Horndean's Countryside

Hazleton Common Local Nature Reserve

Home to lizards, snakes, kestrels and dragonflies the common always has something lurking round the next corner if you know what to look for.

On a bright day you need to be about early and approach quietly if you want to see snakes basking in the sun or lizards sunbathing on the sleeper boardwalk.

The sun brings out the dragonflies too so check out the pond area for broad bodied chaser and emperor species.

On your travels round listen out for a stonechat, a small bird which makes its home amongst the gorse, its call sounds like two pebbles tapped together, the common has a good breeding population.

How to find it: Hazleton Common Local Nature Reserve is located between the A3(M) and Hazleton housing estate. It follows the motorway south where it joins Waterlooville Golf Course and the Havant Borough boundary.

Main access points: There are entrances at Hillview and Hollybank Close (both accessible from Greenfield Crescent). Access can also be gained along the bridleway running south from the Hazleton interchange.

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Yoell's Copse Local Nature Reserve

The copse is very important ancient woodland and having been around for thousands of years is home to butterflies, birds, insects, plants and mammals who like this type of wood.

Look out for some of the more unusual woodland flowers like common cow wheat with its long, thin, lipped yellow flowers or butcher's broom, a spiky bright green plant, so called because it was once used to clean the butcher's block.

You can always spot a squirrel or two but as you wander around your keen eye may spot a roe deer or see places where they have laid, crushing down the vegetation. Look out too for the bat boxes we have placed in the trees and listen for the tap of the woodpeckers.

How to find it: The copse lies to the south of Horndean Parish between Yoell's Lane and Coldhill Lane.

Main access points: Main entrance point on Loxwood Road off Yoell's Lane.

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Catherington Lith Local Nature Reserve

An ancient woodland with some wartime tales. During the second world war the Lith was used as evacuation plots for people from Portsmouth. This means that amongst the bluebells and anemones old milk bottles and remnants of garden hedges can be found.

The Lith also has remnants of chalk grassland and is home, each year in May, to The Living Woodland Fair.

How to find it: Catherington Lith LNR is located between the A3(M) and Catherington Lane.

Main access points: You can get into the reserve from Lith Lane (straight up the hill by the motorway bridge on the London Road) and from Mundays Row or Down Road. The Lith is well served by public footpaths leading from The Farmer Inn, Catherington, All Saints Church, Catherington and Five Heads Road.

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Parsonage Field

We have been busy at the field recreating a flower rich meadow, laying hedges and planting trees to make a much better home for wildlife and a much nicer place for humans.

Look out for kestrels hovering overhead on the lookout for small mammals like mice and shrew to have for dinner.

You may also see buzzards overhead soaring on the breeze. They are after dinner too but preferably bigger meals like rabbit.

As you make your way towards Catherington Down take time to study the many grasses, flowers, insects and spiders amongst the new sown meadow.

The oxeye daisy gives a fine display, but other plants like yellow rattle can be seen as well as birds foot trefoil, also known as 'eggs and bacon' because of the colours in its flowers.

A summer day will show a good flying display from common blue and holly blue butterflies and plenty of movement amongst the grasses by grasshoppers.

How to find it: Parsonage Field has its own car park opposite Catherington Infant School, Catherington lane.

Main access points: From the car park or by footpath from Catherington Down.

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Catherington Pond

The place where amazing beasts can be plucked from the depths to be studied and photographed.

The pond is home to dragonfly larvae, palmate newts and some magnificent water beetles.

What's more using dipping nets from the purpose built platform couldn't be easier.

Find out more about pond life at Catherington at our annual Hi-Tech Wild Trek event.

How to find it: Catherington Pond is located next to Catherington Infant School on Catherington Lane.

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St. Giles Churchyard

Our very own peaceful wildlife garden.

This little churchyard is a delightful place to visit and spend time in reflection amongst the stone monuments.

Whilst there look out for tracks left by badger and fox and watch the bumble bees fly from one source of nectar to the next.

Another good site for butterflies with holly blue and orange tip making bright flypasts.

How to find it: St Giles Churchyard is located at the top of Blendworth Lane, to the right of its junction with Duckstile Lane