Alan Hersey Nature Reserve

The Alan Hersey Nature Reserve lies on the Isle of Wight’s north-east coast between Springvale and Seaview. It sits on a flood plain where fresh water from the valley meets salt water pushed in by the rising tide through a culvert under the old toll road. The trapped water forms a brackish lake, marshland and reedbeds that change with the tides. Dogs are not permitted on the site. The reserve covers twenty acres managed by the Isle of Wight Council, Natural England, the Environment Agency and local residents under a fifty-year lease. The reserve attracts wading birds and wildfowl throughout the year. A public hide allows visitors to watch them without disturbance. It owes its name to Alan Hersey, a former parish, borough and county councillor who championed Seaview’s history and environment. The site holds Ramsar status and belongs to the Ryde Sands and Wootton Creek Site of Special Scientific Interest. A level path leads from the car park to the bird hide, crossing reedbeds and marshland. Views open over the brackish lake where ducks and waders feed at low tide. Benches along the route let visitors pause and watch the shifting light on the water. The reserve’s quiet atmosphere makes it a place to notice small details of coastal wildlife.