BROWNSEA Island is reopening this month with a mixture of pre-booking and same-day ticket availability.

The historic island will be open every day from March 19 to October 30, with tickets available to book from Thursday, March 10.

However, ferry services to the island will only operate from Poole Quay with the Sandbanks service to Brownsea “suspended until further notice”.

This year will see a mix of pre-bookable and same-day availability across the timetabled ferry services to the island.

The first number of boats in the day will largely be pre-bookable services, though all will have a limited number of seats set aside for same-day walk in visitors.

Bournemouth Echo: Brownsea Island. Picture: National Trust Images/Laura WilliamsBrownsea Island. Picture: National Trust Images/Laura Williams

The remainder of the afternoon services will be fully available to same-day walk in visitors with no need to pre-book.

Visitors will also be free to explore Brownsea for as long as they wish and will be able to return on any timetabled return ferry to Poole Quay.

People can also now purchase a single ticket which combines the ferry fare and island admission.

National Trust members will only need to pay for the ferry but must bring their membership cards with them.