Local nature reserves (LNRs) in England are designated by local authorities under Section 21 of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949. LNRs are sites which have a special local interest either biologically or geologically. Local authorities have a duty to care for them, and must control the sites by owning or leasing them, or by having an agreement with the owners. The local authorities can apply local byelaws to manage and protect LNRs.
As of April 2020, there are 65 LNRs in Hampshire, of which 28 are Sites of Special Scientific Interest, 15 are Ramsar sites, 15 are Special Areas of Conservation, 16 are Special Protection Areas and one is a national nature reserve and one is a Nature Conservation Review site. Two sites are managed by the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust.
Key
Other designations and wildlife trust management HIWWT = Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust NCR = Nature Conservation Review site NNR = National nature reserve Ramsar = Ramsar site, an internationally important wetland site SAC = Special Area of Conservation SM = Scheduled monument SPA = Special Protection Area SSSI = Site of Special Scientific Interest
Sites
Site Photograph Area Location Borough Other Map and details DescriptionAnton Lakes Andover Test Valley Map DetailsThe River Anton rises in the site and flows through former watercress beds into the lakes, which were created by gravel extraction. Another habitat is chalk grassland, which has butterflies such as marbled white and gatekeeper. There is also an area of wet meadow, and mammals include otters and water voles.Berry Coppice Winchester Winchester Map DetailsBishops Waltham Branch Bishop's Waltham Winchester Map DetailsThis site is a footpath along the former railway line from Bishop's Waltham to Botley. The path is lined by trees such as oaks and field maples, and flowering plants including wood avens and herb robert.Boldre Foreshore Boldre New ForestHIWWT, Ramsar, SAC, SPA, SSSI Map DetailsThis large site has a vartiety of habitats, including saltmarsh, shingle, grassland, fresh and brackish pools and mudflats. It has breeding populations of gulls, terns and waders, together with many wintering waders and wildfowl.Brook Meadow (Emsworth) Emsworth Havant Map DetailsMost of this site is grassland, which is surrounded by woodland and flanked by two streams. The diverse wildlife includes water voles.Broxhead Common, Bordon Bordon East Hampshire SPA, SSSI Map DetailsThe common has dry heath and birch and oak woodland. Woodlarks and nightjars, which are rare and protected birds, breed on the site, and there is also a population of the nationally rare sand lizard. Buriton Chalk Pit Buriton East Hampshire Map DetailsThis former chalk quarry was worked up to the end of World War II and it still has large heaps of spoil. It has gradually developed into a rich habitat with chalk loving plants. Many paths follow the routes of narrow gauge railway lines which were used to move chalk and lime.Calshot Marshes Southampton Southampton Ramsar, SAC, SPA, SSSI Map DetailsThis saltmarsh site is internationally important for dark-bellied brent geese and nationally important for wigeon, teal, ringed plover, grey plover, black-tailed godwit, redshank and dunlin.Catherington Down Horndean East Hampshire SSSI Map DetailsThis western sloping site is chalk grassland with prominent lynchet strips dating to the Middle Ages. It is managed by grazing and has a variety of chalk herbs, such as pyramidal orchid, round-headed rampion and autumn lady's-tresses. There is also a narrow belt of woodland.Catherington Lith, Horndean Horndean East Hampshire Map DetailsChessel Bay Southampton Southampton Ramsar, SPA, SSSI Map DetailsThis is the last remaining stretch of undeveloped shoreline along the lower River Itchen. Most of it is mudflats, which provide feeding grounds for birds at low tide. There are also areas of saltmarsh, woodland and shingle.Chineham Woods Basingstoke Basingstoke and Deane Map DetailsClaylands Bishop's Waltham Winchester Map DetailsThis former clay working has woodland, ponds, meadows and scrub. The ponds have populations of great crested newts. There are butterflies such as marbled white, common blue and green hairstreak.Crab Wood Winchester Winchester SSSI Map DetailsThis site has been wooded at least since the sixteenth century. It has a hazel layer which has been coppiced, large oaks and some beech, ash and birch trees. There is a rich butterfly fauna, including purple emperors.Danebury Hillfort Nether Wallop Test Valley SSSI Map DetailsThis Iron Age hillfort has been the subject of extensive research and excavation. It was occupied from the seventh to the first centuries BC, with many phases of development. There are large beech around the perimeter.Daneshill Park Woods Basingstoke Basingstoke and Deane Map DetailsThese woods have hazel coppice, an old orchard, scrub and a sunken lane. Ground flora include wood anemone, celandine and bluebells.Deadwater Valley Bordon East Hampshire SM Map DetailsThis site along the west bank of the River Deadwater has a pond, a meadow, wet and dry heath, alder carr and broadleaved and coniferous woodland. There are Civil War earthworks in the south of the reserve.Dell Piece West Horndean East Hampshire Map DetailsDundridge Meadows Bishop's Waltham Winchester Map DetailsThese meadows are chalk grassland managed for hay. There are also two ponds, ancient woodlands and species-rich hedges. Flowering plants include cowslips and hayrattle.Elvetham Heath Fleet Hart Map DetailsTypical heathland plants such as heather and gorse are regenerating naturally on the heath, and there are other habitats such as reedbeds and wet woodland, which has the rare plant bog myrtle.Farlington Marshes Portsmouth Portsmouth HIWWT NCR,Ratcliffe, p. 3-4 Ramsar SAC, SPA, SSSI