Heath Week
#HeathWeek2024
Visit our Heath Week gallery for a taster!
Sensory Scavenger Hunt
- Monday 29 July 11am to 3pm
- Lightwater Country Park
- FREE – Suitable for all, especially families with school age children – Drop-in anytime between 11am and 3pm – Well behaved dogs on leads welcome
Discover the wonders of Lightwater Country Park and get all your senses tingling…follow our sensory heathland trail and you’ll see things in a new way.
NO BOOKING REQUIRED
More details and location map
Butterfly Walk
- Monday 29 July 2pm to 4pm
- Hazeley Heath
- FREE – Suitable for all – Booking essential – No dogs please
Join Hazeley Heath’s RSPB Warden for a gentle stroll to see what Heath Week butterflies are around. If the weather’s warm and there’s not too much wind, we should be able to see Silver-studded Blue butterflies, and that master of disguise, the Grayling.
BOOKING ESSENTIAL
More details and location map
Nightjar Walk
- Monday 29 July 8pm to 10pm
- Whitmoor Common
- FREE – Suitable for adults and children over 12 – No dogs please
Nightjars are almost impossible to see during the day, but at dusk there’s more than a chance of seeing and hearing them in their natural habitat. Join our wardens to learn more about these stunning birds and hopefully see one or two in flight.
BOOKING ESSENTIAL
More details and location map
Three Churrs for Horsell Common: Nightjar Walk
- Monday 29 July 8pm to 10pm
- Horsell Common
- FREE – Suitable for adults and children over 12 – No dogs please
As the sun goes down, the magic begins… Explore Horsell Common with Education Officer Michael and discover the secret twilight world of the Nightjar!
BOOKING ESSENTIAL
More details and location map
Butterflies & Other Things With Wings
- Tuesday 30 July 10am to 3pm
- Chobham Common
- FREE – Suitable for all, especially families with school age children – Some uneven ground is unsuitable for prams, pushchairs & wheelchairs – Drop-in anytime between 10am and 3pm – Well behaved dogs on leads welcome
Butterfly walks and arts & crafts activities available all day! Discover the butterflies and other invertebrates you might find on heathland in summer. If the weather is right, Chobham Common offers excellent opportunities to observe and learn about butterflies, bees, hoverflies and other flying insects, and learn about their special relationships with flowers, grasses and trees. In addition to some common butterflies, two rare heathland butterfly species are usually seen.
NO BOOKING REQUIRED
More details and location map
Guided Walk: Pirbright Safari
- Tuesday 30 July 10:30am to 12:30pm
- Pirbright
- FREE – Suitable for all – Some uneven ground is unsuitable for prams, pushchairs & wheelchairs – Assistance dogs only please
Join Surrey Heathland Partnership Project Officer, Tasha Feddery, for a gentle amble around the various heathlands surrounding the village of Pirbright, starting and finishing at the village Green. 4-5 mile walk.
NO BOOKING REQUIRED
More details and location map
Wildfire Roadshow: Crowthorne
- Tuesday 30 July 11am to 2pm
- Wildmoor Heath
- FREE – Suitable for all, especially families with school age children – Drop-in anytime between 11am to 2pm – Well behaved dogs on leads welcome
Meet the folk that fight the fires! Come along to Wildmoor Heath and find out how the brave firefighters of Crowthorne keep our countryside safe from fires. Clamber into the cab of a fire engine and have a go with some of the equipment they use. Chat to a fire firefighter about how you can keep your countryside, and your home safe.
NO BOOKING REQUIRED
More details and location map
Insect Walk
- Tuesday 30 July 2pm to 4pm
- Horsell Common
- FREE – Suitable for all – Some rough ground – No dogs please
An opportunity for a leisurely walk with entomologist and Horsell Common Preservation Society trustee, Andrew Halstead, and a chance to see some of the insects that make heathland such a special habitat.
BOOKING ESSENTIAL
More details and location map
Family Nature Day
- Wednesday 31 July 10am to 2pm
- Yateley Common
- FREE – Suitable for all, especially families with school age children – Well behaved dogs on leads welcome
Hampshire Countryside Service invite you to Yateley Common to enjoy a lovely morning of nature activities. Explore the nature trail, with bug hunting and pond dipping as you go! Or step into our arts & crafts gazebo.
BOOKING ESSENTIAL (to avoid parking issues)
More details and location map
Guided Walk: Dragons and More of the Marshlands
- Wednesday 31 July 10:30am to 12:30pm
- Thursley National Nature Reserve
- FREE – Suitable for adults and children over 12 – Not all of the route is suitable for wheelchairs or buggies – No dogs please
Leisurely walk with the Reserve Manager at Thursley National Nature Reserve. Learn about this very special heathland nature reserve and the wildlife of its marshes. Close focus binoculars would be helpful. As would any dragonfly identification books you may have.
BOOKING ESSENTIAL
More details and location map
Sensory Scavenger Hunt
- Wednesday 31 July 11am to 3pm
- Horsell Common
- FREE – Suitable for all, especially families with school age children – Drop-in anytime between 11am and 3pm – Well behaved dogs on leads welcome
Discover the wonders of Horsell Common and get your senses tingling…follow our sensory heathland trail and you’ll see things in a new way.
NO BOOKING REQUIRED
More details and location map
Waggy Walks
- Thursday 1 August, 1 hour walks at 8am and 10am
- Velmead Common, Hampshire
- FREE – Suitable for all – Well behaved dogs on leads welcome
Sociable guided dog walks exploring the heathland in a responsible way. A chance to connect with other local dog-walkers and meet the team from Heathland Hounds.
