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Holly Hill Woodland ParkHolly Hill lake

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.

Originally designed as an estate park and arboretum for a grand manor house, the landscape features have been developed since the 1870's and include extensive lakes with islands and waterfalls. The site has some fine examples of Pulhamite Stonework that create the dams and even an elaborate fern grotto.

Taken on by Fareham Borough Council in 1954 in a state of dereliction, Holly Hill has been restored to some of its former glory. Enjoy exploring the old estate features, having a picnic in the sunken garden and spotting the resident wildfowl and trees and shrubs from around the world. 

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.

LATEST NEWS - Holly Hill Woodland Park has received initial support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund to improve the functionality, sustainability and aesthetic appearance of the lakes and ponds. More information can be found at Holly Hill Rediscovered.

Facilities/Actitvities

Toilets, including facilities for disabled people, at the main car park
Large car park at Barnes Lane with over 80 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.

Holly Hill Woodland Park has many paths to explore, with way-marking and interpretation panels with maps to help. Here is a self guided walk that takes in the main features which takes 50 - 120 minutes.
One pony track runs through the park (to which riders are restricted).

Leaflet including map of Holly Hill Woodland Park PDF (5 MB)

Dogs

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

Wildlife/History

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. Some of the exotic species include swamp cypress, giant gunnera and sequoia. 

The Flora and Fauna List recorded at Holly Hill  PDF (142 KB)

Plant List for Sunken Garden PDF (107 KB)

 

Holly Hill Woodland Park was once part of a large estate which had a sucession of owners throughout the 19th century. It was in the latter part of the 1800's that Sarisbury Court was built, the gardens were planted with exotic species and the Pulhamite stonework was installed.

In 1900, George Winn bought the estate and built Holly Hill Mansion and created the sunken garden, both of which survive today. In 1917, Sarisbury Court was sold to the US government, then sold back to the British government after the war. The neglected building was demolished in the 1920's. 

Fareham Borough Council bought the site in 1954, but there was little management until the 1990's, where it started talking the form that is recognisable today.

More details on the wildlife and history of Holly Hill Woodland Park can be found in the management plan below.

Management/Acheivements

The 10 year plan sets out the specific tasks to maintain the Park between 2018 and 2027. You can download the latest management plan.

Holly Hill Woodland Park has won Gold and Silver Gilt medals in the South and South East in Bloom competition since 2009 and awarded the Green Flag since 2008. 

Holly Hill Conservation VolunteersHolly Hill woodland park

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 20 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.

Directions

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

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.