Eastleigh Countryside Service, as part of Eastleigh Borough Council, owns and manages over 800 acres of countryside. We have more than 30 sites, ranging from the largest Itchen Valley Country Park at 440 acres to the smallest Merlin Gardens Pond at less than one acre.

 

Some of our sites, namely Itchen Valley Country Park, Lakeside Country Park, Telegraph Woods, Hiltingbury Lakes and Hamble Common have their own leaflets.

 

To obtain a copy of these leaflets, or for more information about our sites and the work of the Countryside Service, please contact us on tel: 023 8046 6091 or e-mail: ivcp@eastleigh.gov.uk.

 

To make everyone's visit to the sites as enjoyable as possible, we would be grateful if dog owners could abide by a couple of simple rules:

 

 

 

Parking: On site - car-parking charges apply.

 

Site features: Situated in the Itchen Valley either side of the River Itchen, the Park has a variety of habitats including water meadows, coniferous and semi-natural ancient woodland, hedgerows and hay meadows. Over 100 species of bird have been recorded on The Itchen Valley Nature Reserve. Remnants of the floated water meadow system can still be seen, and some features, such as ditches and brick bridges have been restored to working order. The Woodland Nature Reserve consists of semi-natural ancient woodland, which is still managed using the traditional method of coppicing.

Visitor facilities: Visitor Centre with displays, shop and café. 2 children's play areas and a play trail with animal sculptures. Various way marked trails, with Forest Trail suitable for pushchairs and wheelchairs (electric buggy available from Visitor Centre). Cycle route and licensed bridle route. Picnic sites and two barbecue sites. Events programme and various children's activities throughout the year.

 

Contact: The Information Assistant

Tel: 023 8046 6091

Email: ivcp@eastleigh.gov.uk

 

 

Parking: free visitor parking for up to 4 hours on site

 

Site features: Formerly a sand and gravel extraction site, the area has been restored and landscaped to form three interconnecting lakes surrounded by woodland and meadows.

Visitor facilities: footpaths around the lakes and plenty of picnic benches. The lakes are available for water activities including canoeing, windsurfing, dinghy sailing and model boating. Changing facilities and showers are provided for watersports users.

Day fishing permits are available from Home Stores Tackle on 023 8055 1974. There are fishing platforms around the lakes suitable for use by disabled anglers.

Eastleigh Lakeside Railway operates on weekends and throughout school holidays. There is a cafe for snacks and beverages. For further information on special events and opening times, please contact the railway on 023 8061 2020.

 

Contact: Jenna Dewhurst 

 

Parking: Doncaster Sports Pavilion Car Park, off Chestnut Avenue

 

Avenue Park was once part of North Stoneham Park, owned by the Fleming family. At its prime, the park would have been over 400 acres in extent. In 1775, Sir John Fleming engaged the services of the famous landscape architect, Lancelot "Capability" Brown to redesign the park.

Much of the parkland remains intact, and is now a haven for wildlife with its rich flower meadows, large old trees and water features. If you are lucky, you may see kingfishers and kestrels along with numerous other birds. 

 

Contact: Jenna Dewhurst

Tel: 023 8061 7882

email: jenna.dewhurst@eastleigh.gov.uk

 

Hamble Common and Copse Size: 31 hectares Parking: Free parking at Hamble Point and School Lane Car Parks   Much of the area is a Site of Special Scientific Interest because of its wide range of habitats including coastal heath, woodland, saltmarsh and mudflats. Hamble Common is one of the few remaining coastal heathland sites in Hampshire. Other features of interest include a Second World War Bofors anti-aircraft gun and remains of a Napoleonic gun battery, Tudor castle and Iron-age settlements. Visitor Facilities: Waymarked circular walk and information panels.   Contact: Rick Sharp Tel: 023 8047 5084 email: richard.sharp@eastleigh.gov.uk

 

Hiltingbury Lakes Size: 7 hectares Parking: Lake Road or Lakewood Road   The predominant features of this site in Chandler's Ford are water and woodland, with the lakes covering nearly 2 acres. Interspersed with the pine woodlands are oak and hazel trees, which are home to many common species of bird and mammal. Waterfowl including mallard and moorhen nest on protected parts of the bank and island. Visitor facilities: Footpaths and information panels. Fishing by annual permit.   Contact: Kevin Young Tel: 023 8047 5085 Email: kevin.young@eastleigh.gov.uk

 

Parking: Please park considerately on local residential streets

 

• Hocombe Mead (Chandler's Ford): Local Nature Reserve declaration

 

This wooded stream valley between Ashdown Road and Hocombe Road is a site of varied habitat, including mixed woodland and ancient meadows, with small areas of valley bog and remnants of heathland. The woodland is at least 400 years old, figuring on old maps as far back as 1588, when it was known as Eagles Copse. The site holds a particularly wide range of butterfly.