BOOKING ESSENTIAL
More details and location map
Reptile & Amphibian Roadshow
- Thursday 1 August 11am to 3pm
- Ockham Common
- FREE – Suitable for all, especially families with school age children – Drop-in anytime between 11am and 3pm – Well behaved dogs on leads welcome
Come and meet the team from Amphibian & Reptile Conservation (ARC). They’ll be showcasing some of our amazing native species with live amphibians and reptiles! There’ll also be a craft table where you can enter ARC’s Heathland Art Competition and take a look at last year’s winners.
NO BOOKING REQUIRED
More details and location map
Insect Walk
- Thursday 1 August 2pm to 4pm
- Horsell Common
- FREE – Suitable for all – Some rough ground – No dogs please
An opportunity for a leisurely walk with entomologist and Horsell Common Preservation Society trustee, Andrew Halstead, and a chance to see some of the insects that make heathland such a special habitat.
BOOKING ESSENTIAL
More details and location map
Heathland History Walk
- Thursday 1 August 2:45pm to 4:30pm
- Hazeley Heath
- FREE – Suitable for all – Some uneven ground – Well behaved dogs on leads welcome
Join us with Hart District Council for a walk exploring one of the rarest habitats in the world. As we walk, we’ll learn about the heathland and the history of this beautiful place.
BOOKING ESSENTIAL
More details and location map
Golden Letter Trail
- Friday 2 August 10am to 2pm
- Wildmoor Heath
- FREE – Suitable for all, especially families with school age children – Drop-in anytime between 10am and 2pm – Well behaved dogs on leads welcome
Collect the golden letters to discover a secret word as you journey across the heath. Learn about this rare habitat along the way, and once your quest is complete, come and tell us the golden word…
NO BOOKING REQUIRED!
More details and location map
Nightjar Walk
- Friday 2 August 8pm to 10pm
- Horsell Common
- FREE – Suitable for adults and children over 12 – No dogs please
A gentle evening stroll to discover the magic of the heath at night. We hope to share heathland delights including Nightjar and Woodcock, plus other rare and exciting nightlife that calls Horsell Common home.
BOOKING ESSENTIAL
More details and location map
Nightjar Walk
- Friday 2 August 8pm to 10pm
- Chobham Common
- FREE – Suitable for adults and children over 12 – No dogs please
Nightjars are almost impossible to see during the day, but at dusk there’s more than a chance of seeing and hearing them in their natural habitat. Join the wardens to learn more about these stunning birds and hopefully see one or two in flight.
BOOKING ESSENTIAL
More details and location map
Treasure Hunt
- Saturday 3 August 10am to 2pm
- Caesar’s Camp, Farnham
- FREE – Suitable for all, especially families with school age children – Drop-in anytime between 10am and 2pm – Well behaved dogs on leads welcome
Interactive heathland treasure hunt. Solve the clues to find the mystery word and win a prize!
NO BOOKING REQUIRED!
More details and location map
Heathland History Walk
- Saturday 3 August 10am to 12:30pm
- Chobham Common
- FREE – Suitable for all – Some uneven and steep ground – Well behaved dogs on leads welcome
A visit to Chobham Common, on a tour steeped in history. With Chobham Commons Preservation Committee.
BOOKING ESSENTIAL
More details and location map
Secrets of the Common
- Saturday 3 August 10am to 4pm
- Blackbushe Airport
- FREE – Suitable for all – Drop-in anytime between 10am and 4pm – Well behaved dogs on leads welcome
Come face-to-face with heathland characters from pre-historic to present times. Come and find out how people have lived and worked the heath over thousands of years and how you can play your part today.
NO BOOKING REQUIRED
More details and location map
Forestry Fun!
- Sunday 4 August 10am to 2pm
- Bramshill Plantation
- FREE – Suitable for all, especially families with school age children – Drop-in anytime between 10am and 2pm – Well behaved dogs on leads welcome
Discover the history of Bramshill Plantation and the birds, reptiles, butterflies and wildflowers that depend on forest’s habitats. There’ll be a nature trail to explore or you can step into our arts & crafts gazebo for free crafts such as ‘make your own Nightjar nest’ or stone decorating.
NO BOOKING REQUIRED
More details and location map
Reptile & Amphibian Roadshow
- Sunday 4 August 10am to 3pm
- Yateley Common
- FREE – Suitable for all, especially families with school age children – Drop-in anytime between 10am and 3pm – Well behaved dogs on leads welcome
Say “hello” to native reptiles and amphibians! Meet some of the amazing wild creatures that inhabit your local heath, with the team from HIWARG – Hampshire & Isle of Wight Amphibian & Reptile Group. They’ll be showcasing some of our amazing native species with live amphibians and reptiles! Or you can step into our arts & crafts gazebo for a spot of colouring.
NO BOOKING REQUIRED
More details and location map
Guided Walk: A Trip to the Movies
- Sunday 4 August 10am to 12:30pm
- Chobham Common
- FREE – Suitable for all – Some uneven and steep ground – Well behaved dogs on leads welcome
Join Warden Steve on his Trip to the Movies…and a bit of TV…as he explores film and TV locations at Chobham Common. From Dad’s Army and Carry on Cowboy, to early 2000s science-fiction series Primeval and more recently Taboo. There are so many to mention! An absolute must!
BOOKING ESSENTIAL
More details and location map