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
Southwood Woodland is owned by Rushmoor Borough Council and maintained by the Southwood Woodland Improvement group.
They run regular work parties, with the help of the Blackwater Valley Countryside partnership to protect and preserve the site
Our Hunt starts at the sign by the Kennel Lane entrance
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!
Can you find the Squirrel on the sign in front of you?
Squirrels are very common and you'll see them running up and down the trunks and across the tree branches all over the woods so keep an eye out as you walk today!
Go up the path in front of you. Can you find a bench with a leaf on it?
When you reach the bench, turn right and follow the path
Look to your right as you walk. These "Dead Hedges" are created using left over sticks and provide a new habitat for insects and birds
Can you find the Pine Woodland sign?
When you reach it, how many Deer can you count?
Take a few moments to look at the range of animals that call this habitat home and then I'll introduce you to those you are more likely to see and hear today!
Let's start with the trees themselves!
In this Woodland, you will see Scot's Pines and their distinctive needles that keep the trees "Evergreen"
Can you find a pine cone laying on the woodland floor?
The Pine trees provide a source of food for various species of Deer
These Roe Deer are the largest mammal you might see but they are shy creatures so you'll have to move quietly and slowly to spot one!
You might hear Woodpeckers here, using their strong bills to peck holes in trees that they then nest in!
You might know their distinctive drumming noise already but listen below and then turn your ears upwards!
Nuthatches are unlike most birds, they can climb down trees head first! Feels a bit risky if you ask me!
They also crack open nuts by jamming them into crevices in trees and then using their beaks to hammer at them!
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
At the next junction, turn left
Continue on past the sign
Can you spot the Woodland shelters in amongst the trees? I'm not sure they'd keep you dry in the rain!
When you reach the next path junction, turn right and then keeping walking until you see a clearing with a Heathland sign
As you follow the path, look out for piles of sticks and logs alongside the path. These are left to provide a habitat for Stag Beetles!
In the early Summer evenings, you will see the adult Beetles flying about
Welcome to Heathland, home to slithering snakes, flying insects and fluttering birds
Look out for the yellow flowers of the Gorse and the purple flowers of the Heather
Lets see who else calls this area home!
There are over 20 thousand species of Bee in the world!! Bees are one of our most important insects as they pollinate the plants we eat and many of the wildflowers you'll see here
They're attracted to the varied colours of plants here
Can you see any whizzing about?
You'll might see the Gatekeeper butterfly feeding on the bramble and other Heathland wildflowers
Keep an eye out for their orange wings flittering about
These Songthrush are tuneful birds, listen to their various songs below
But they are also resourceful and a bit mean... They like to eat snails and will break open the shells using a rock!
Follow the cut path through the Heathland clearing, keeping your eyes peeled and your ears open!
You will pop out onto the main path again on the other side
How many different coloured plants did you spot as you walked?
Explorers, are you enjoying yourselves?
What have you spotted today?
The woods change with the seasons so why not come back another time and see how different it looks?
Once you are on the main path, look for these leaves on the signs or benches.
Follow the main path to the right and count them as you walk
Look underneath the trees next to the path as you walk. What can you see?
In this part of the Woodland, the trees drop their leaves in Autumn, creating leaf litter. Tiny insects put the nutrients back into the soil helping next Spring's plants to grow
When you reach the second bench with a leaf on it, duck underneath the fallen tree opposite and following the path to the clearing
Mind your head, we don't want you going home with a bruise!
I'll introduce you to some flying friends who live here
But first, stop and listen. What can you hear?
Southwood Woodland sits between housing, roads and Farnborough airport, providing a constant backdrop of noise.
Natural 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!
First up, you might see a Blackbird 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 high branch 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!
This chunky guy is a Blue Tit
They fly around your garden and local park too and can be spotted by their blue heads and yellow bellies!
In Winter, you'll see them in mixed flocks as they hunt for food with other birds!
This bird might be hard to spot because it is so tiny! But Wrens are VERY loud!
They are round in shape and like to hide so listen to their song and follow your ears!
You might have to come back and join us on a special night walk to spot my final set of friends!
Southwood is home to a couple of species of Bat!
They come out at dusk to feed on the small insects that live in the grasses around here
There are two species of Bat here: Long-Eared and Soprano Pipistrelles. Say it with me, PIP - E - STRELLS
Swipe on to see videos we've recorded!
Click next
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
Leave the clearing by any of the footpaths and make your way back to the car park, 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!