April Tuesday 8th Explore the Wallington valley.
Join us for a 6 mile walk into the Wallington valley north of Fareham. This is new territory for our walks but in the spring there should be wild flowers and some woodland birds. Bring coffee and a snack. Meet at the entrance to Wickham Common off the B2177 opposite the Hundred Acres turning. SU 591109 1000 – 1400
Leader: John Goodspeed 023 9222 1361
April Friday 18th Wild flower walk on West Hayling
1000 Join us at 1000 for a walk round gunner point looking for wild flowers which could well include green veined orchids. Meet at the Gun Site car-park on Ferry Road Hayling Island (Just before the Sinah warren hotel) SZ700995
Leader: Ros Norton 023 9245 4420
Tue 29 April Westbourne, Aldsworth and Stansted Groves
2-5pm. Join us for a 4 mile wander through this area enjoying flowers and birds. Meet at the junction of Emsworth Common Road with the road to Stansted House, park carefully, (Map ref. SU 757 089).
For further details, please contact John Goodspeed on 02392 221361 or 07811 435252.
Wed 30 April Southmoors and Brockhampton Stream
7pm. Join us for a 2–3 mile walk round the shore and Brockhampton Stream looking for birds and wildflowers. Meet and park at the end of Southmoor Lane (Map ref. SU 709 053).
For further details, please contact John Goodspeed on 02392 221361 or 07811 435252.
Mon 5 May Orchids at North Emsworth
2-4.30pm. Come and enjoy the garden of Robert and Jill von Westarp, where we can expect a spectacular show of green winged orchids. There will be plants and cakes for sale and tea displays. Park carefully on the roadside in the vicinity of Redlands House, Long Copse Lane, North Emsworth (Map ref. SU 749 078). For further details, please contact Jill von Westarp on 01243 376888. Admission £2.
Wed 7 May Walk to Watergate
7pm. Explore the wood and farm lands on the north east corner of Stansted Park. Meet and park carefully on the roadside opposite Forestside church (Map ref. SU 756 123). For further details, please contact John Goodspeed on 02392 221361 or 07811 435252. This walk could involve sloping and muddy paths if the weather has been wet.
Wed 14 May North of Butser Hill 7pm.
Join us for a spectacular walk with some steep slopes on this beautiful downland, with its abundant display of wild flowers. Meet and park in the public car-park at the top of the hill (Map ref. SU 711 200), where charges apply. For further details, please contact John Goodspeed on 023 9222 1361 or 278 1143 5252.
Fri 16 May The Flowers of the East Meon Downs
2-4.30pm. Join us for an enjoyable walk over the downs, with some steep slopes, to see the display of wild flowers of the early summer. Meet and Park in the East Meon village car park (Map ref. SU 676 222). For further details, please contact John Goodspeed on 02392 221361 or 07811 435252.
Wed 21 Nightjar Quest
8.15–10pm. Come and join Mark Wilson and Jane Noble for a pleasant walk round Gypsy Plain and Havant Thicket with every possibility of hearing and perhaps seeing nightjars and woodcocks. Meet and park on the roadside in Manor Lodge Road, Rowlands Castle, outside the Havant Thicket car park (Map ref. SU 725 102). For further details, please contact Mark or Jane on 02392 413462.
Wed 28 May: Idsworth and Chalton Downs
7pm. Join us for an enjoyable walk to look at the wildflowers and spring bird life on the attractive slopes at the western edge of the South Downs. The route involves some hill climbing. Park carefully on the roadside by Heberdens/Finchdean Chapel (Map ref. SU 741 140). For further details, please contact John Goodspeed on 02392 221361 or 07811 435252.
Wed 4 June: Old Winchester Hill
7pm. Come for a walk around this spectacular South Downs site to see the abundant wild flowers. The walk will involve significant slopes. Park in the reserve car park (Map ref. SU 645 215). For further details, please contact John Goodspeed on 02392 221361 or 07811 435252.
Fri 6: June Thursley Common
10am-2pm. Join the wardens of this heathland nature reserve for a guided walk with prospects of good orchids and birds. Food available at a local pub or bring a packed lunch. Meet and park at The Moat car park (Map ref. SU 899 416). For further details and to discuss transport and reduce the number of cars used, please contact John Goodspeed on 02392 221361 or 027811 435252.
Wed 11 June: Chalk Grassland Plants on Oxenbourne Down
7pm. Join Andrew Powling for a walk of around 2½ miles looking at the plants and birds on this lovely downland. There will be steep slopes on the walk. Meet in the car park of the Queen Elizabeth Country Park off the A3(M) 3½ miles north of Horndean (Map ref. SU 717 188), where charges apply. For further details, please contact Andrew on 02392 258457.
Wed 18 June: Orchids on Noar Hill
7-9pm. Join Nigel Johnson and Rosemary Webb for a stroll on the slopes of the old chalk pits searching for scarce orchids. Park in the lane north of Charity Farm, near Selbourne (Map ref. SU 737 322). For further details, please contact Nigel on 01489 877324.
Wed 2 July: Portsdown Flower Foray
7pm. Join us for a wander on the middle section of Portsdown where we will try to find some of the usual and unusual downland flowers. There is just a chance of some nice butterflies as well. Meet in the car park at the junction of James Callaghan Drive and the B2177 Southwick Road (Map ref. SU 648 066). For further details, please contact John Goodspeed on 02392 221361 or 07811 435252.
Wed 9 July: Woods and Farms near Southwick
7pm. Come along to this 3½ mile walk through the fields and copses between Portsdown and Denmead. Meet and park carefully on the roadside in Sheepwash Lane east of the farm (Map ref. SU 658 095). For further details, please contact John Goodspeed on 02392 221361 or 07811 435252.
Fri 11 July: Kingley Vale
10am. Join us for the climb up to Kingley Vale and a 6 mile walk to enjoy the abundant displays of wildflowers and butterflies. Please bring coffee and a picnic lunch. Meet and park in Stoughton village (Map ref. SU 803 115). For further details, please contact John Goodspeed on 02392 221361 or 07811 435252.
Wed 16 July: Glow-worms in Havant Thicket
8.30pm. We hope to be able to find some glow-worms on this walk and there is also a chance that we will hear nightjars. Park on the road side in Manor Lodge Road, Rowlands Castle, by the entrance to the Forrest Enterprise car park (Map ref. SU 724 105). For further details, please contact John Goodspeed on 02392 221361 or 07811 435252.
Wed 23 Hazleton Common 7pm. Join us for a short walk on the common looking mainly for flowers. Park at the end of Padnell Road, Cowplain (Map ref. SU 697 112). For further details, please contact John Goodspeed on 02392 221361 or 07811 435252.
Sun 31Marsh Gentian Count and Picnic 10am–12.30pm. The recovery of the rare and beautiful marsh gentian flower has been a major success story for the Wildlife Trust at Bartley Heath Wildlife Reserve. Help take part in this important annual event to count and record the flowers numbers and distribution across the reserve and a chance to see other wildlife at this
reserve. No plant surveying skills are required, training will be provided on
