Nature at Coldeast

Located opposite Holly Hill Woodland Park in the west of the borough, this area was originally part of the grounds of Coldeast House, a Victorian mansion. In a state of neglect, Fareham Borough Council took on the land in 2014 and have since been working with volunteers to restore the area for wildlife and the community.

Take time to discover the natural pond, the orchard, woodlands and meadows.

Facilities/Activities

Coldeast shares facilities with Holly Hill Leisure Centre and Holly Hill Woodland Park.

Toilets, including facilities for people with disabilities, are in Holly Hill Woodland Park main car park.
Large car park (for the leisure centre), including disabled parking bays.
Dog and litter bins are located beside paths and are emptied regularly by our grounds maintenance team.
A way-marked trail following the footpath network around the site with habitat specific interpretation.

Dogs

Dogs must be kept on lead around the pond. Please keep your dog(s) out of the pond to help protect the wildlife.

Wildlife/History

Once the grounds of a Victorian mansion known as Coldeast House, which can still be found to the south of the orchard (private land). During the 1930's, the site became a self-sufficient hospital and the patients kept pigs, grew potatoes and planted the orchard. The hospital closed in the 1990's and the area was left unmanaged. A new housing develpoment and leisure centre was built, but some of the land was designated for green space. Since 2014, Fareham Borough Council and a team of volunteers have been working to restore the area for wildlife and the community. 

The site is made up of a myriad of habitats, including a natural pond, meadows and the remains of the

 orchard. 

Management/Acheivements 

The 10 year plan sets out the specific tasks to maintain the Park between 2017 and 2026. More information is available in the Summary Management Plan (2 MB).

Coldeast has been entered into the In Bloom Competition since 2017 and has won Gold and Silver Gilt awards.

Coldeast Conservation Volunteers

The Coldeast Conservation Volunteer group meet up every Wednesday morning to carry out practical conservation tasks.

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer at Coldeast, please email the countryside officer at conservation@fareham.gov.uk, or complete an online countryside volunteer application form.

Leave the M27 at junction 8 for the A27, 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 to to Holly Hill Leisure Centre on the left. Use the centre's car park. Follow the tarmac path past the children's play area on the right and a fenced off balancing pond on the left. The orchard and circular walk start where the path becomes gravel.

SATNAV Postcode: SO31 7BJ

Contact

For further information about this area or any other countryside site, please contact our countryside rangers on 01329 236100 or e-mail conservation@fareham.gov.uk. Please let us know of any faults, such as damaged signs, fences, fly-tipping, excessive litter or obstructions on footpaths.