Thanks for your interest in our Nature Hunt. Unfortunately this is a mobile only experience so please use your phone
Thanks for your interest in our Nature Hunt. Unfortunately this is a mobile only experience so please find us on your mobile device
This bit is for the adult explorers!
This a self guided trail so we’ll need your help to keep our adventurers on track and engaged!
Not everything that we point you to be will found today or easy to spot but encourage your young ones to take time to look around them and listen carefully!
They're going to need all of their senses and exploring should be 95% of the fun!
Tips for Explorers
Be careful! You'll be walking alongside rivers, near trees and through wet grasslands in places so watch your step
Always have the right equipment. If its wet, wear wellies. If its hot, bring water. If too much of either of things, maybe come another day!
Leave nothing but footprints! We hope you see and hear lots of wildlife today but leave nothing behind that could harm them once you're gone
Hey there, I am Connie the Coot!
I’m the mascot of the Blackwater Valley Countryside Trust and your guide for the day!
As we go round, I'll point out some of my friends around the site!
Southwood Country Park used to be a golf course, but was saved from development and left to become a wild space for people and animals to enjoy!
It is owned by Rushmoor Borough Council and maintained by the Blackwater Valley Countryside Trust, with help from the Southwood Improvement group volunteers!
When you are ready, walk between the Zipline and the Play park and follow the path beyond
As you walk away from the Field Centre, you'll see Pine Trees next to the path. Their distinctive needles keep the trees "Evergreen"
Can you find any pine cones laying around?
Look into the trees and you'll probably see a Squirrel!
They love Pine cones and store them for winter hibernation!
Can you find any nibbled pine cones?
Can you hear the noise of the airport here?
Southwood Country Park sits between housing, roads and the airport, providing a constant backdrop of noise.
But open spaces like these continue to provide a safe haven for our wildlife so its important that people like you protect them for years to come!
Can you find the fallen tree on the left of the path?
The Rangers leave these to create new habitats for a range of insects. They feed on the rotting wood and lay their eggs in the shelter provided
Keep walking along the gravel path and follow it to the left
Turn your attention to the hedgerow and trees around you
There will be lots of birds here flying about and looking for their next meal!
I'll introduce you and you'll have to look and listen!
This is a ChiffChaff
If there is one about, you'll hear them calling their own name!
Listen below and then turn your ears to the Meadow!
How do you think Blackcaps got their name?
If you see one, it may have travelled all the way from Europe. Not sure where it stores its passport though!
Whitethroats are also migrating birds, flying up from the Sahara to spend the Summer here
Look for their distinctive, urm, white throat ...
Follow the path over the brook and stop at the wooden jetty
As you walk, keep listening for any birds that have made this their home.
At the jetty, look out over the marshy land in front of you
How many different coloured plants can you see in front of you?
Lesser Spearwort has yellow flowers and will be abundant between May and October!
Now look slightly above the flowers and grass here. In the warmer months you might see Dragonflies and Banded Demoiselles flying amongst the wildflowers
If you spot a flash of colour, it could be an Orange tip butterfly
They feed on the wildflowers here, particularly the Cuckoo flower and Garlic Mustard
Although that's not the only butterfly with orange flashes
The Meadow Brown butterflies also love the dampness of this area
Can you see these, or any other, butterflies?
While we have your attention, we have to thank those helped to make our Hunt today
The Drone footage at the start of our trail was filmed and produced by Rob Follett Creative
Much of the photography was taken by Colin Varndell
Wildlife expertise was provided by Steve Bailey and Bernard Baverstock
The graphic design work was done by students at Farnborough College of Technology
Can you find five trees standing in a row?
Follow the path between them and stop when you are overlooking an open space with trees in the middle
This a very different habitat to what we've seen already so lets see who we can find!
Look at the hedgerow to your right and you will spot some white topped plants called Umbellifers. Say it with me, UM - BELLY - FUR
They are mostly aromatic plants, or in other words, they smell!
They provide a home and food for various insect but keep your distance, they can irritate human skin!
Bees loves this type of plant because of their pollen rich flowers
Did you know, there are over 20 thousand species of Bee in the world!!
Planting just a small strip of wildflowers in your garden will help many Bees to survive who then help us thrive!
Look out for the jazzy patterns of the Peacock butterfly
When they're threatened they "hiss" by rubbing their wings together! Can you make a hiss by rubbing your hands together?
Another butterfly that loves these plants is the Marbled White. Look carefully because they only have a 5cm wingspan!
Now head towards the trees in the middle of this area
How many newly planted trees can you count? Just kidding, there are loads!
These newly planted trees will provide habitats for future generations of insects and birds so it is important we look after them!
The tubes around their trunks protect them from Rabbits, Squirrels and Deer
Some of the bigger trees you can see have been here for a hundred years!
How many people do you think would need to stand on each other shoulders to be as tall as these trees?
I have no idea either... but lets try and identify the different types in front of you!
Can you find the long, slender leaves of a Willow Tree?
These trees are incredibly fast growers, like your classmates who come back taller than you after the school holidays!
Now look for the fanned leaves of a Horse Chesnut
Can you find any spiky Conker shells on the ground or see them growing on the branches?
The Conkers aren't just good for fun games, they are also a food source for Deer and other mammals
The Grey Poplars are a hybrid tree, a mix between the White and Aspen Poplars
Look under the leaves. Can you see the grey colour that gives them their name?
Explorers, are you enjoying yourselves?
What have you spotted today?
Southwood changes with the seasons so why not come back another time and see how different it looks?
Now look to the grassy open space around you
In and above this area you'll find lots of different animals. Let me introduce them so you can spot who's here
Blackbirds will be foraging in the grass, picking up worms and caterpillars
They are fairly large, common birds but as well as looking, listen carefully to their song
The bird sat on a fence post or at the top of the trees is a Magpie
You'll spot the white belly first, but then look for blue wings and long tail
They are one of the UKs most easy to spot birds!
Foxes love our open green spaces but you might only see the traces of one. They hunt at night, eating a wide range of food from Rabbits, to Birds and even Earthworms!!
They also make over 40 different noises!! Listen below
Now look up over the open grass and you might see a Red Kite!
They are known for their distinctive "Kite" shaped tails and red brown bodies and are common across this type of landscape!
Buzzards are another bird of prey you might spot, they're one of the most common in the UK
Look out for their "V" shaped wing position when soaring high above you which is different to other birds flatter wings
Kestrels like to eat the small mammals that hide in the long grasses around here ...
Look out for these birds of prey swooping down to take their pick!
Where are you going to visit next?
There are so many other places to explore in the Blackwater Valley and we have a growing number of Nature Hunts!
Explorers, its time for us to end our hunt
Make your way back to the Field Centre, keeping your eyes peeled and your ears open! You never know what you'll see and hear so be alert!
We hope you've enjoyed yourselves today!
Adults, there are a couple more things just for you before you go!
Nature Hunt is a new initiative to get young people out into our natural spaces and build their curiosity about the wildlife they can find
We want our hunts to be engaging for our Explorers but also easy for you to lead so if you have feedback on the hunt, here at Hawley Meadows or any other site, please let us know by emailing dan.lemarquand@bvct.org.uk
And last thing! If your young explorer enjoyed our Nature Hunt, please consider becoming a member of the Blackwater Valley Countryside Trust for just £5 a year!
We're a charitable organisation who protect & enhance the valley and your membership fees help us to continue to this
It also means we’ll put together more of these Nature Hunts in future to entertain your little ones!