Countryside - Hampshire County Council

13/10/2026

A Huge Thank You to the Parish Pollinator Network! 🐝🌼

Thank you to everyone who joined us for our Parish Pollinator Network event on Saturday, which brought together 39 people from 24 different organisations. It was wonderful to see so many people, from parish councils and community groups to conservation organisations, come together to share their experiences, inspire one another and form new partnerships.

These connections are at the heart of the project and will help us create a stronger network of habitats for pollinators across Hampshire. Nature recovery cannot be achieved by any one organisation working alone.

Interested in becoming part of the network? Find out more and sign up here:
https://www.hants.gov.uk/thingstodo/countryside/get-involved/pollinator-pledge/community-groups/make-your-pledge

12/10/2026

Woodland Management of trees 🌳🪾
This time of year is when many of our parks and woodlands undergo essential tree management works. Trees are assessed throughout the year, and autumn and winter provide the best opportunity to carry out work that helps keep our sites safe, healthy and resilient for the future.

You may notice some significant changes to the landscape while these works are taking place. Although the removal of trees can sometimes look dramatic, these carefully planned interventions help support the long-term health of our woodlands, allowing light to reach the forest floor and ancient woodland species like Blue Bells to flourish and for the remaining trees to become stronger and healthier improving all layers of the woodland echo system.

During any tree works, there may be temporary path closures or diversions in place. We kindly ask all visitors to follow site safety signs, barriers and any instructions from staff or contractors. These measures are there to help keep everyone safe while the work is being carried out.

Thank you for your patience and understanding as we care for these special places for future generations. 🌳🍂

12/10/2026

10/10/2026

💚 Small steps can make a difference

This World Mental Health Day, we're reflecting on the different ways people look after their mental wellbeing.

There is no single approach that works for everyone, but the Five Ways to Wellbeing offer simple actions that can support us through life's ups and downs. Hampshire's parks, woodlands and green spaces can provide opportunities to try them in ways that feel right for you.

💚 Connect – meet a friend, family member or neighbour for a walk and a chat.

🚶 Be Active – enjoy a walk, cycle ride or outdoor activity in one of Hampshire's Country Parks.

📚 Keep Learning – try a nature-based workshop, discover local wildlife or learn a new outdoor skill.

🙌 Give – support your local environment through countryside volunteering opportunities.

🌱 Take Notice – pause for a few moments outdoors, listen to birdsong, notice the seasons changing, and take in the world around you.

Looking after our mental wellbeing often starts with small, everyday actions. If spending time in nature helps you feel calmer, more connected or more energised, why not make time for a visit to one of Hampshire's green spaces?

Find out more:
🔗 Five Ways to Wellbeing: https://www.hants.gov.uk/socialcareandhealth/publichealth/fivewaystowellbeing

🔗 Mental Wellbeing Hampshire: https://www.hants.gov.uk/socialcareandhealth/publichealth/mentalwellbeinghampshire/

🔗 Hampshire Country Parks: https://www.hants.gov.uk/thingstodo/countryparks

09/10/2026

A reminder that nature doesn't always follow the calendar.

As our climate changes, warmer autumns and extended periods of mild weather can affect migration patterns, with some birds delaying their journeys or altering their movements in response to changing conditions.

The sighting of a common tern at Weston Shore raises an interesting question: are we seeing the effects of a longer warm season, or is this simply one bird taking its time before heading to Africa?

Initiatives like are becoming increasingly important, helping us track these changes and better understand how wildlife is responding to our environment.

See the original post below and consider taking part this year. ⬇️

The first chilly mornings of autumn seem to be finally here ❄ but not all our summer visitors have headed south just yet.

While chatting to people at Weston Shore today, Ranger Serena spotted a common tern catching a fish and was able to show it to them through her binoculars. Common terns spend the summer breeding along our shores before heading south to Africa for the winter - usually by late August or September.

With less than two weeks to go until this year's , it got us wondering: could a common tern make it into our Birdwatch records for the first time in its seven-year history?

The Great Coastal Birdwatch starts on Saturday 17 October. Will you be taking part this year? Find out more: https://birdaware.org/solent/great-coastal-birdwatch/

09/10/2026

Have you noticed the misty mornings creeping in this autumn?

We'd love to see you're photos. Share them in the comments 📸

07/10/2026

🌦️ Rainy days are made for puddle jumping!

Pull on your wellies, zip up your waterproofs and head out to Manor Farm, Staunton Farm and our Country Parks for some fresh air and outdoor fun. From muddy trails and woodland walks to meeting your favourite farm animals, there’s plenty to enjoy whatever the weather.

After all, some of the best memories are made in the mud! 🐷💦🍂

📸 We'd love to see your rainy-day adventures. Share your wellie selfies with us in the comments!

Like and follow our pages for latest news and events:
Manor Farm - Hampshire County Council
Staunton Farm - Hampshire County Council
Queen Elizabeth Country Park - Hampshire County Council
Staunton Country Park - Hampshire County Council
Royal Victoria Country Park - Hampshire County Council
River Hamble Country Park - Hampshire County Council
Lepe Country Park - Hampshire County Council

01/10/2026

Celebrate International Coffee Day with us!☕

Pop into one of our Country Park cafés this Thursday 1 October and have a go at our Guess the Beans challenge!

Take a look at the jar
Guess how many coffee beans are inside

Get close enough and you could win a bag of Mozzo ground coffee or a free coffee!
We’re proud to serve Mozzo coffee, roasted locally in Southampton, with every cup supporting their C2C Fund™ and coffee-growing communities.

Grab a coffee, have a guess and join in the fun!

Participating Country Parks:
Lepe Country Park - Hampshire County Council
Royal Victoria Country Park - Hampshire County Council
River Hamble Country Park - Hampshire County Council
Manor Farm - Hampshire County Council
Staunton Farm - Hampshire County Council
Queen Elizabeth Country Park - Hampshire County Council


Mozzo Coffee

01/10/2026

🌞🔨 Beating the heat and building better access!

Despite soaring temperatures this August, our Access Team and dedicated volunteers recently completed a brand-new ditch crossing on Footpath 734 at Highclere.

What started as the removal of an old crossing quickly turned into a challenging project, with hard ground, hidden concrete and plenty of digging. Thanks to teamwork, determination and expert volunteer knowledge, the new crossing was completed in just one day.

A huge thank you to everyone who gave their time to improve access for path users. 👏🌿

28/09/2026

💪🌿 Mud, Sweat and Spades!

A fantastic day of teamwork saw our Access Team and dedicated volunteers tackling long-standing drainage issues at Ashford Hill. Armed with spades, saws and plenty of determination, the team cleared vegetation, dug new drainage channels and took the first steps towards improving access for path users.

A huge thank you to everyone who got involved and helped make a real difference. 👏