english channel english county site international importance terms scheduled ancient monument declared local nature reserve head surroundings form special area conservation special protection area environmentally sensitive area refers immediate area elevated portion called warren hill human activity site victorian era heavily recent years tourism significant receives million visitors annually habitats head provide home plants birds insects rare critically endangered erosion remains threat site long term projects intended secure future location sandstone forming suburb town west nearest major settlement north easterly borough marks easterly point historically hampshire local government act designated area northern slope hill sea forms spit sand bar closing harbour south buildings spit home privately owned beach expensive market combined asking price million average measure metres running water occupants stay overnight march october despite relative lack amenities area desirable rented week local landmark stands end spit opposite site battle built boat builders house rented served variety functions years commonly associated area smuggling past mentioned church deed early 12th century referred 17th took current spelling 19th century period archaeologist calls antiquarian prehistoric sites time renamed link historical figures thought time legendary anglo saxon leader buried said laid rest mound twentieth century excavations established date bronze age history home nationally internationally significant archaeological sites features dating late upper roman settlement britain earning site scheduled ancient monument status interest site declined dark ages extensive development took place head post area heavily victorian period receives million visitors annually stone age archaeological revealed site occupied evidence open settlement culture hill middle dating years ago artefacts probably largest site period interesting blades typically found sites europe rarely seen outside caves open air sites age extremely rare people head heavily involved production blades excavations identified tools dominated backed blades time warren hill overlooked large river valley english channel sea inundated surrounding valley hunter exploited site analysis bed suggest lightly wooded free close period ideal habitat game bronze age bronze age britain important britain round sit little inland round excavated appear numerous finds including early bronze age axes recovered consistently found years old south barn stands contained high status woman years age accompanied cup style amber copper gold covered buttons organic material burial goods recovered similar culture series particular likely identified type widely found devon cornwall transported east lesser amounts find easternmost discovered iron age iron age britain settlement head established time cut mainland construction banks ditches called double similar found maiden castle earthworks consisted inner bank metres high ditch half metres deep outer ditch metres wide metres depth obscured wind blown deposits sand gradual process defences turned fortified settlement area grown succeeding centuries important port iron age port forms final site small chain fortified earthworks starting including local noted evidence small iron ore green found head excavations found evidence working lead copper silver discovered time revealed raw materials imported area nearly pure copper weighed roughly copper silver percent gold silver bearing copper refined produce silver head indications gold worked excavation produced twisted small gold fragment manner suggesting scrap different site produced indicating use gold testing thousands bronze coins found pre roman period vast majority having struck abundance coins artefacts found close proximity suggest finds international trade centre advanced level area coupled ease access continent meant significant late iron age port trading worked metal iron silver bronze return glass tools goods coins pottery uncovered links brittany peninsula transportation north italian wine found quantities sites south england clear head main port entry country similar unearthed direct trade route italy vessels date later styles absent despite common parts britain indicating wine trade declined time began campaigns roman occupation medieval period roman conquest south east england started develop urban economy socio economic system south west remained little changed served important hub cornwall devon wiltshire transport water efficient time head offered coastal route freshwater options rivers evidence saxon use found head area substantially alfred great decided rebuild harbour defence raiders built town later north harbour access salisbury strategic place head harbour defence time 11th century iron ore rich stones found head construction reddish coloured stones seen base ruined castle 17th 18th 19th centuries late backing earl commenced scheme improve harbour channel cut sea whilst head create pier plans proved ineffective pier poorly positioned subsequent storms including great storm soon work parts pier known long rocks visible today tons removed beach head new introduced restricting imports raising taxes luxury items rapidly hot bed known town involved trade double said hide spit rumoured construction guinea boats built capable day story black house acquired distinctive black colour customs officers tried smoke lighting fires base house constructed dwelling workshop smuggling decline introduction free trade policy effective measures implemented time house fact involvement smuggling spit long association large ships built mid 19th century tons enterprise tons formed based merchant extracted brought coal southampton took ballast return journey known prized high quantity iron ore form base removal substantial years weakened earlier excavations resulted loss head caused mainly erosion quarry closure washed threatened ecology reduced building dam create pool seen lining route land train quarry international aviation meeting held britain took place specially laid consisting mile grassland double nearby village pioneer world participated competitions including spot landing altitude tests speed trials fastest slowest circuit second day meeting founder pioneer aviator thrown plane beneath despite fact powered flight occurred seven years previously rolls attempting precision landing died injuries shortly fall event britain earliest fatal flying accident involving powered aircraft 20th century number development schemes head including major railway docks scheme proposed proposals housing golf course forward world war schemes came fruition head sold sir plans construct grand house plans came apart establishment nursery garden purchased head plans housing existed west double head kept public open space world war head closed public occupied army home number installations including radar station area extensively mined head finally cleared military defences 1950s present day currently owned managed land declared commitment town conserve enhance environment forms internationally protected nearby upper reaches including meadows recognised environmentally sensitive area head today variety reasons firstly tourist spot country walks taken head defined gravel paths form paths resurfaced making parts head wheelchair accessible example possible gain wheelchair access regular field trips site students ages occasional guided tours meetings head covering wide variety subjects cafe head centre located near south shore harbour run centre offers variety water outdoor activities scenic land train known train makes regular journeys cafe end spit journey minutes head radio relay station nature reserve pillar shown ordnance survey maps metres sea level ample parking subject charges found near cafe head walking distance parts quarry pool significant nature reserve features head acidic early years allowed growth significant number plant insect species little insects provide valuable food migrating sand visitor centre new visitor centre opened december extant barn upgraded friendly way new addition cost million pounds funds provided developer contributions tax centre houses display area documents site ecology geology work space created volunteers community groups public chance selection finds discovered century interact experienced staff providing opportunity actively involved administration nature reserve surrounding area extensively create outdoor learning areas wildlife garden energy saving features include panels electricity ground source heat pump heating green roof living roof partially completely covered vegetation growing medium absorb rainfall provide centre constructed timber frame walls straw geography according best coast geology important unusual found middle strata exposed relatively untouched cliff face head perfectly students composed mixture sandy beds erosion threat future head erosion exposed southern cliff face wind rain erosion caused sea primarily process drift comparison ordnance survey maps reveals metres cliff washed away process accelerated cliff construction started early 20th century thought years metres land lost head attempt counteract erosion came 1930s constructed known long constructed secure weakest point eastern end head long term project secure head future bay million cubic metres beach material drawing beach lovers owing increase sharp stones beach particular project organizers state resulting wide beaches success terms function coast protection structure enjoyment provide area residents visitors flora fauna forms declared head supports plant species quarter national flora including red data book species nationally scarce locally rare species main nature reserve area faces reed beds head contains large variety habitats freshwater ponds sand dunes salt marshes woodland known home english oak silver birch trees particular interest area shown ordnance survey map area cattle grazing commenced field near new visitor centre known barn field combined assisted restoration habitat ancient character present site sea britain currently listed schedule species plants afforded greater usual protection damaging activities cutting picking destroying selling special protection area network best wildlife sites europe habitats provide homes numerous species insects species recorded nature reserve quarter national total different spots site butterflies including green like large red observed according report rare thirteen spotted recently observed head sighting bird species recorded area making important migratory point considered critically endangered extinction iucn seldom sighted seen area rare birds spotted include purple pink european honey fields reserved areas near car park provide ideal spot watch listen significant population summer months project commenced introduce country recorded 1950s extinction probably result lack suitable ponds project great success today thriving populations locations ideal time witness mating rituals dusk approaches distinctive heard miles
Hengistbury Head