Visitor Facilities: Extensive footpaths and information panels.

 

Contact: Dave Payne

Tel: 023 8047 5086

Email: david.payne@eastleigh.gov.uk

 

 

Ramalley Copse Size: 2.8 hectares Parking: Ramalley Lane.   The name "Ram Alley" appears in maps and documents as far back as the 16th Century. Cherries were harvested here during the 17th 19th centuries, and wild cherry trees can still be seen in the copse.  The ancient art of coppicing has probably been practiced here since medieval times and still continues today, producing a rich mosaic of different habitats. The sheltered glades of the copse attract many butterflies, whilst birds nest amongst the denser thickets. Visitor facilities: Information panels and footpaths.   Contact: Kevin Young Tel: 023 8047 5085 Email: kevin.young@eastleigh.gov.uk

 

 

Westfield Common Size: 2 hectares Parking: Free car park on site.   This small linear site features a short clifftop walk. In spring, flowers carpet the site, whilst several species of butterfly can be seen here throughout the summer months. A special feature of the site is the World War 2 pill box which looks out over the Solent.   Contact: Rick Sharp Tel: 023 8047 5084 email: richard.sharp@eastleigh.gov.uk

 

 

 

Wildern Nature Park Size: 9 hectares Parking: Coltsfoot Close, or Hedge End Town Council Car Park off Turnpike Way   Situated in the middle of Hedge End, Wildern consists of countryside managed by EBC Countryside Service (Hogsty Copse, Goodall's Meadow and Gully Mead) and Hedge End Town Council (Bridget Mary Gardens). The sites are different in character and together provide a rich variety of Wildlife habitats. Wildern Nature Park has good access with waymarked footpaths, bridges, pond dipping platforms and picnic areas.   Contact: Rick Sharp Tel: 023 8047 5084 email: richard.sharp@eastleigh.gov.uk

 

 

Parking: Local residential streets

 

This site features traditional coppice (predominantly hazel coppice with oak standards), whilst willow and other scrub can be found along the stream valley. The stream has been dammed at one point to form a pond. Until 1994 the coppice had been severely neglected and had become overgrown. Since this time, work has been carried out by the Countryside Service to thin the coppice and allow light into areas of the wood to encourage ground plants and insects, including butterflies.

 

Contact: Dave Payne

 

 

Parking: None nearby

 

This is one of the Countryside Service's newest sites. It has been planted with oak, ash and crab apple (along with many other species), which, as they mature, will become a community woodland. Other features of the site include wildflower meadows and grazing land. There is no parking for the site; hence it is mostly used by local people. There are several benches on site, where visitors may rest and enjoy the view.

 

Contact: Kevin Young

 

 

Parking: in cemetery layby on Hound Road.

 

This park was developed with the help of local volunteers from what was derelict land. The site contains an established wildflower meadow, a pond which is home to smooth newts and a butterfly garden. During the spring, migrating nightingales have been heard singing from deep within the scrub along with the many common birds which visit the site.

 

Contact: Rick Sharp

 

 

Parking: Lay-bys on Telegraph Road or Moorhill Road.

 

This beautiful area of woodland features Douglas firs and sweet chestnut coppice as well as patches of heathland, a variety of habitats and a rich diversity of plants and animals. Roe deer which inhabit the wood can sometimes be seen feeding in the surrounding fields. Near the Telegraph Road entrance to the wood, the remains of an Armada beacon can still be seen, marked by a perfectly circular bank. Further west is the site of an Iron Age Fort dating back to 600BC. With its waymarked paths, picnic tables and spectacular views, Telegraph Woods is a lovely place to spend time.

 

Contact: Kevin Young

 

 

This small woodland site features a pond, which is home to smooth newts, and a short circular walk.

 

Contact: Rick Sharp

 

 

Parking: Residential streets off Woodside Avenue

Boyatt Wood today is a small remnant of the once much larger wood shown on old maps. The wood harbours wildflowers such as bluebells, wood anemones and violets. The main footpath through the wood is also a high voltage cable route maintained by the National Grid. This means that tree growth below the cables has to be controlled for safety reasons, but on sunny summer days this grassy ride attracts many types of butterfly such as peacock, red admiral and common blue.

 

Contact: Jenna Dewhurst

Tel: 023 8061 7882

Email: jenna.dewhurst@eastleigh.gov.uk