Dog trail-stop 3
Stop three on the Hengistbury Dog Walking Trail
Stop 3 - Reedbed
This is the Reedbed/Water Meadows area of the site. Here, you can see over to Christchurch Priory, across the River Stour. In the summer months, you may see the cattle grazing on the biodiverse water meadows full of flora and fauna.
As the Roman Empire expanded northwards towards Britain, merchants were on the lookout for coastal sites to establish trading ports. The sheltered and gently shelving northern beach/reedbed was made suitable for landing wooden sailing boats.
The two navigable rivers,the Avon and Stour, also provided a trade route inland for smaller dug-out log boats. The northern shoreline became a busy port, and a large settlement grew up along the water’s edge. Exotic goods, such as wine and glass, arrived by boat from the Roman Empire. British metals, slaves, corn, cattle, hides and dogs were traded in exchange.
Otters
This sheltered area is also the perfect place for some pretty elusive mammals... Otters!
*Did you know that the mother raises her cubs without help from the male, staying with them until they are around a year old?*
Otters were on the brink of extinction in the 1950s due to hunting, habitat destruction and chemicals leaching into watercourses? See below for some clips captured here in the reedbed of some otters:
Find out more about bringing your dog to Hengistbury Head