There can be few headlands along Britain’s south coast more spectacular or interesting than Hengistbury head.

The story begins some 60 million years ago when the foundations of the headland, including the large ironstone doggers, were formed in a hot and steamy tropical delta.

Rising and falling seal levels, period of glaciation, wind and rain and more recently, coastal erosion, have moulded this isolated headland into what it is today.

Stone Age people were the first to use Hengistbury Head some 12,500 years ago. They left a vast array of flint tools including spear and arrow tips, knives and scrapers.  They hunted animals, which they dragged back to their camp for food, but also for their skin, bones, sinews and glue used for making tools, footwear, clothing and tents.

During the 1980’s archaeologists found plentiful evidence of Stone Age and Iron Age activities. 2,000 years ago Hengistbury Head was one of Britain’s principal ports, trading in wine and olives from the continent and exporting items such as precious metals and hunting dogs.

Today Bournemouth has a large collection of internationally important artefacts, many of which are unique and currently stored outside the area.

The Nature Reserve is an important and fascinating site, not least because of the great variety of habitats in a small area. A quarter of all Britain’s native plants can be found here together with rare animals such as the Natterjack Toad, Sand Lizard and Dartford Warbler. The geographical position of the headland makes it internationally important for migrant birds and insects.

The Council has provided education and interpretation at Hengistbury Head for over 30 years. The buildings at the Head are uninspiring and in a poor state of repair.  Since the early 1980’s the Council has wanted to provide a Visitor and Interpretation Centre which will tell the ‘Story of Hengistbury Head’.

As a result of the popularity of Hengistbury Head (annual figures record over one million visitors) some of the headland is in danger of suffering serious damage from overuse.

Careful management such as protecting the Double Dykes and creating new footpaths has been successful, but safeguarding the headland’s long-term future will now depend on the goodwill, education and co-operation of us all. Our aim is not to increase the number of visitors but to manage access and make them more aware of the environmental importance of the Head and the surrounding area they are visiting.

Our contact details:

Hengistbury Head Outdoor Education and Field Studies Centre
Broadway
Southbourne

Bournemouth,
BH6 4EN

Tel: (01202) 425173
Fax: (01202) 430132

e-mail: hengistbury@bournemouth.gov.uk