shallow lakes, cattle/rabbit meadow and diverse wetland including salt marsh. To its south Keyhaven Harbour is a natural lagoon extension of the biome, west of which Sturt Pond is its estuarine habitat extension. South of the lagoons leading to the harbour and close to town centre Sturt Pond is Hurst Spit, of almost all shingle, from the apex of which – Hurst Point – men stationed at Hurst Castle watched over and could bombard the Solent's western access. A seasonal ferry makes the trip across the lagoon/harbour mouth every 20–30 minutes. This saves the walk along the beach. The beach is mainly west, as cliffs of Milford rise, and is safe to walk so the accessible length of beach (including the southeast side of the spit) is , to Barton-on-Sea Golf Course where the way, above and below cliff, become liable to closures from erosion. The beach has varying size shingle, beyond which is some inter-tidal sand. Facing this and the broad clifftop/lower town residential promenade are the Needles and rest of the north-western Isle of Wight. All Saints' Church The oldest building in Milford is All Saints' Church. The earliest parts of the structure are probably true Norman-era (early 12th century) work from a preceding church. A south aisle was added around 1170. In the 13th century the church was more than trebled in size and brought to its present plan. This work, which occurred in stages, included the north façade and tower, the chancel, and north and south chapels. The tower has a later, short recessed spire. The ecclesiastical parish still includes the chapelry or united benefice of Everton and the locality of Keyhaven where water dominates the land in the east. Governance An electoral ward in the name of Milford exists. At the 2011 Census the population of this ward was 4,838. The district, for most hard communal infrastructure, education and social care (amongst other functions) is in Hampshire County Council's area. Events and festivals In February the place's Food Week takes place. Milford holds a May Day festival each year. In June-July there is a music (with many live bands across many venues) and arts festival. In August the town holds a carnival. Parish Vision 2020 This plan is a statement of community ambitions, based on research and public consultation. It builds on the 2002 Village Design Statement which dealt essentially with land use issues. Strategic