A free family event celebrating the wildlife and beauty of the south coast is taking place in the New Forest this month.
Coastal Celebration will be held on the grass area, immediately to the east of The Needles Eye café in Hurst Road in Milford-on-Sea on Saturday, May 30, between 10am and 3pm.
The event aims to raise awareness of the importance of the coastal environment and promote responsible enjoyment of the area.
Visitors reading new signage at Hurst Sprit (Image: Keith Metcalf)
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Keith Metcalf, the local conservationist who’s coordinating the event, said: “Many people don’t realise as they walk along places such as Hurst Spit, that they’re actually in a nature reserve.
“We are inviting people to come and discover the amazing features of our coast and have fun learning about this precious environment.”
Hurst Spit and the surrounding area are part of a designated nature reserve, supporting wildlife including migratory birds and rare ground-nesting species.
Tracé Cooper-Williams, landscapes and species recovery manager at Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, said: “For example, it is incredible to think that you could step within inches of a Ringed Plover nest without seeing it.
“These tiny birds lay camouflaged eggs directly onto the shingle, but run away every time they see a dog, leaving the eggs to chill.
“No one wants to disturb these ground-nesting waders, that is why we are running a project to help people understand what to look for and how they can help.”
The event will feature displays and activities from wildlife organisations, conservation groups, and others including Bird Aware Solent and the RSPB.
