Could be a really nice nature reserve on a river but sadly it is completely awash with nurdles (virgin plastic plastics), likely from one (or all) of the 4 plastic manufacturing companies across the river. Along with the billions of nurdles, it’s also covered in rubbish; pens, lolly pop sticks, syringes, spoons, Christmas cracker toys, tampon applicators, bottle tops, cans, plastic bottles, everything you can imagine is there. It’s sad to see Southampton’s first nature reserve look exactly how the rest of Southampton does. It feels like they don’t really care about it, god knows how much plastic the birds in the area are digesting. A family of swans live there and you can see them rummaging around for food, I dread to thing how many nurdles they’ve swallowed. It’s clearly been this way for a long time, I only hope the council band together with locals to organise as many clean ups as are needed and the environment agency investigate the plastic manufacturers opposite. If you visit the reserve, please photograph what you witness, email your MP, complain to the EA, and pick up a small amount if you can, without disrupting wildlife. It is heartbreaking and shameful to see this little corner of nature in a big city, be treated just as bad as the big city.
Del Pallot
Every offending industry next to this " NATURE RESERVE " should contribute to keeping it tidy, it could be so much nicer.
Ian Marshall
I'm going to give a positive review for this place as it's all about perspective... Other reviews I have read are actually reviewing the citezens of Southampton... Not this nature reserve...
Due to the geography of the river much waste thrown in the river by humans ends up washing up here, unfortunately for the wildlife.
Back a few years ago, clean up brigades were organised by caring individuals. A quality that has become rare these days as people just consider it "not my responsibility, I'm going to go on google maps and give a bad review".
Here are some good points about Chessil Bay!
Its a great shortcut from Bitterne to Woolston and vice versa and you can skip the mountain of a hill that is Athelstan road.
Not many people actually come here so if yoy want to spend a bit of time alone here is a good place to visit!
The view of Southampton at this location is quite a good one.
Maybe one day the clean up crews will return to make this place as beautiful as it once was!
Benedict Earlson
The staggeringly huge volumes of plastic in this Nature Reserve appear to be from either local businesses or local people - so Southampton City Council should be using their funds taken in business rates and council tax to clear it. This site requires a serious effort involving dredging and the removal of large quantities of waste. Let's see how seriously SCC really take environmental concerns. Do they care?
Catherine March220 days ago
It's a beautiful tranquil place, look past the stuff that naturally washes onto the shore. It's a problem that is cleaned up by volunteers and the council twice a year when the birds won't be disturbed. Maybe if you go for a walk take a bag and just pick up any rubbish that you walk past 🤷♀️
Rudolf Benadie2 years ago
Living close to the bay, it is a regular afternoon stroll for our family. Loads of wild birds around and a relaxing atmosphere. Pity for the trash that wash up on the shore at times, but it gets cleaned promptly. Also has a "Geocache" on the trail.
Richard Mansfield2 years ago
Rat infested but can be nice at sunset
Neil Wigby2 years ago
not really seen much of this place , but one photo I did see , looks like they have got a rubbish or polution issue.
It’s sad to see Southampton’s first nature reserve look exactly how the rest of Southampton does. It feels like they don’t really care about it, god knows how much plastic the birds in the area are digesting. A family of swans live there and you can see them rummaging around for food, I dread to thing how many nurdles they’ve swallowed.
It’s clearly been this way for a long time, I only hope the council band together with locals to organise as many clean ups as are needed and the environment agency investigate the plastic manufacturers opposite.
If you visit the reserve, please photograph what you witness, email your MP, complain to the EA, and pick up a small amount if you can, without disrupting wildlife.
It is heartbreaking and shameful to see this little corner of nature in a big city, be treated just as bad as the big city.
Due to the geography of the river much waste thrown in the river by humans ends up washing up here, unfortunately for the wildlife.
Back a few years ago, clean up brigades were organised by caring individuals. A quality that has become rare these days as people just consider it "not my responsibility, I'm going to go on google maps and give a bad review".
Here are some good points about Chessil Bay!
Its a great shortcut from Bitterne to Woolston and vice versa and you can skip the mountain of a hill that is Athelstan road.
Not many people actually come here so if yoy want to spend a bit of time alone here is a good place to visit!
The view of Southampton at this location is quite a good one.
Maybe one day the clean up crews will return to make this place as beautiful as it once was!