Brownsea is the largest island in Poole Harbour and the only one open to the public. It is about 500 acres of woodland, heath and lagoon, run by the National Trust, and it is the single best half-day in Poole.
The squirrels
Red squirrels disappeared from most of England after grey squirrels arrived. Brownsea, cut off by water, kept them. They live in the pine woodland and are most active early and late.
The birds
The lagoon on the northern side is one of the most important bird sites on the south coast, with hides overlooking it. Winter brings waders and wildfowl in very large numbers; terns breed here in summer. See wildlife.
The Scouting connection
In 1907 Robert Baden-Powell brought twenty boys to camp on the island. That camp is generally treated as the start of Scouting, and the island remains significant to Scouts and Guides worldwide.
Visiting
Boats from Poole Quay take about twenty minutes, with a shorter crossing from Sandbanks. Book ahead in summer. See boat tours.
Peacocks wander the paths, which surprises most first-time visitors rather more than the squirrels do.