Brownsea Island, Nature reserve island in Poole Harbour, England
Brownsea Island is a nature reserve of around 200 acres (80 hectares) in Poole Harbour featuring diverse landscapes from woodland to heathland and salt marsh. The island supports significant populations of birds and is home to red squirrels that inhabit the northern woodland areas.
Monks from Cerne Abbey first settled the island around the 9th century, and it later passed through various hands including King Henry II and Queen Elizabeth I during medieval times. In the 20th century it was converted into a nature reserve and museum.
The island played a pivotal role in launching the Scout movement when Robert Baden-Powell held the first experimental camp here in 1907. Visitors walking across the heathland today step through the same landscape that inspired a global youth organization.
The island is accessible only by ferry from Poole Harbour throughout the day. Once there, the site is navigable on foot with marked trails, rest areas, and amenities to help you explore at your own pace.
The island maintains a surviving population of red squirrels, a species that has vanished from most of southern England due to competition with gray squirrels. Few places in the region offer the chance to see these animals in their natural habitat.
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