Iford Meadows is a local nature reserve on a quiet bend of the River Stour, at Iford Bridge where Bournemouth gives way to Christchurch, and not many visitors find it by chance. There is no visitor centre or grand entrance, only a gate off Iford Lane that opens onto open grassland, scrub and paths along the river, all of it feeling far removed from the seafront a few miles to the south.
A former tip turned reserve
The site's back story is not a glamorous one, but it shows real transformation: Iford Meadows began as a local tip. Decades of restoration and careful management have converted that reclaimed ground into healthy grassland and scrub, with around 150 species of flowering plants now recorded here. It demonstrates how much wildlife value can be brought back to even the least promising land.
Walking and wildlife
Grazing is part of how the meadows are looked after: cattle are normally turned out between September and April to keep the grassland in good shape for its plants and insects, which means dogs must be kept under close control during those months. Both Butterfly Conservation and local countryside volunteers take an interest in the reserve, and run occasional guided walks as well as Tuesday work parties across the year. For a visit, there's a gentle circular route of about 1.8 miles along the riverbank that walkers and birdwatchers favour, although the grassland can be muddy and uneven, so it doesn't suit wheelchairs or pushchairs.
Planning a visit
There's no charge to enter and the reserve is open access all year, but daylight is the best time to come. With no facilities on site, it works better as a there-and-back walk or as one stop on a longer route through the Stour valley than as a destination on its own. It's among the quieter and wilder corners of the area; for more of the coast and countryside, see our guide to things to do in Bournemouth.