Brownsea is the largest island in Poole Harbour and the only one open to the public: roughly 500 acres of woodland, heath and lagoon, managed by the National Trust.
The squirrels
Red squirrels vanished from most of England after greys arrived. Brownsea kept them, because water is a good barrier. They live in the pine woodland and are most active at either end of the day.
The lagoon
The northern lagoon is among the most significant bird sites on the south coast, with hides overlooking it. Winter brings waders and wildfowl in large numbers; terns breed here in summer.
The Scouting connection
In 1907 Robert Baden-Powell camped here with twenty boys. That camp is generally treated as the start of the Scout movement, and the island remains important to Scouts and Guides worldwide.
Visiting
Boats run from Poole Quay and Sandbanks through the main season. Book ahead in summer. Allow three to four hours on the island.