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Sway Tower

0 ha

📷 Chris Downer · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

WildlifeBirdsSeasonal

Dogs welcome0 ha

Getting here

50.76956, -1.60446

Open directionsv

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Visiting this summer

Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now

🌞Midsummer — early morning visits most comfortable; look for deer fawns in quieter clearings
🌿Foraging is at its best in summer here
🐕Dogs welcome — bring water in summer; the site has enough space to find shade on hot days

🌤️ Visiting this summer

🌞Midsummer — early morning visits most comfortable; look for deer fawns in quieter clearings
🌿Foraging is at its best in summer here
🐕Dogs welcome — bring water in summer; the site has enough space to find shade on hot days

Good to know

🐕Dogs welcome

Best for

6 activities

Wildlife

Very strong match

Multi-group wildlife — Amphibians, Birds, Mammals, Reptiles; Multi-group wildlife — Amphibians, Birds, Mammals, Reptiles

Free

Bird watching

Very strong match

Birds — Starling, Blue Tit, Blackbird +67 more · last seen 2025; Birds — Starling, Blue Tit, Blackbird +67 more · last seen 2025

Free

Seasonal nature

Strong match

Plants — Yew, Wood Anemone, Daffodil +80 more · last seen 2022; Plants — Yew, Wood Anemone, Daffodil +80 more · last seen 2022

Free

Foraging

Strong match

Plants — Rough Hawkbit, Common Sorrel, Bramble +9 more foraging species

Varies

Insect spotting

Strong match

Insects — Stag Beetle, Lesser Stag Beetle, Southern Hawker +43 more · last seen 2025; Insects — Stag Beetle, Lesser Stag Beetle, Southern Hawker +43 more · last seen 2025

Free

Heritage

Strong match

Historic site

Free

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km

🚶

Walking

3 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby

Solent WayWalking route

Named routeListed length 87kmRegional walking route

European walking route E9, Milford on Sea to Queen Elizabeth Country ParkWalking route

Named routeRef E9International walking route

Christchurch Bay WayWalking route

Named routeLocal walking route

🚴

Cycling

27 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby

National Cycle Route 2 South Mundham to ChristchurchCycling route

Named routeRef 2National Cycle Network

New Forest Cycle RoutesCycling route

Named routeLocal cycle route

Main RouteCycling route132 m

Named routeRef 2Length 132 mNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface bareearth

Main RouteCycling route1 km

Named routeRef 2Length 1 kmNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface unsealedloose

Main RouteCycling route329 m

Named routeRef 2Length 329 mNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface unsealedloose

Main RouteCycling route87 m

Named routeRef 2Length 87 mNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt

🚵

Mountain biking

1 signed route nearby

Signed route nearby

Lymington Station Off Road Cycle TrailMountain bike route

Named route

🐴

Horse riding

1 public path nearby

Public paths

Agars Lanebyway open to all traffic · 481 m

Public pathbyway open to all trafficLength 481 mSurface dirtPath type: track

Wildlife to spot

21,737 records · National Biodiversity Network

Wildlife to spot

21,737 records · National Biodiversity Network

🐦

Birds71 species

winterspringsummer

2025

Starling · Blue Tit · Blackbird · Robin · Great Tit +66

StarlingSturnus vulgaris
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus
BlackbirdTurdus merula
RobinErithacus rubecula
Great TitParus major
Carrion CrowCorvus corone
WoodpigeonColumba palumbus
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus
ChaffinchFringilla coelebs
DunnockPrunella modularis
House SparrowPasser domesticus
NuthatchSitta europaea2024
MagpiePica pica
GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis2024
Song ThrushTurdus philomelos
WrenTroglodytes troglodytes2024
GreenfinchChloris chloris2024
Coal TitPeriparus ater
WoodcockScolopax rusticola2023
JackdawColoeus monedula
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major
Tawny OwlStrix aluco
BlackcapSylvia atricapilla
RookCorvus frugilegus
GoldcrestRegulus regulus2024
Herring GullLarus argentatus2024
RedwingTurdus iliacus2022
Green WoodpeckerPicus viridis
SwallowHirundo rustica2024
Pied WagtailMotacilla alba yarrellii2024
Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhula2024
Rock DoveColumba livia2024
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita2024
JayGarrulus glandarius2023
StonechatSaxicola rubicola2023
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus2023
FieldfareTurdus pilaris2022
House MartinDelichon urbicum
BuzzardButeo buteo
KestrelFalco tinnunculus
Marsh TitPoecile palustris
Stock DoveColumba oenas2024
TreecreeperCerthia familiaris2023
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensis2023
SnipeGallinago gallinago2023
FirecrestRegulus ignicapilla2023
RavenCorvus corax
Coloeus monedula spermologusColoeus monedula spermologus2024
LinnetLinaria cannabina2024
LapwingVanellus vanellus2023
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinerea2023
PheasantPhasianus colchicus2023
White StorkCiconia ciconia2021
SiskinSpinus spinus
SkylarkAlauda arvensis2023
KingfisherAlcedo atthis2023
MallardAnas platyrhynchos2023
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorus2023
Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striata2023
MoorhenGallinula chloropus2023
Canada GooseBranta canadensis
Grey HeronArdea cinerea2024
Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilus2023
RedstartPhoenicurus phoenicurus2023
WhitethroatCurruca communis2023
CuckooCuculus canorus2023
Little OwlAthene noctua2023
SwiftApus apus2023
Anas platyrhynchos xAnas platyrhynchos x2022
CurlewNumenius arquata2020

