Holly Hill Woodland Park
The best known of Fareham's parks and bought by the Borough Council in 1954, Holly Hill is being restored to some of its former glory.
It was designed as an estate park and arboretum. Wind your way from the main car park to the lakes to see resident wildfowl and enjoy trees and shrubs from around the world.
Alternatively, look for the grotto or sunken garden reclaimed from dereliction.
Why not extend your journey into the County Council's Wendlehome Nature Reserve that will lead you down to the Hamble shore with its variety of plant and bird life.
The park has a Green Flag award for its quality.
About the park
Holly Hill Woodland Park is a historic parkland covering some 35 hectares. It is in south Hampshire and stretches from Barnes Lane, Sarisbury Green to the River Hamble.
Its landscape features have been developed since the 1870's. This includes extensive lakes with islands and waterfalls and some fine examples of Pulhamite Stonework that create the dams and even an elaborate fern grotto.
The site has two distinctive areas - Winnards Copse with its more formal landscape, lakes and ornamental exotic species and Cawtes Copse with its mix of native woodland species, some of which is ancient semi-natural woodland.
- Leaflet including map of Holly Hill Woodland Park
(5 MB) - The Flora and Fauna List recorded at Holly Hill (142 KB)
- Plant List for Sunken Garden (107 KB)
Holly Hill Conservation Volunteers
The Holly Hill Conservation Volunteers (originally under the title Friends of Holly Hill) are a well-established group of volunteers who have been working at Holly Hill for more than 15 years.
They meet up every Friday to carry out practical conservation tasks.
If you are interested in becoming a volunteer at Holly Hill Woodland Park please email the countryside officer at conservation@fareham.gov.uk, or complete an online countryside volunteer application form.
Walking to health
The series of 15 self guided walks around Fareham includes an interesting walk around Holly Hill. It takes approximately 50 mins – 1hr 20 minutes.
Have your say
From time to time, we ask local residents and visitors to the park for their views about projects we are considering. To see more about this and other consultation work, see Have your say.
Holly Hill Woodland Park management plan
The 10 year plan sets out the specific tasks to maintain the Park between 2018 and 2027. You can download the latest management plan (3 MB).
Directions to Holly Hill Woodland Park
Leave the M27 at junction 8 for Hamble, then take the first left along the A27. Drive over the Hamble bridge through Swanwick and turn right into Barnes Lane at Sarisbury Green. Follow this road until you see the signpost right for Holly Hill Woodland Park.
SATNAV Postcode: SO31 7BH
Facilities
- Toilets, including facilities for disabled people, at the main car park
- Large car park at Barnes Lane with 88 spaces including parking bays for disabled people close to the entrance
- Limited car parking at Barnes Close, including disabled bays, provides easier access to the park for wheel chair users
- Picnic tables and benches are at various places around the site
- Dog and litter bins are located beside paths and are emptied regularly by our grounds maintenance team.
- Two way marked trails of varying length following the footpath network around the site
- One pony track runs through the park (to which riders are restricted).
Achievements
Holly Hill Woodland Park has won a Gold medal in the South and South East in Bloom competition since 2009 and awarded the Green Flag since 2008. This confirms that it's managed to a high standard and acknowledges the hard work and dedication of Council employees and the Holly Hill Conservation Volunteers.
Problems?
If you know of any faults, such as damaged signs, fences, fly tipping, excessive litter or obstructions on footpaths you can let us know by emailing conservation@fareham.gov.uk
Contact
For further information about this park or any other countryside site please contact our countryside rangers on 01329 236100 or e-mail conservation@fareham.gov.uk.
Links to useful websites
