Wadeway

Coastal Marsh, Saltings in Hampshire Havant

England

Wadeway

Hayling Billy line The remains of the Hayling Billy Railway line crossing from Havant to Hayling island. The final train ran on Saturday 2 November 1963 — Hayling Billy line Credit: Jackie OHalloran

Wadeway is a coastal marsh located in Hampshire, England. It is situated in the southern part of the county, near the town of Lymington. This area is known for its unique geographical features, as it is a combination of marshes and saltings.

The marshes in Wadeway are characterized by their flat, low-lying terrain, with a mixture of grasses, reeds, and other wetland vegetation. They are often flooded with seawater during high tides, creating a dynamic and ever-changing landscape. This marshland is an important habitat for various bird species, including waders like curlews and redshanks, as well as waterfowl such as ducks and geese.

Adjacent to the marshes are the saltings, which are areas of salt marshes formed by the deposition of salt from tidal waters. These areas have a unique ecosystem adapted to the saline conditions, with plants like samphire and sea lavender thriving in the salty soil. The saltings in Wadeway are particularly renowned for their rich biodiversity and are home to numerous species of invertebrates, including crabs and snails.

Wadeway is a popular spot for nature enthusiasts and birdwatchers, who come to observe the diverse range of birdlife and unique plant species. It is also a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), highlighting its ecological significance and the need for its conservation.

Overall, Wadeway in Hampshire offers a captivating blend of marshes and saltings, providing a haven for wildlife and a serene setting for visitors to appreciate the beauty of nature.

Show me another place!

If you have any feedback on the listing, please let us know in the comments section below.

Wadeway Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 50.825589/-1.0059496 or Grid Reference SU7003. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Hayling Billy line

The remains of the Hayling Billy Railway line crossing from Havant to Hayling island. The final train ran on Saturday 2 November 1963

Jackie OHalloran

Mud flats at Bridge Lake

The remains of the Langston Harbour rail bridge are visible across the centre of the view. The poor state of the bridge led to the closure of the Hayling branch line in 1963 (but I'm sure, if not for the bridge, another reason to close the line would have been found!). Although much of the bridge infrastructure remains, it cannot be used to cross to the island. There have been recent calls to rebuild it, at a minimum as a walkway, but that seems unlikely in the near future, given the financial constraints which currently prevail. The road bridge to the island is visible on the left.

John Lucas

Channel in marshland, Southmoor Nature Reserve

This area is now inundated by high tides, following SU7104 : Breach in sea wall, Southmoor Nature Reserve. Compare SU7104 : South Moor Langstone which shows the same fence in the foreground.

David Martin

Breach in sea wall, Southmoor Nature Reserve

The breach occurred in 2020 and the marshland habitat has changed dramatically, with some areas now under water at each high tide: see SU7104 : Channel in marshland, Southmoor Nature Reserve. The coastal footpath is officially closed.

David Martin

On the shore at Southmoor Nature Reserve

The projecting sea wall is at the end of Southmoor Lane.

David Martin

On the shore at Budd's Wall

David Martin

Path on Budd's Wall

Looking back towards Southmoor Lane.

David Martin

Dropped defences

Second World War coastal defences collapsed onto the beach beside the Hayling Billy route.

David Martin

Hayling Billy Line

Hayling Billy Line (old railway between Hayling and Havant) path heading to the Bridge car park

Shaun Ferguson

Hayling Billy Line

The Hayling Billy Line path heading to the Victoria Road car park

Shaun Ferguson

The Deeps, Farlington Marsh

This lake is called The Deeps, it's formed by a combination of overwash from the sea and retention of rainfall draining from the marsh. Following a recent extended hot and dry spell it's drying up and currently looks more like something from an African documentary than an English coastal lake.

Martyn Pattison

WWII Hampshire - Naval bombing decoy control bunker - Hayling Island (1)

- Naval Bombing Decoy (N Series): DoB ID: e18972 This was the Hayling Island Naval 'QF' (special fires) bombing decoy control building, now partially demolished and backfilled, and in danger of disappearing forever due to coastal erosion. SU7102 : WWII Hampshire - Naval bombing decoy control bunker - Hayling Island (2)

Mike Searle

WWII Hampshire - Naval bombing decoy control bunker - Hayling Island (2)

- Naval Bombing Decoy (N Series): DoB ID: e18972

Mike Searle

Messing about in boats

And enjoying themselves. Bridge Lake.

Jonathan Thacker

Hayling Island foreshore

Close to high tide.

Jonathan Thacker

Signal but no railway

The Hayling Island to Havant branch ran along the top of the bank on the right until closure in 1963. The expense of replacing the bridge over Langstone Harbour (the remains of which can be seen in the distance) brought about its demise. The signal remains as a reminder of its existence. The trackbed is now a combined footpath/cycleway.

Jonathan Thacker

Signal and the remains of the railway bridge

The Hayling Island to Havant branch ran along the top of the bank until closure in 1963. The expense of replacing the bridge over Langstone Harbour (the remains of which can be seen in the distance) brought about its demise. The signal (recently restored) remains as a reminder of its existence. A full history of the line can be found at Link

17th October 2015