🦌

Mammals8 species

summerautumn

2023

Hedgehog · Grey Squirrel · Stoat · Otter · Mammals +3

HedgehogErinaceus europaeus
Grey SquirrelSciurus carolinensis
StoatMustela erminea
OtterLutra lutra2022
MammalsMammalia2022
Red FoxVulpes vulpes2021
BadgerMeles meles2021
Roe DeerCapreolus capreolus2021

🦎

Reptiles2 species

springsummer

2025

Grass Snake · Slow-worm

Grass SnakeNatrix helvetica
Slow-wormAnguis fragilis2021

🐸

Amphibians3 species

winter

2024

Palmate Newt · Salamanders, Sirens and Newts · Smooth Newt

Palmate NewtLissotriton helveticus
Salamanders, Sirens and NewtsCaudata
Smooth NewtLissotriton vulgaris2023

🐝

Insects46 species

summer

2025

Stag Beetle · Lesser Stag Beetle · Southern Hawker · Broad-bodied Chaser · Cuckoo-Spit Insect +41

Stag BeetleLucanus cervus2023
Lesser Stag BeetleDorcus parallelipipedus2022
Southern HawkerAeshna cyanea2020
Broad-bodied ChaserLibellula depressa2020
Cuckoo-Spit InsectPhilaenus spumarius
Box Tree MothCydalima perspectalis2021
HornetVespa crabro2020
Meadow BrownManiola jurtina2019
BrimstoneGonepteryx rhamni2019
Large WhitePieris brassicae2019
Marmalade HoverflyEpisyrphus balteatus
14-spot LadybirdPropylea quattuordecimpunctata
7-spot LadybirdCoccinella septempunctata
Rose ChaferCetonia aurata
Helophilus pendulusHelophilus pendulus
Batman HoverflyMyathropa florea
Nabis (Tropiconabis) capsiformisNabis (Tropiconabis) capsiformis2024
Oedemera femoralisOedemera femoralis2024
Roesel's Bush-cricketRoeseliana roeselii2024
Beautiful DemoiselleCalopteryx virgo2024
Stenophylax permistusStenophylax permistus2024
Dusky CockroachEctobius lapponicus2022
Mystacides longicornisMystacides longicornis2022
Red-legged ShieldbugPentatoma rufipes2021
Common Red Soldier BeetleRhagonycha fulva2021
Early BumblebeeBombus pratorum2021
Buff-tailed BumblebeeBombus terrestris2021
Small Garden BumblebeeBombus hortorum2020
Common Carder BeeBombus pascuorum2020
Golden-ringed DragonflyCordulegaster boltonii2020
Common CockchaferMelolontha melolontha2020
Eristalis pertinaxEristalis pertinax2020
Alder Leaf BeetleAgelastica alni2020
Athripsodes cinereusAthripsodes cinereus2019
Mystacides azureaMystacides azurea2019
Polycentropus kingiPolycentropus kingi2019
Lepidostoma hirtumLepidostoma hirtum2019
Sericostoma personatumSericostoma personatum2019
Hydropsyche siltalaiHydropsyche siltalai2019
Lype reductaLype reducta2019
Hydropsyche instabilisHydropsyche instabilis2019
Painted LadyVanessa cardui2019
Red AdmiralVanessa atalanta2019
PeacockAglais io2019
Small TortoiseshellAglais urticae2019
GatekeeperPyronia tithonus2019

