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Alver Valley    Browndown Common    Browndown SSSI    Carter's Copse    Gilkicker Point    Rowner Copse    Wildgrounds

The Alver Valley

Much of the open, or greenspace in Gosport is situated along the valley of the River Alver. Browndown Common, Browndown Ranges, Carter's Copse, West of the River, and the Wildgrounds all have boundaries along or near to the river. These areas, and the reedbed, extend northward to the Borough of Fareham, forming a more or less continuous belt of natural and semi-natural habitats. Hopefully, the value of these remaining areas are more appreciated now than they have been in the past, and they will remain as havens for flora, fauna and people for many years to come.

The reedbed along the Alver Valley is one of the largest in Hampshire, it runs from just behind the beach at Browndown Ranges almost up to the Rowner Road/Newgate Lane roundabout in an almost continuous belt, which branches off and widens out at various points. We do not have a great deal of woodland in Gosport but the Wildgrounds (SSSI) is an area of ancient woodland which slopes down toward the reedbed along the Alver Valley, there is also Carter's Copse, which has an area of alder carr in it, and always has something of interest. With the former gravel pit area now open to the public, along with the fishing lake there is new ground to be explored within the Alver Valley.

BROWNDOWN
Browndown Common and Browndown SSSI
Gosport's 'Jewel'

The SSSI is a military training area and, when the red flags are flying, access is restricted.

Browndown SSSI © 2001 JA Norton

Browndown is situated just east of Lee-on-the-Solent, on the north shore of the Solent, in Hampshire (opposite the Isle of Wight). I have enjoyed many happy hours either just walking, doing conservation work, or recording the varied flora and fauna on the site. There are two parts to the site, the area south of the B3333, known as Browndown SSSI, or Browndown Ranges, and the area to the north of the B3333, known historically as Browndown Common, or as North Browndown, which is a SINC and also a Heritage Site. There are car parks at both the west and eastern ends of the Browndown SSSI/ranges, giving easy access to that site, and another two near the local amenity tip which give access to Browndown Common.

The variety of habitats contained within the whole site make it possible to find a number of plants which are are more frequently found in either the New Forest, or on the heaths of north-east Hampshire, which have similar habitats.

Selfheal, Browndown Common, © 1996 D R Allan

Browndown Common is a SINC, and also a Heritage Site, with greater habitat diversity than its 'southern sister' - Browndown Ranges, and this is reflected in the greater number of flowering plants; over four hundred species. The main habitats grade from dry heath through scrub to woodland, fen-carr and reedbed, and although the two sites have about two hundred and forty-four plant species in common, they often present very different pictures.

The central heathy area has, like Browndown Ranges, Heather (Calluna vulgaris), Bell Heather (Erica cinerea), Common Gorse (Ulex europaeus), Dwarf Gorse (Ulex minor), Bristle Bent (Agrostic curtisii), Viper's-bugloss (Echium vulgare), and also the Yellow Horned-poppy (Glaucium flavum) - more usually associated with sea shores - which occurs occasionally along the edge of the main track. In other parts there are Bee Orchids (Ophrys apifera), Grass Vetchling (Lathyrus nissolia), Self-heal (Prunella vulgaris), Oxeye Daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare) and Colt's-foot (Tussilago farfara).

The fen along the southern edge of Browndown Common is its greatest treasure, although it is now very much reduced from its former glory. Growing in more open areas of the fen is the unusual, and viciously toothed Saw Sedge (Cladium mariscus) - aka Great Fen-sedge, and Purple Small-reed (Calamagrostis canescens) along with Bog Myrtle (Sweet Gale), Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) and Yellow Loosestrife (Lysimachia vulgaris). Where Willow and Downy Birch take over the fen the ground flora is mainly Purple Moor-grass (Molinia caerulea) and Great Pond-sedge (Carex riparia). There are many other sedges, and reedbed adjoining the fen area.

The fen part of Browndown Common, which still has plentiful Sweet Gale (Myrica gale) was once part of the area known formerly as Gomer Pond and also as Gale Moor. The name 'Gomer' may have originated from a variation of Gale Moor (Gae' moor).

A sharp eye might also pick out some of the fungi, lichens and mosses that grow here. Some of the fungi I have found there include; Common Stinkhorn Phallus impudicus; Shaggy Ink Cap Coprinus comatus; tiny Marasmius sp. and large Bolete spp. as well as the unusual Lentinus tigrinus.

There is also a wide range of fauna on North Browndown with Roe Deer, Rabbits, various birds, Adders and Common Lizards, as well as various smaller creatures such as dragonflies, damselflies (Azure Damselfly, Common  Sympetrum), beetles, spiders, such as Argiope bruennichi as well as Small Copper and Painted Lady butterflies.

Adder, Browndown Common,
April 1999 © D R Allan

Gilkicker Point

Just to the east of the popular Stokes Bay beach area and a mile or so east of Browndown Ranges, is Gilkicker Point, a Countryside Heritage Site with a Scheduled Ancient Monument - Fort Gilkicker, and Gilkicker Lagoon which is a SSSI site. There are also some very interesting brackish hollows, small amounts of native coastal grassland, and a brackish meadow area. The flora and fauna of these areas, coupled with the known interesting flora and fauna of the shingle beach make this area worthy of proper recognition and protection of its value as a nature conservation area. Gilkicker is where the rare Gilkicker Weevil (Pachytychius haematocephalus) can be found, as well as Slender Hare's-ear (Bupleurum tenuissimum) - a very small member of the Carrot (Apiaceae) family - seen recently (2007) in good numbers in two new spots.

The Wildgrounds

The Wildgrounds SSSI is situated in the Alver Valley (see below), and is 'wildwood' or 'Ancient Woodland'. It is the biggest area of woodland in Gosport, and has a great variety of flora, many of which are typically associated with ancient woodland: Bluebell, Butcher's-Broom, Dog-rose, Red- and Black- currant, as well as plenty of oak, birch, sedges and ferns.

Rowner Copse

Rowner Copse in May 1996.">

A genuine 'bluebell wood', part of which was recently lost to housing. April-May is a good time to visit this little treasure, when the bluebellls are at the height of their splendour. You can also find Wood Anemone aka Windflower (white-, and pink-flowered forms), King-cup and Stitchwort.
In the autumn and winter, the ferns and Butcher's-broom will provide some greenery, and there are plenty of fungi to find if you keep your eyes open.

Carter's Copse

A small, damp woodland with ponds and Alder carr in the damper areas, and more typical woodland and clearings in the drier parts.
In the summer and autumn, the ferns and sedges Carex will provide some greenery, and there are plenty of fungi to find if you care to look for them.

Conservation volunteering - Would you like to help ?

Take a look at the Conservation in Gosport page to find out more about volunteering.

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