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Introducing Hampshire County Council Countryside Service

Hampshire County Council's Countryside Service is responsible for the management of more than 80 countryside sites, covering more than 4,400 hectares (10,870 acres). These include 7 major Country Parks and more than 20 nature reserves. Our land holdings encompass almost every landscape type and habitat found in Hampshire and

range from small picnic sites and viewpoints to extensive areas of superb countryside,

We also have a statutory responsibility for the recording, protection and maintenance of over 7,000 public rights of way. These routes provide more than 4,585 km. (2,850 miles) of ready access to Hampshire's countryside via a network of footpaths, bridleways and byways covering the entire county.

Our work for Hampshire's countryside falls under two broad headings:

    Providing facilities and access for people to enjoy Hampshire's countryside through the management of our countryside sites and network of rights of way

    Protecting and conserving Hampshire's rich countryside heritage of historic places, landscape and wildlife, through the acquisition of important sites and by careful management

Key statistics :

    · 7 major Country Parks

    · 43 sites with national or international conservation designations

    · 15 historic monuments

    · 24 Nature Reserves, including 5 National Nature Reserves

    · 18 `key habitats' listed in the UK and Hampshire Biodiversity Action Plans

    · 2 of our Country Parks attract more than 1 million visitors per year

    · 80 countryside sites with informal access for countryside recreation

    · We maintain detailed records of more than 8,000 individual rights of way

    · We manage 2,841 miles of public footpaths, bridleways and byways

    · We promote 10 long-distance recreational routes, including the South Downs Way in Hampshire

    · We organise around 650 guided walks and events using public rights of way each year

    · More than 25,000 school children visit our Country Parks each year

    · We provide special facilities for educational groups at 10 of our countryside sites

    · Many of our sites offer a varied programme of educational events and activities for individuals and groups

    · We are involved in more than 150 partnerships in countryside management

    · We are working with more than 50 parish councils in supporting the `Hampshire Paths Partnership'

    · More than 23 per cent of our Countryside Service budget is funded through partnerships

    · The Service hosts, supports and benefits from well over 4,000 volunteer days a year contributed across its operation