Milton Common

Where

The site can be accessed via Eastern Road or Moorings Way (which has areas suitable for parking)

Opening Times

This site is open at all times

Area

453,500 sq. m     (45.35 Hectares)

What’s There

• Milton Common is reclaimed land formed by tipping in the large area of mudland that was called Milton Lake. The area has now settled and this expansive grassland forms a valuable wildlife habitat.

• The site has an informal network of footpaths and the eastern footpath running alongside Langstone Harbour forms part of The Solent Way.

• There are three freshwater lakes called Frog, Duck and Swan Lake, home to many aquatic species.

• There are a pair of 5-a-side football goals for informal play to the western end of the site.

Further Information

Moorings Way - the road bounding the southern edge of the Common - was so called because of the large number of houseboats that were moored alongside the edge of the lake. Reclamation of land was continued from the 1950’s until 1970. The land is still settling and the cavities left among the rubble make ideal homes for foxes and other creatures.

The grassland is the only large area of ‘natural’ grass on Portsea Island and is a haven for insects and small mammals. Butterflies are the insects most people notice. Several species whose caterpillars feed on native grasses live here including the Meadow Brown, Small Heath, Wall Brown and Gatekeeper. Other species that frequent the Common are Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock, Red Admiral and Comma whose caterpillars feed on the large healthy stands of stinging nettle.

There are many other insect species including several species of grasshoppers and the Great Green Bush Cricket (Tettigonia viridissma). A colony was introduced here in the late 70’s from Eastney when that colony was threatened by development.

The grassland also provides food and shelter for small mammals such as the Field Vole and Common Shrew. The former feeds on the grass and is fed on in turn by Kestrels, owls and foxes. Shrews feed on the abundant insect life in the grass.

The lakes on the Common support many aquatic species including frogs, toads and Smooth Newts. In summer, dragonflies can be seen hawking over the lakes accompanied by Swallows, Swifts and House Martins, all attracted by the abundance of small flies and midges emerging from the water.

Around the lakes the reed beds provide shelter for many birds. Some of these such as Swan, Moorhen, Coot, Mallard and Tufted Duck can often be seen swimming about the lake. More timid birds like the Great Crested Grebe and Dabchick tend to stay in open water.

In winter, the reeds shelter Long Tailed and Bearded Tits and many other migrant birds on passage south.

The other major habitat is the bramble thickets. These form valuable nesting sites for many small birds and shelter for migrants in spring and autumn. They also provide an important food supply and homes for many other species including Long Tailed Field Mice and Common Lizards.

Associated documents:

  Hants Biodiversity Information Centre - Species List  (0.10 MB)