River Hamble Country Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids River Hamble Country Park |
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The River Hamble as seen from the Country Park
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| Type | Country park | ||||||||||||||
| Location | Hampshire, England | ||||||||||||||
| OS grid | SU 501 114 | ||||||||||||||
| Area | 144.1 hectares (356 acres) | ||||||||||||||
| Operated by | Hampshire County Council | ||||||||||||||
| Open | Open year-round | ||||||||||||||
| Awards | Green Flag Award | ||||||||||||||
| Paths |
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| Water | River Hamble | ||||||||||||||
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River Hamble Country Park is a large and exciting place to explore! It's a country park that stretches along the west side of the River Hamble in Hampshire, England. The park covers about 144 hectares (that's like 356 football fields!). Hampshire County Council owns and looks after this amazing park. It's a perfect spot for families and friends to enjoy nature and learn about history.
Contents
Park History
The land where River Hamble Country Park sits has a very long history.
- The old duckpond at Manor Farm and the nearby St Bartholomew's Church are so old they are mentioned in the Domesday Book. This book was a huge survey of England made almost 1,000 years ago!
- There's even proof of a Roman road that once ran through the park. This road connected two Roman towns called Clausentum (now Bitterne Manor) and Portus Adurni (Portchester).
The Grace Dieu Shipwreck
In 1439, a famous ship called the Grace Dieu was hit by lightning. It caught fire and sank in the river right next to the park. Today, you can still see where the wreck is marked by a yellow cross pole in the water. Part of the play area in the 'Barnfield' section of the park is even designed to look like the shipwreck! The wreck is now protected, so it can't be disturbed.
HMS Cricket and World War II
During World War II, a Royal Navy base called HMS Cricket opened here in 1943. This base was very important for preparing for D-Day, which was a huge event in the war. After the war ended in 1945, the base closed in 1946.
The buildings left behind were used to house people from Southampton whose homes were destroyed by bombs. This area was known as "The Cricket Camp" until 1952. Today, only the old guardhouse from the base is still standing. It's now used by the park rangers.
Park Opening and Improvements
The park first opened to the public in 1979. Back then, it was called 'Upper Hamble Country Park'. In 1984, the Manor Farm museum opened in the northern part of the park. This museum was once the center of the village of Botley.
In 2019, Hampshire County Council announced plans to invest a lot of money into the park. This included building a new visitor center, replacing play equipment, and making the walking paths easier to follow.
Manor Farm Attraction
Inside River Hamble Country Park, you'll find Manor Farm. This is a special farm attraction that has its own opening times and ticket prices. It started as a museum in 1984 and has grown into a popular place for families. It's still run by Hampshire County Council.
Manor Farm has many old buildings that show its history. These include:
- A forge (where metal was shaped)
- A wheelwright's shop (where wheels were made)
- An old farmhouse
- A Victorian schoolhouse
The ancient duckpond and St Bartholomew's Church are also part of the farm area.
At Manor Farm, you can enjoy fun activities like:
- Meeting and feeding the animals every day
- Story time
- Taking part in a Victorian school lesson
The farm also has a visitor center and gift shop inside an old 18th-century barn. There's a large indoor play area called the Playbarn, and a café for visitors. You'll also find toilets and a special education center for school groups.
Manor Farm was even featured on TV! It was the location for the historical documentary series Wartime Farm, which was shown by the BBC in 2012.
Park Facilities
The park is divided into two main areas for visitors: the 'Barnfield' and the 'Toplands Field'.
The Barnfield
The Barnfield area has a large barn that was completed in 2021. This barn now serves as a café and visitor center. There is also a big play park in this field, perfect for kids to have fun.
The Toplands Field
The 'Toplands Field' is a great spot for dog owners, as it has a dedicated dog field. You can also find barbecue pitches here, which are perfect for outdoor gatherings.
Activity Centres
The park is also home to two activity centers:
- Cricket Camp Scout Activity Centre, used by Itchen South Scouts.
- The Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Activities Centre.
Strawberry Trail
The Strawberry Trail is a 15-mile long walking path that follows the River Hamble. It starts in Botley and goes through River Hamble Country Park to Bursledon. From Bursledon, it splits and goes towards Hamble-le-Rice and then to Netley, before looping back to Bursledon.
The path also passes through other beautiful places like the Royal Victoria Country Park and the Hamble Common. The trail gets its name from the area's history of growing strawberries. In the 1860s, strawberry farming was very popular here. Special trains called 'Strawberry Specials' would carry the fresh fruit from this area all the way to Covent Garden Market in London!
