Country Park

Hampshire’s five country parks among best in Britain with Green Flag awards

Hampshire County Council’s five country parks are among the best in Britain after being awarded Green Flags.

The national award, handed out by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy, recognises and rewards the best parks and green spaces across the country. The Green Flag is a sign to visitors that the County Council’s country parks achieve the highest possible standards, are well-maintained, and have good facilities.

Over the next five years the County Council will also be improving a range of facilities at its country parks including trails, play opportunities, visitor centres, cafes, and parking, as well as enhancing the unique habitats, heritage and breath-taking scenery found at each of the parks.

Councillor Andrew Gibson, the County Council’s Executive Member for Culture, Recreation and Countryside, said:

We’re delighted that our popular country parks have once again been recognised by Keep Britain Tidy as wonderful open spaces for residents to enjoy. The Green Flag awards are a true mark of quality which staff, volunteers and partner organisations have worked very hard to maintain.

For over 40 years, these parks have welcomed visitors, encouraging them to explore and enjoy the natural environment. That’s why it’s important for us to continue to strive for excellence by investing in our country parks, which will improve visitor facilities and make more of their natural and historical features.

The country parks hoisting their coveted Green Flags are:

  • Lepe Country Park, New Forest
  • Manor Farm Country Park, near Bursledon
  • Queen Elizabeth Country Park, near Petersfield
  • Royal Victoria Country Park, at Netley
  • Staunton Country Park, Havant 

Each of Hampshire”s country parks offers something unique.

  • Lepe Country Park has over a mile of beautiful coastline which provides stunning views across the Solent to the Isle of Wight. There is also an adventure playground for children, as well as a number of trails and a nature reserve. The site played a vital role in D-Day preparations as thousands of troops and vehicles left Lepe’s beach for the coast of Normandy during the Second World War. The country park will be improved further thanks to £2.7 million County Council funding for new visitor centre and café, landscape works, improved play and better car parking.
  • Manor Farm and Country Park can be enjoyed by all, whether it’s walking, cycling or horse riding in the woods, or on the banks of the River Hamble. Children can enjoy meeting the animals in the historic farm, or play in the Barnfield play area.
  • Queen Elizabeth Country Park is Hampshire’s biggest country park with more than 200 acres of woodland and downland for the whole family to enjoy. It includes 20 miles of trails for walkers, cyclists and horse riders, history that dates back to the Iron Age and Butser Hill National Nature Reserve with wonderful views of the South Downs.
  • Royal Victoria Country Park sits on the shores of the Solent and its iconic Chapel can be seen for miles around. From 1863 until 1966, the site was home to the world’s largest military hospital with corridors a quarter of a mile long. Queen Victoria laid the foundation stone herself in1856, and it was later an important site during the First and Second World Wars. Works to conserve the Chapel and improve the visitor experience to the park as a whole will start shortly this summer after £2.68 million of funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund and Hampshire County Council.
  • Staunton Country Park offers acres of ancient woodland and beautifully landscaped parkland as well as George’s Play Barn for the children and the farm, which is home to a wide range of animals from sheep and chickens, Shetland ponies, llamas and alpacas. Plans to improve visitor facilities and restore the Regency landscapes at Staunton are being developed as part of a £4 million project. This will include funding from the County Council, Heritage Lottery Fund and Big Lottery Fund ahead of Staunton’s bicentenary in 2019.

More information about Hampshire County Council’s country parks, including how children can become a Mini Ranger this summer, can be found at www.hants.gov.uk/country-parks

 


 

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