Titchfield Haven is a biological Site of Special Scientific Interest north-west of Gosport in Hampshire.
History
Until late in the 16th century, the
River Meon was navigable as far as
Titchfield, which at that time was a significant
port. However silting started to restrict the passage of ships, and in order to maintain Titchfield's status as a port, the Earl of Southampton proposed that a
canal should be constructed. The
Titchfield Canal opened in 1611 and was only the second canal existing in Britain at the time. Unfortunately the canal also suffered from silting and the sea trade moved to nearby
Southampton and
Portsmouth. As part of the construction of the canal, the outfall of the River Meon to the sea was dammed, creating the wetlands that now form the nature reserve.
[Hampshire County Council (2006). Activities at Titchfield Haven - River Study . Retrieved 19 March 2006.]
Ecology
This was formerly a tidal estuary, but one way valves block salt water and it is now freshwater river and marshes, wet meadows bisected by ditches, and fen. It is important for wetland breeding birds, such as
,
and
.
The site is managed to provide ideal conditions at different times of the year, with water levels lowered at the end of the waterfowl breeding season in order to expose food-rich mud to encourage migrating birds.
Amenities
The site is open seven days a week, including Bank Holidays (excluding 25 and 26 December) 9.30am - 5pm during the summer and 9.30am - 4pm in the winter. Admission is by ticket, available from the Titchfield Haven Visitor Centre. Car parking is available close to the Reserve at the Hove To Car Park and also on the Sea Front - Chargeable from 10:00 to 18:00. The site has toilets (with wheelchair access), a tea room, a shop and an exhibition in the Visitor Centre.
In 2022, Hampshire County Council declared its intention to close and sell the visitor centre.