Map DetailsThis area of flower-rich grazing marsh is internationally important for its bird population. Wintering wildfowl include dark bellied brent geese, wigeons, avocets, redshanks and dunlins. There are also spring and summer visitors such as Cetti's, reed and sedge warblers, skylarks and lapwings.Fleet Pond Fleet Hart SSSI Map DetailsThis large and shallow lake is surrounded by reed beds, alder carr and oak and birch woodland. The lake has a rich aquatic flora and fauna, including large populations of reed warblers and other wetland birds.Gull Coppice Fareham Fareham Map DetailsGutner Point Hayling Island Basingstoke and Deane Ramsar SAC SPA, SSSI Map DetailsThis site in Chichester Harbour has inter-tidal muds, grassland and saltmarsh. Flora includes sea-lavender. Many birds feed on invertebrates in the mud at low tide and rest on foreshore at high tide.Hackett's Marsh Fareham Fareham Ramsar, SAC, SPA, SSSI Map DetailsThis site has saltmarshes and species-rich grassland. Its diverse insects, which include some species which are nationally rare, provide an important source of food for waders, such as golden plovers, black-tailed godwits and curlews.Hayling Billy Hayling Island Havant Ramsar, SAC, SPA, SSSI Map DetailsThis is a footpath along the former Hayling Island branch railway line along the eastern shore of Langstone Harbour between Havant and South Hayling.Hazleton Common, Horndean Horndean East Hampshire Map DetailsThe common is mainly lowland heath, together with ponds and areas of woodland. Fauna include common lizards, adders, grass snake, slow worms, broad-bodied chaser dragonflies, green woodpeckers and partridges.Herbert Plantation Newtown Basingstoke and Deane Map DetailsThe reserve is named after its former owner, Herbert Fox, who died in World War II. It has oak, birch, alder and pine, and ground flora includes some species typical of ancient woodland, such as common solomon's-seal and wood sorrel. Invertebrates include 22 species of butterfly, such as silver-washed fritillary and white admiral.Hocombe Mead Chandler's Ford Eastleigh Map DetailsThe site has two species-rich meadows. The north one, which is grazed by cattle, has a large colony of ringlet butterflies, while the south one is maintained by cutting. There are also woods, with some parts more than 400 years old. There are small areas of bog and heath.Holly Hill Woodland Park Fareham Fareham Map DetailsThe park has landscaped areas with lakes, waterfalls, islands and woods with exotic trees and flowers, as well as native trees such as oaks. There is also a less formal area of ancient semi-natural woodland.Hook with Warsash Fareham Fareham Ramsar, SAC SPA, SSSI Map DetailsThis nature reserve on the banks of the River Hamble and Southampton Water has diverse habitats, intertidal mud, saltmarsh, grazing marsh, reedbed, scrapes, shingle and woodland. Flora include sea kale, yellow horned poppy, slender hare's ear, marsh marigold, English stonecrop and wild carrot. Hayling Island Havant Ramsar, SAC, SPA, SSSI Map DetailsThis site on the south shore of Langstone Harbour is an area of saltmarsh and intertidal mud. Birds use the mud as a feeding area at low tide and roost on a shingle ridge during high tide.Kites Croft Fareham Fareham Map DetailsLepe Point Exbury New Forest SSSI Map DetailsLiss Riverside Railway Walk North Liss East Hampshire Map DetailsThis footpath follows part of the route of the former Longmoor Military Railway from Liss to Liss Forest. The path goes through willow and alder woodland.Liss Riverside Railway Walk South Liss East Hampshire Map DetailsThis footpath through woodland is the southern continuation of Liss Riverside Railway Walk North, following the route of the former Longmoor Military Railway.Lymington-Keyhaven Marshes Lymington New Forest HIWWT, Ramsar, SAC, SPA, SSSI Map DetailsThis coastal site has saltmarshes and intertidal muds. Birds of prey include peregrine falcons, marsh harriers and merlins, while black-headed gulls and sandwich terns feed on fish in the marshes. Yellow-horned poppies, sea campions and sea aster grow in the salty mud.Manor Farm Botley Eastleigh Ramsar, SAC, SPA, SSSI Map DetailsThis large country park on the north bank of the River Hamble has woodland with roe deer and meadows with wild flowers and skylarks.Mercury Marshes Hamble-le-Rice Eastleigh Ramsar, SAC, SPA, SSSI Map DetailsThis site on the west bank of the River Hamble has intertidal mud, reedbeds, islands, saltmarsh, creeks and woodland. The saltmarsh and islands are dominated by sea purslane, cordgrass, sea aster and glasswort. The reserve is important for invertebrates and waders.Milford on Sea LNR Milford on Sea New Forest Map DetailsThe Danes Stream runs through this nature reserve, which has ancient woodland, grassland and winding paths. Basingstoke Basingstoke and Deane Map DetailsThe field has a large area of grassland together with scrub and hedgerows. There are water voles and dormice, while insects include waved black, lunar yellow underwing and water carpet moths and marbled white butterflies.Miller's Pond Southampton Southampton Map Detailshe pond is managed for both angling and wildlife. There are also areas of acid grassland and semi-natural woodland. Bishop's Waltham WinchesterSSSI Map DetailsThese unimproved wet meadows and alder carr drain into Mill Pond at the centre of the site. The meadows have a rich and diverse flora, dominated by greater pond sedge in wetter areas, while there are plants such as purple moor-grass and meadow foxtail in drier parts.Netley Common Southampton Southampton Map DetailsThis lowland heath site also has areas of grassland, woods, scrub and gorse. Reptiles include common lizards and adders. A Roman road crosses the site, and there is also a Bronze Age barrow.Oxenbourne Down, Clanfield Buriton East Hampshire SAC, SSSI Map