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Ballard Water Meadow

✦ Ancient woodland15 ha

📷 Mike Smith · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

WildlifeBirdsSeasonal
Public accessFree entryDogs welcome15 ha

Getting here

50.76352, -1.66321

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Visiting this summer

Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now

  • 🌞Midsummer — early morning visits most comfortable; look for deer fawns in quieter clearings
  • 🐕Early mornings are best for dog walks in summer — visit before 9am to avoid the heat and find quieter trails
  • 🅿️Parking on site — 20 car parks within reach

Good to know

  • £Free to visit — no entry charge
  • 🐕Dogs welcome
  • 🌿Ancient woodland — rare wildlife habitat
Parking· Free

Best for

9 activities

Wildlife

Multi-group wildlife — Birds, Mammals, Reptiles; Multi-group wildlife — Birds, Mammals, Reptiles

Free

Bird watching

Birds — Dartford Warbler, Swift, Raven +50 more · last seen 2026; Birds — Dartford Warbler, Swift, Raven +50 more · last seen 2026

Free

Seasonal nature

Ancient woodland — bluebells, fungi and autumn colour; Plants — Gaultheria · last seen 2023

Free

Dog walks

Dogs allowed — public woodland

Free

Insect spotting

Insects — Speckled Wood, Stag Beetle, Large White +35 more · last seen 2025; Insects — Speckled Wood, Stag Beetle, Large White +35 more · last seen 2025

Free

Foraging

Deciduous woodland — fungi, berries and wild garlic

Varies

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km
🚶

Walking

1 signed route nearby

Signed route nearby
Christchurch Bay WayWalking route
Named routeLocal walking route
🚴

Cycling

28 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby
National Cycle Route 2 South Mundham to ChristchurchCycling route
Named routeRef 2National Cycle Network
New Forest Cycle RoutesCycling route
Named routeLocal cycle route
C14Cycling route
Named routeLocal cycle route
Main RouteCycling route132 m
Named routeRef 2Length 132 mNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface bareearth
Main RouteCycling route1 km
Named routeRef 2Length 1 kmNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface unsealedloose
Main RouteCycling route329 m
Named routeRef 2Length 329 mNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface unsealedloose
🚵

Mountain biking

2 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby
Lymington Station Off Road Cycle TrailMountain bike route
Named route
Avon Tyrrell Red TrailMountain bike route
Named route
🐴

Horse riding

1 public path nearby

Public paths
Walkford Lanebyway open to all traffic · 1 km
Public pathbyway open to all trafficLength 1 kmPath type: track

Wildlife to spot

Photos

Ballard Independent School

📷 Mike Smith · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Ballard Independent School

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Weather for this location

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Nearby places

Useful places within 5 km

🌱New Milton Recreation GroundUrban park1.2 km→🌱Ashley Recreation GroundUrban park1.9 km→🌱Barton CommonUrban park3 km→🌱Highcliffe Recreation GroundUrban park3.9 km→🦉NEA MEADOWSNature reserve4.2 km→🌱Nea Meadows Local Nature ReserveUrban park4.3 km→

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