter months, brent geese and black-tailed godwits can also be spotted. Egrets, more common in recent years, stalk the shallows, as does the occasional heron. Kingfishers have been spotted too. Along the shoreline common shore crabs scuttle through the seaweed. Fifteen species of butterflies have been observed at the Bay in recent years, these include the gatekeeper, painted lady, large skipper and holly blue.
Litter – and other management issues
Chessel Bay has a particular problem with a large amount of litter, much of it brought in by the tides. This is unsightly and dangerous to wildlife and visitors to the Reserve. Considerable quantities of waste include plastic bottles and polystyrene, which disintegrates into thousands of tiny plastic bobbles and mingle with the structure of the Reserve. Plastic pellets, or nurdles, are also a particular problem (see below). The City Council and local volunteers team up twice a year to combat this problem by organising litter picks. Watch this website and local noticeboards for further updates. The Southampton Urban Wildlife Centre and Friends of Chessel Bay organise additional information at the site on these days.
Friends of Chessel Bay
The ‘Friends’ group is an informal collection of people who get together to care for and protect the Bay, usually by helping with litter picks in conjunction with City Council ecologists. Please note that if you come to help, parking is limited and there are no toilets on site. Recently, Friends of Chessel Bay have teamed up with Surfers Against Sewage S.A.S. who have conducted citizen science surveys and helped clean up the Bay – see links. Please watch this website, local media and notice boards for further news.
Contact Friends of Chessel Bay email: chesselbayfriends@gmail.com and X (twitter)/BayChessel