🌿

Plants83 species

spring

2022

Yew · Wood Anemone · Daffodil · Shaggy Soldier · Honeysuckle +78

YewTaxus baccata
Wood AnemoneAnemone nemorosa
DaffodilNarcissus pseudonarcissus subsp. pseudonarcissus2021
Shaggy SoldierGalinsoga quadriradiata
HoneysuckleLonicera periclymenum
Rough HawkbitLeontodon hispidus
Common WhitebeamSorbus aria
Common KnapweedCentaurea nigra
YarrowAchillea millefolium
Common SorrelRumex acetosa
CyclamenCyclamen
HollyIlex aquifolium
White CloverTrifolium repens
Creeping ButtercupRanunculus repens
Small-leaved LimeTilia cordata
Yellow ArchangelLamiastrum galeobdolon
Cock's-footDactylis glomerata
PrimrosePrimula vulgaris
Lesser CelandineFicaria verna
ColumbineAquilegia vulgaris
CleaversGalium aparine
PignutConopodium majus
Rough Meadow-grassPoa trivialis
Lily-of-the-valleyConvallaria majalis
Ground-elderAegopodium podagraria
Ribwort PlantainPlantago lanceolata
Yorkshire-fogHolcus lanatus
SycamoreAcer pseudoplatanus
Creeping CinquefoilPotentilla reptans
ElderSambucus nigra
Sweet ChestnutCastanea sativa
Common ChickweedStellaria media
Wild CherryPrunus avium
Sow ThistleSonchus
Greater PlantainPlantago major
Cow ParsleyAnthriscus sylvestris
DandelionTaraxacum
BluebellHyacinthoides non-scripta x hispanica = H. x massartiana
Lawson CypressCupressus lawsoniana
CuckooflowerCardamine pratensis
Common Bird's-foot-trefoilLotus corniculatus
Barren StrawberryPotentilla sterilis
DaisyBellis perennis
PolypodiumPolypodium
Annual Meadow-grassPoa annua
Common Dog-violetViola riviniana
Pedunculate OakQuercus robur
Broad Buckler-fernDryopteris dilatata
Male-fernDryopteris filix-mas
FoxgloveDigitalis purpurea
Italian Lords-and-LadiesArum italicum
Wood SageTeucrium scorodonia
Curled DockRumex crispus
Bulbous ButtercupRanunculus bulbosus
Mouse-ear-hawkweedPilosella officinarum
Common RagwortJacobaea vulgaris
Germander SpeedwellVeronica chamaedrys
BalmMelissa officinalis
Smooth Meadow-grassPoa pratensis
Common BentAgrostis capillaris
Taxus baccata f. fastigiataTaxus baccata f. fastigiata
Mexican FleabaneErigeron karvinskianus
Pendulous SedgeCarex pendula
AshFraxinus excelsior
BrambleRubus fruticosus
Wood AvensGeum urbanum
FeverfewTanacetum parthenium
Cut-leaved Crane's-billGeranium dissectum
Spring SowbreadCyclamen repandum
Red CurrantRibes rubrum
Veronica hederifolia subsp. hederifoliaVeronica hederifolia subsp. hederifolia
Red CampionSilene dioica2020
RedshankPersicaria maculosa2020
RagwortSenecio2020
Ragged-RobinSilene flos-cuculi2020
Bush VetchVicia sepium2020
Himalayan BistortBistorta affinis2020
Green-ribbed SedgeCarex binervis2020
Common Cow-wheatMelampyrum pratense2020
Tall FescueSchedonorus arundinaceus2020
Dog's MercuryMercurialis perennis2020
Great HorsetailEquisetum telmateia2020
Autumn Lady's-tressesSpiranthes spiralis2019

Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas

Wildlife to spot

21,737 records · National Biodiversity Network

🐦

Birds71 species

winterspringsummer

2025

Starling · Blue Tit · Blackbird · Robin · Great Tit +66

StarlingSturnus vulgaris
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus
BlackbirdTurdus merula
RobinErithacus rubecula
Great TitParus major
Carrion CrowCorvus corone
WoodpigeonColumba palumbus
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus
ChaffinchFringilla coelebs
DunnockPrunella modularis
House SparrowPasser domesticus
NuthatchSitta europaea2024
MagpiePica pica
GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis2024
Song ThrushTurdus philomelos
WrenTroglodytes troglodytes2024
GreenfinchChloris chloris2024
Coal TitPeriparus ater
WoodcockScolopax rusticola2023
JackdawColoeus monedula
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major
Tawny OwlStrix aluco
BlackcapSylvia atricapilla
RookCorvus frugilegus
GoldcrestRegulus regulus2024
Herring GullLarus argentatus2024
RedwingTurdus iliacus2022
Green WoodpeckerPicus viridis
SwallowHirundo rustica2024
Pied WagtailMotacilla alba yarrellii2024
Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhula2024
Rock DoveColumba livia2024
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita2024
JayGarrulus glandarius2023
StonechatSaxicola rubicola2023
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus2023
FieldfareTurdus pilaris2022
House MartinDelichon urbicum
BuzzardButeo buteo
KestrelFalco tinnunculus
Marsh TitPoecile palustris
Stock DoveColumba oenas2024
TreecreeperCerthia familiaris2023
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensis2023
SnipeGallinago gallinago2023
FirecrestRegulus ignicapilla2023
RavenCorvus corax
Coloeus monedula spermologusColoeus monedula spermologus2024
LinnetLinaria cannabina2024
LapwingVanellus vanellus2023
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinerea2023
PheasantPhasianus colchicus2023
White StorkCiconia ciconia2021
SiskinSpinus spinus
SkylarkAlauda arvensis2023
KingfisherAlcedo atthis2023
MallardAnas platyrhynchos2023
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorus2023
Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striata2023
MoorhenGallinula chloropus2023
Canada GooseBranta canadensis
Grey HeronArdea cinerea2024
Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilus2023
RedstartPhoenicurus phoenicurus2023
WhitethroatCurruca communis2023
CuckooCuculus canorus2023
Little OwlAthene noctua2023
SwiftApus apus2023
Anas platyrhynchos xAnas platyrhynchos x2022
CurlewNumenius arquata2020

🦌

Mammals8 species

summerautumn

2023

Hedgehog · Grey Squirrel · Stoat · Otter · Mammals +3

HedgehogErinaceus europaeus
Grey SquirrelSciurus carolinensis
StoatMustela erminea
OtterLutra lutra2022
MammalsMammalia2022
Red FoxVulpes vulpes2021
BadgerMeles meles2021
Roe DeerCapreolus capreolus2021

🦎

Reptiles2 species

springsummer

2025

Grass Snake · Slow-worm

Grass SnakeNatrix helvetica
Slow-wormAnguis fragilis2021

🐸

Amphibians3 species

winter

2024

Palmate Newt · Salamanders, Sirens and Newts · Smooth Newt

Palmate NewtLissotriton helveticus
Salamanders, Sirens and NewtsCaudata
Smooth NewtLissotriton vulgaris2023

🐝

Insects46 species

summer

2025

Stag Beetle · Lesser Stag Beetle · Southern Hawker · Broad-bodied Chaser · Cuckoo-Spit Insect +41

Stag BeetleLucanus cervus2023
Lesser Stag BeetleDorcus parallelipipedus2022
Southern HawkerAeshna cyanea2020
Broad-bodied ChaserLibellula depressa2020
Cuckoo-Spit InsectPhilaenus spumarius
Box Tree MothCydalima perspectalis2021
HornetVespa crabro2020
Meadow BrownManiola jurtina2019
BrimstoneGonepteryx rhamni2019
Large WhitePieris brassicae2019
Marmalade HoverflyEpisyrphus balteatus
14-spot LadybirdPropylea quattuordecimpunctata
7-spot LadybirdCoccinella septempunctata
Rose ChaferCetonia aurata
Helophilus pendulusHelophilus pendulus
Batman HoverflyMyathropa florea
Nabis (Tropiconabis) capsiformisNabis (Tropiconabis) capsiformis2024
Oedemera femoralisOedemera femoralis2024
Roesel's Bush-cricketRoeseliana roeselii2024
Beautiful DemoiselleCalopteryx virgo2024
Stenophylax permistusStenophylax permistus2024
Dusky CockroachEctobius lapponicus2022
Mystacides longicornisMystacides longicornis2022
Red-legged ShieldbugPentatoma rufipes2021
Common Red Soldier BeetleRhagonycha fulva2021
Early BumblebeeBombus pratorum2021
Buff-tailed BumblebeeBombus terrestris2021
Small Garden BumblebeeBombus hortorum2020
Common Carder BeeBombus pascuorum2020
Golden-ringed DragonflyCordulegaster boltonii2020
Common CockchaferMelolontha melolontha2020
Eristalis pertinaxEristalis pertinax2020
Alder Leaf BeetleAgelastica alni2020
Athripsodes cinereusAthripsodes cinereus2019
Mystacides azureaMystacides azurea2019
Polycentropus kingiPolycentropus kingi2019
Lepidostoma hirtumLepidostoma hirtum2019
Sericostoma personatumSericostoma personatum2019
Hydropsyche siltalaiHydropsyche siltalai2019
Lype reductaLype reducta2019
Hydropsyche instabilisHydropsyche instabilis2019
Painted LadyVanessa cardui2019
Red AdmiralVanessa atalanta2019
PeacockAglais io2019
Small TortoiseshellAglais urticae2019
GatekeeperPyronia tithonus2019

