That’s what I felt like at Holly Hill Country Park last week. It’s on the edge of Fareham in Hampshire and I went with my daughter and family so that Scarlett could feed the ducks. Very nice ducks they were too, Buff ducks!
There were pretty bridges, wooden steps and muddy banks. A beautiful bench that would have fitted Jude’s July theme and several woodland art pieces. The list of flora and fauna is really impressive, the planting is subtle and naturalistic. With trees as varied as Dawn Redwood, Cork Oak, Gleditsia, Hornbeam and Japanese Cherry, it’s a real arboretum. A variety of bats, stoats, voles and hare are among twenty eight mammals listed.
Here are some photos, apart from ducks, the only wildlife are the granddaughters!
Amazingly this lovely place is free to visit. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did, see some more of Jo’s Monday Walks here.
Lucid Gypsy 
We seem to be finding great woodlands lately, don’t we? Looks like you all had a happy time and Jude will LOVE that bench! I rather like it myself 🙂 🙂 Thank you so much, Gilly! Now I’d better get started on the post or it won’t appear!
Jude DOES love that bench! What a gorgeous place, absolutely perfect for grandchildren walks. I enjoyed visiting parks like this when mine were young, now I’m afraid they’d think it boring after an hour. Never heard of this park, but I see it is not all that far away from Titchfield where I once lived, albeit briefly. We didn’t venture near to Hamble though. Whereabouts do your family live then Gilly? This is a lovely area (well, as long as you can get away from the M27 that is…)
What amagical place to take a young child.
Your granddaughter is gorgeous – all those kidlet movements, caught from the back – especially the first one crossing the bridge. It looks like a great place for little people to explore, and for their big people too. The bench and the carved faces are a good companion to nature, and ducks are always fun. Can I swap a cria for twins? I’m a fan of lists too, and you provide two, one of trees and one of animals straight out of “Wind in the willows”, at least some of them.
Delightful, a lovely place for a family walk. I knew Jude would like that bench too…
Is that a mermaid bench? I think it’s grand … and … yes, perfect for one of the bench challenges.
It looks like it was a FUN day. Your photo brought us along for the ride. Thanks for posting, Gilly. 😎
Lovely outing, Gilly. Your granddaughter look so brave!
What a great post with so much in it. As for the grand children – that what they are supposed to do!
I LOVE that bench too! What a fun day for little Scarlett and her Mma 🙂
A Wonderful Haven Indeed and I am sure it was a marvelous day with your Family 🙂
Very Beautiful PIctures of the Park.
I so enjoy this walk thr your beautiful photos. Lovely granddaughter! 🙂
Not me… I was miserable at 10. 😦
The pictures are stunning!