Walks programme restarted
We now have a programme of HOS walks in place.
Attendees no longer need to book a place on HOS walks, but we would ask that you recognise that COVID is still with us and that some people would still prefer that social distancing is observed.
However, please also note that it will be necessary to continue to book places on some walks – such as Needs Ore where places are restricted.
Any queries please do get in touch either by emailing Annette or phoning Annette Clayson, the HOS Walks Co-ordinator on 07980 976748. The distance covered is shown for each walk, and in some cases with a ‘walk category’, as follows:
A) Easy – a fairly short walk over relatively flat ground with no/few stiles.
B) A little more demanding – longer distance and/or gentle hills but with no/few stiles.
C) Medium difficulty – moderate distance and/or moderate hills and/or a moderate number of stiles.
D) Strenuous – long distance and/or steep hills and/or many stiles.
Do please take care and enjoy the walks programme, but remember, responsibility for personal safety lies with the individual, not the Society.
Please adhere to the current Covid rules which can be found at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/covid-19-coronavirus-restrictions-what-you-can-and-cannot-do
Please note some details are not currently known, but will be added when available.
| Leader | Time and Date | Location – start grid reference and name | Max. numbers if applicable | Length of walk in time | Length of walk in distance | |
| Julian Moseley
(02380 |
Saturday
29/1/2022 10:15 |
Poole Harbour
Meet at the eastern end of the chain ferry at about 10:15 am Saturday 29th January 2022. Parking available in nearby Panorama Road, Cost ?£5 Return on the ferry by about 3:30 pm’. Map ref SZ 038871 (OS 195 Bournemouth) |
10:15-15:30 | 3 miles | ||
| A winter day in one of the largest harbours in England may yield a good variety of seasonal duck with the possibility of one of the scarcer grebes and possibly a raptor sighting as well. Bring lunch. The last section after lunch is on the southern shore of Brands Bay which is the more northerly part of Poole Harbour proper. It will lead us back to the ferry and involves shingle, sand and mud. | ||||||
| Ian Packer
07505 084123
|
PLEASE DO NOT TURN UP WITHOUT BOOKING A PLACE 07980 976748 or email walks@hos.org.uk
Tuesday 1/2/2022 9.30 am |
Blashford Lakes
Please park in the main car park: SU151083. Please meet at the Tern Hide. Education Centre SU151079 What3Words – starfish.sideburns.admiringly
|
Max. 10 people
BOOKING ESSENTIAL Contact Annette Clayson |
2.5 – 3.5 hrs | 1.9 miles 3km
approx |
|
| Blashford Lakes is adhering strictly to Covid rules. Please make sure you have a mask with you in order to be able to enter the hides. Numbers will be limited in hides. Please adhere to the limits which the leader will be implementing. The Visitor Centre is closed to the public but portaloos are available.
The Reserve is also very reliant on donations and they would appreciate all donations either by cash or card. Sturdy shoes or wellies will be fine and all the walking is flat or with gentle slopes. There’s no puffing! Birds : wintering wildfowl, gulls, woodland birds. Some of these will be distant so those with telescopes should bring them. Bring coffee/lunch if you wish. |
||||||
| Ian Packer
07505 084123
|
PLEASE DO NOT TURN UP WITHOUT BOOKING A PLACE 07980 976748 or email walks@hos.org.uk
Saturday 5/2/2022 9.30 am |
Blashford Lakes
Please park in the main car park: SU151083. Please meet at the Tern Hide. Education Centre SU151079 What3Words – starfish.sideburns.admiringly
|
Max. 10 people
BOOKING ESSENTIAL Contact Annette Clayson |
2.5 – 3.5 hrs | 1.9 miles
3km approx |
|
| Blashford Lakes is adhering strictly to Covid rules. Please make sure you have a mask with you in order to be able to enter the hides. Numbers will be limited in hides. Please adhere to the limits which the leader will be implementing. The Visitor Centre is closed to the public but portaloos are available.
The Reserve is also very reliant on donations and they would appreciate all donations either by cash or card. Sturdy shoes or wellies will be fine and all the walking is flat or with gentle slopes. There’s no puffing! Birds : wintering wildfowl, gulls, woodland birds. Some of these will be distant so those with telescopes should bring them. Bring coffee/lunch if you wish. |
||||||
| Kevin Stouse
(07510 600808)
|
Sunday
13/2/2022 9.30am |
Warblington Shore to Budds farm
Meet At Warblington Church carpark (SU 728054) for this walk along the shore to Budds farm sewage works in search of Winter birds and wildfowl |
9.30am-1.30pm | 3 miles | ||
| Bring coffee/Lunch | ||||||
| Nick Wiley (07747 151160 01489 893226) |
Wednesday
2/3/2022 10am – 2pm |
Cheriton and Gander Down.