🌿

Plants83 species

spring

2022

Yew · Wood Anemone · Daffodil · Shaggy Soldier · Honeysuckle +78

YewTaxus baccata
Wood AnemoneAnemone nemorosa
DaffodilNarcissus pseudonarcissus subsp. pseudonarcissus2021
Shaggy SoldierGalinsoga quadriradiata
HoneysuckleLonicera periclymenum
Rough HawkbitLeontodon hispidus
Common WhitebeamSorbus aria
Common KnapweedCentaurea nigra
YarrowAchillea millefolium
Common SorrelRumex acetosa
CyclamenCyclamen
HollyIlex aquifolium
White CloverTrifolium repens
Creeping ButtercupRanunculus repens
Small-leaved LimeTilia cordata
Yellow ArchangelLamiastrum galeobdolon
Cock's-footDactylis glomerata
PrimrosePrimula vulgaris
Lesser CelandineFicaria verna
ColumbineAquilegia vulgaris
CleaversGalium aparine
PignutConopodium majus
Rough Meadow-grassPoa trivialis
Lily-of-the-valleyConvallaria majalis
Ground-elderAegopodium podagraria
Ribwort PlantainPlantago lanceolata
Yorkshire-fogHolcus lanatus
SycamoreAcer pseudoplatanus
Creeping CinquefoilPotentilla reptans
ElderSambucus nigra
Sweet ChestnutCastanea sativa
Common ChickweedStellaria media
Wild CherryPrunus avium
Sow ThistleSonchus
Greater PlantainPlantago major
Cow ParsleyAnthriscus sylvestris
DandelionTaraxacum
BluebellHyacinthoides non-scripta x hispanica = H. x massartiana
Lawson CypressCupressus lawsoniana
CuckooflowerCardamine pratensis
Common Bird's-foot-trefoilLotus corniculatus
Barren StrawberryPotentilla sterilis
DaisyBellis perennis
PolypodiumPolypodium
Annual Meadow-grassPoa annua
Common Dog-violetViola riviniana
Pedunculate OakQuercus robur
Broad Buckler-fernDryopteris dilatata
Male-fernDryopteris filix-mas
FoxgloveDigitalis purpurea
Italian Lords-and-LadiesArum italicum
Wood SageTeucrium scorodonia
Curled DockRumex crispus
Bulbous ButtercupRanunculus bulbosus
Mouse-ear-hawkweedPilosella officinarum
Common RagwortJacobaea vulgaris
Germander SpeedwellVeronica chamaedrys
BalmMelissa officinalis
Smooth Meadow-grassPoa pratensis
Common BentAgrostis capillaris
Taxus baccata f. fastigiataTaxus baccata f. fastigiata
Mexican FleabaneErigeron karvinskianus
Pendulous SedgeCarex pendula
AshFraxinus excelsior
BrambleRubus fruticosus
Wood AvensGeum urbanum
FeverfewTanacetum parthenium
Cut-leaved Crane's-billGeranium dissectum
Spring SowbreadCyclamen repandum
Red CurrantRibes rubrum
Veronica hederifolia subsp. hederifoliaVeronica hederifolia subsp. hederifolia
Red CampionSilene dioica2020
RedshankPersicaria maculosa2020
RagwortSenecio2020
Ragged-RobinSilene flos-cuculi2020
Bush VetchVicia sepium2020
Himalayan BistortBistorta affinis2020
Green-ribbed SedgeCarex binervis2020
Common Cow-wheatMelampyrum pratense2020
Tall FescueSchedonorus arundinaceus2020
Dog's MercuryMercurialis perennis2020
Great HorsetailEquisetum telmateia2020
Autumn Lady's-tressesSpiranthes spiralis2019

Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas

Wildlife to spot

Photos

📷 Chris Downer · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Sway: Sway Tower

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🌱Woodside Park and GardensUrban park4.8 km→🌱Ashley Recreation GroundUrban park2.9 km→🌱New Milton Recreation GroundUrban park4.1 km→🌱Emsworth Road Recreation GroundUrban park4.3 km→🌱Woodside GardensUrban park4.8 km→🌱Pennington CommonUrban park3.1 km→

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