Leisure and Culture

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Page last updated at 11:31 GMT, Tuesday, August 24 2010

Facilities at Itchen Valley Country Park

Water Meadow 

We have 440 acres of beautiful water meadows, woodland and meadows that have recently been recognised by the award of a Green Flag. 

There is a Visitor Centre with nature-based displays, a shop and toilets. There is also a Cafe for you to enjoy a cup of tea after following one of our many waymarked trails around the Park. Our Forest Trail is accessible by all and an electric scooter is available to hire in the Visitor Centre if required. The Meadows Nature Trail is approximately 2 miles long and takes you around the historic SSSI Water Meadow where you can still make out the mounds that marked the man-made channels.

The Play Trail is a short walk for the children with play equipment for them to climb on and our new Totem Trail will encourage children (and adults) to walk a bit further! There are also two play areas; a small one for the younger children near the visitor centre and a larger one for older children on High Hill Field.

For a longer walk, try out 2-mile (approx) Totem Trail to try and find the four carved wooden totem poles in various locations around the park.

Our Woodland Nature Reserve is particularly stunning in the Spring when the bluebells are out in the coppiced areas. These are quickly followed by many different wild flowers for you to spot.

Throughout the year you will find a number of activities for both children and adults so keep an eye on the events page. Pond dipping is available throughout the summer by hiring nets and trays from the Visitor Centre. Picnics are encouraged and there are many tables throughout the Park. There are specific tables for using with disposable barbecues and large permanent barbecue sites are available for hire for parties.

There is a charge for parking, although annual and seasonal (4 month) permits are available to purchase from the visitor centre.

*Please note, the river and its banks are privately owned and there is no access to them.

 

New Itchen Valley Country Park Play Area - coming soon!

Our new adventure play area is due to be built over September and October 2010. The old play area will be removed during the week starting 6th September and work will start on the new play area on 13th September. This does mean that regrettably the existing play area will be out of action for these two months, but all being well, the exciting new area will be completed by October half term. View a picture of the new play area design (pdf)