Farlington Marshes

{{Short description|Nature reserve in Hampshire, England}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

{{Use British English|date=March 2025}}

{{infobox park

| name = Farlington Marshes

| photo = Farlington marshes april 2011.jpg

| photo_caption =

| type = Local Nature Reserve

| grid_ref_UK = SU 685 043

| location = Portsmouth, Hampshire

| area = {{convert| 119.7 |ha|acre|abbr=off}}

| manager = Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust

}}

Farlington Marshes is a {{convert| 119.7 |ha|acre|abbr=off|adj=on}} Local Nature Reserve near Portsmouth in Hampshire. It is owned by Portsmouth City Council and managed by Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust.{{cite web|url=https://designatedsites.naturalengland.org.uk/SiteLNRDetail.aspx?SiteCode=L1008890&SiteName=&countyCode=19&responsiblePerson=&SeaArea=&IFCAArea= |title=Farlington Marshes |series=Local Nature Reserves|publisher=Natural England| access-date= 1 May 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://magic.defra.gov.uk/MagicMap.aspx?startTopic=Designations&activelayer=lnrIndex&query=Ref_CODE%3D%271008890%27 |title=Map of Farlington Marshes |series= Local Nature Reserves |publisher=Natural England| access-date= 1 May 2020}}{{cite web|url= https://www.hiwwt.org.uk/nature-reserves/farlington-marshes-nature-reserve |title= Farlington Marshes |publisher= Hampshire and Isle of WightWildlife Trust |access-date= 1 May 2020}} It is part of Langstone Harbour, which is a Site of Special Scientific Interest{{cite web|url= https://designatedsites.naturalengland.org.uk/SiteDetail.aspx?SiteCode=S1001182&SiteName=&countyCode=19&responsiblePerson=&unitId=&SeaArea=&IFCAArea= |title=Designated Sites View: Langstone Harbour | series= Sites of Special Scientific Interest|publisher=Natural England|access-date = 1 May 2020}}{{cite web|url= https://magic.defra.gov.uk/MagicMap.aspx?startTopic=Designations&activelayer=sssiIndex&query=HYPERLINK%3D%271001182%27|title=Map of Langstone Harbour|series= Sites of Special Scientific Interest|publisher=Natural England|access-date= 1 May 2020}} and a Nature Conservation Review site, Grade I.{{cite book|editor-first=Derek |editor-last=Ratcliffe |title=A Nature Conservation Review|volume=2 |pages=3–4 |publisher= Cambridge University Press|location =Cambridge, UK |year=1977|isbn= 0521 21403 3 }} It is also part of Solent Maritime Special Area of Conservation{{cite web|url= https://designatedsites.naturalengland.org.uk/SiteGeneralDetail.aspx?SiteCode=UK0030059&SiteName=&countyCode=46&responsiblePerson=&unitId=&SeaArea=&IFCAArea= |title=Designated Sites View: Solent Maritime | series= Special Areas of Conservation|publisher=Natural England|access-date = 6 April 2019}} and of Chichester and Langstone Harbours Ramsar site{{cite web |url= https://designatedsites.naturalengland.org.uk/SiteGeneralDetail.aspx?SiteCode=UK11013&SiteName=&countyCode=46&responsiblePerson=&unitId=&SeaArea=&IFCAArea= |title= Designated Sites View: Chichester and Langstone Harbours |series= Ramsar Site |publisher= Natural England |access-date= 6 April 2019 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190401162727/https://designatedsites.naturalengland.org.uk/SiteGeneralDetail.aspx?SiteCode=UK11013&SiteName=&countyCode=46&responsiblePerson=&unitId=&SeaArea=&IFCAArea= |archive-date= 1 April 2019 |url-status= live }} and Special Protection Area.{{cite web |url= https://designatedsites.naturalengland.org.uk/SiteGeneralDetail.aspx?SiteCode=UK9011011&SiteName=&countyCode=46&responsiblePerson=&unitId=&SeaArea=&IFCAArea= |title= Designated Sites View: Chichester and Langstone Harbours |series= Special Protection Areas |publisher= Natural England |access-date= 6 April 2019 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190401162824/https://designatedsites.naturalengland.org.uk/SiteGeneralDetail.aspx?SiteCode=UK9011011&SiteName=&countyCode=46&responsiblePerson=&unitId=&SeaArea=&IFCAArea= |archive-date= 1 April 2019 |url-status= live }}

The marshes occupy an area land that was reclaimed from Langstone Harbour in 1771 and includes a larger part of what was formerly Binner's Island (the remainder of the island is now referred to as North Binness Island).{{cite book |last1=Fontana |first1=Val |last2=Fontana |first2=Dominic |editor1-first=Michael J |editor1-last= Allen |editor2-first=Julie |editor2-last=Gardiner |title=Our Changing Coast a survey of the intertidal archaeology of Langstone Harbour Hampshire |year=2000 |publisher=Council for British Archaeology |location=York |isbn=1-902771-14-1 |page=82|chapter=A brief historical survey }} The reserve covers about 120 hectares and features both freshwater marsh and brackish marsh. It is a feeding ground for overwintering Brent geese.{{cite web|url=http://www.portsmouth.gov.uk/living/8096.html |title=DC17 Farlington Marshes Local Nature Reserve (Drayton & Farlington) |date=6 October 2006 |work=Adopted Local Plan 2006 amended July 2009 |publisher=Portsmouth City Council |access-date=27 April 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20110930032016/http://www.portsmouth.gov.uk/living/8096.html |archive-date=30 September 2011 }} During World War 2 it was used as a starfish site acting as a decoy for Portsea Island. The control blockhouses remain on the marshes.{{cite book |title=Defending Hampshire The Military Landscape from Prehistory to the Present |first=Mike |last=Osborne |publisher=The History Press |year=2011 |isbn=9780752459868 |page=202}}