Park at Cheriton Tennis Club car park (Nr The Flower Pot Inn). SU 580284 |
4hrs | 4 miles
approx |
||
| For a circular walk through woodland and open countryside. The area is good for farmland birds and raptors. Bring drinks and lunch. Category C | ||||||
| Tina and Brian Vaughan
(07801 967997) |
Saturday
12/3/2022 09:30 |
Cadnam Pool, New Forest.
SO43 7HL |
3.5 mile circular walk | |||
| Walking around the Holly Hatch Inclosure over heathland with moderate ups and downs to take in the views and possible raptor sightings depending on the weather. Likely to be muddy. No facilities. | ||||||
| Kevin Stouse
(07510 600808)
|
Sunday
13/3/2022 9.30am
|
Warblington Shore to Hayling Oyster beds
Meet At Warblington Church carpark (SU 728054) for this walk along the shore to Hayling Oyster beds in search of winter birds,waders and wildfowl hopefully the Med Gulls will be on the Oyster bed islands. |
9.30am-1.30pm | 3 miles | ||
| Bring coffee/Lunch | ||||||
| Rachael Groundsell 07824-338837Felicia GreenKeith Betton 07809-671468 |
Sunday
20/3/2022 9.30am |
Whitchurch Mill Trail walk
Meet outside Whitchurch Silk Mill RG28 7AL. Parking at Gill Nethercott Centre (RG28 7HP) or Bell St Car Park (RG28 7DD). There is other on street parking around town. |
2-3 hours | 3.2 miles/ 5km | ||
| Easy walk mainly on foot paths round fields. Appropriate footwear needed. If it has rained heavily it will be muddy. Usual river and countryside birds with a chance of seeing little grebe, kingfisher and Cetti’s warbler | ||||||
| Kevin Stouse
(07510 600808)
|
Sunday
10/4/2022 9.30am
|
Winter/Migrant Birds at Farlington Marshes
Meet at Broadmarsh Car Park for this walk round the Marshes in search of winter/early migrant birds – Road layout means you cannot do a right turn to enter car park – continue up Harts farm way and at entrance to car park signposted Broadmarsh Coastal park do a U Turn and come back to car park on left, the correct car park has large concrete blocks in it and is NOT sign posted Broadmarsh Coastal park. (Map ref. SU699055). |
9.30am-2.00pm | 5 miles | ||
| .Bring coffee/Lunch | ||||||
| Mark Edgeller
(07745 458665) |
Saturday
16/4/2022 7:30 – 9:30 |
Stockbridge Down
Meet at the small car cark at the eastern end of the down on the north side of the B3049 |
2hrs | 1.5 miles
approx |
||
| A gentle stroll up and down with a short, slightly steeper section halfway. An opportunity to practice bird song identification of typical scrub and downland species incl Yellowhammer, Skylark and several different warblers. | ||||||
| Kevin Stouse
(07510 600808) |
Sunday
1/5/2022 9.00am
|
Buriton for Farmland birds
Meet At Buriton village pond car park near church (SU 740200) for this circular walk along the footpaths to Petersfield heath and back in search of spring farmland birds. Will be muddy if recently rained. Will be two stops on this walk. |
9.00am-3.00pm | 7 miles | ||
| Bring coffee/Lunch | ||||||
| Tina and Brian Vaughan
(07801 967997) |
Sunday
15/5/2022 09:30 |
Pondhead Inclosure, New Forest
Parc Pale car park, B3056 Beaulieu Rd, Lyndhurst. SO43 7DA |
15-20 | 2.5 miles | ||
| Pondhead Inclosure is like no other area of woodland in the New Forest, as it has not been grazed by ponies and cattle for several centuries resulting in a rich variety of flora, butterflies and birds found in few other places locally. Firecrest and Goshawk have been recorded in the woodland and we will be there in bluebell season. We may even spot a dragon.
Recent ground work could result in uneven muddy tracks so walking boots would be best. Also grass & gravel tracks. Due to the popularity of the area the group size must be a max of 15-20. Facilities in Lyndhurst town. |
||||||
| Chris Piper/Kate Faulkner
(07711 506100) |
Sunday
22/5/2022 10:00 – 13:00 |
Fielders Farm, Hall Lane
SU728348 What Three Words |
3 hours approx | Up to 5 miles | ||
| Flat to slight inclines including several stiles and potentially muddy and uneven field margins. An introduction to the bio-diversity initiatives on a leading farm in the Selborne Landscape Partnership Farm Cluster. Opportunities to see birds commonly found on the farm. | ||||||