Looking After Nature
So nature can look after you
Our blog
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Planning a family walk in Hampshire
Whether you live in a built-up area or a rural area, take a look at our guide to planning your family’s walks.
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What’s on this winter in Hampshire’s countryside
From refreshing runs to carol concerts, there’s endless fun to be had.
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Why are hedgerows so important and what are Hampshire County Farms doing to protect and restore them?
Find out what hedgerows are, why they’re important, and what we’re doing to help.
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Why do leaves change colour and fall from trees?
Discover why leaves change colour and trees lose their leaves.
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Fun outdoor games for children to play this summer
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What is flying ant day and why does it happen?
If you’ve ever wondered what flying ant day is and why it happens, we’ve got some answers for you.
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What’s in season? Download our seasonal produce calendar
How to find fruit and vegetables in season right now
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Biodiversity in Hampshire’s rivers
Find out more about Hampshire’s river residents.
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What to put in your garden bird feeders
Top tips on how best to feed the birds in your garden
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How to spot the first signs of spring
To help you know what to expect and when, we’ve created a month-by-month guide so you can spot the signs that spring has finally sprung.
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Nature and nurture: the benefits of spending quality time in nature with children
The outdoors is a fantastic place to spend time with your child, so we’ve put together a list of reasons to get out into nature together.
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The best romantic countryside walks for you and your valentine
We’ve created a list of our five favourite walks to take your valentine on this spring.
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Five ways sustainable living can save you money in 2023
Here are our top five eco-friendly things you can do to save money.
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Five reasons to get outside this winter
Advice from Hampshire Countryside Service about the benefits of getting out and about this season.
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Spend time with family in Hampshire’s countryside this winter
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Your Countryside wrapped: Hampshire Countryside Service’s highlights 2022
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Eco-friendly winter crafts ideas for kids
As the nights draw in it’s a great time to get cosy and start some winter craft projects.
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5 fun ideas to keep children entertained on winter walks
During the wet and chilly winter season, it can be tricky to keep the little ones entertained on those bracing countryside walks
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5 sustainable gift ideas that are Hampshire Countryside approved
This festive season, lots of us will be looking to give greener gifts, making a big impression without leaving a big impact on the planet
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Five Hampshire walks for wintry weather
The colder months have arrived, bringing with them changes in landscape, wildlife and weather
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How to enjoy the countryside as the weather gets colder
As the autumn season begins and the nights start to draw in, it can be tricky to find fun outdoor activities
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A Winter Wander with The Snowman™ and The Snowdog
Who’s excited about the winter holidays? We are delighted to say that we’ve got some festive fun for all the family!
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A beginner’s guide to tree planting: what, how, where when and why
With the climate crisis on many of our minds, there are things we can all do to make a difference
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A beginner’s guide to bumblebee-spotting
The UK has 24 species of bumblebee, but there are eight main types you’re likely to see out and about.
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Great days out in Hampshire this summer
Make the most of those precious summer days and enjoy nature at its peak with these great activities!
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Celebrating Hampshire’s National Nature Reserves
The Festival of National Nature Reserves kicks off on 18 May with lots of events throughout the country over the next six months
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Stay safe in the sun this summer
Since May is Skin Cancer Awareness month, it’s a good time to think about how we use sunscreen and keep safe in the sun.
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What is nature recovery?
The term 'rewilding' has exploded in popularity over the past few years, with naturalists such as David Attenborough and Chris Packham being just two examples of advocates popularising the term. But what does it mean?
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Video: How to build a bird box
Attract more wildlife to your garden with your own bird box.
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Video: A beginner’s guide to birdwatching
If you’ve recently caught the birdwatching bug or you’re looking to get involved now spring is around the corner, we have a few handy tips for you to make the most of your new hobby.
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Eight ways to bring nature into your New Year’s resolution
It’s a brand-new year, which means a fresh start that often comes with plenty of self-reflection. Instead of trying to stick to a list of New Year’s resolutions, why don’t you try to aim for one way to bring nature into your life for 2022?
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Save your food this season with Smart Living
A warm hello from us at SMART LIVING, Hampshire County Council’s waste prevention and lifestyle initiative! We’re hopping on the Countryside Service’s blog today to share with you some ways in which you can save your food from ending up in the bin.
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3 festive decorations to make at home
Reusing old decorations is a good way of reducing your waste. Another great way is to create your own using natural and biodegradable materials. We headed back to Staunton Country Park to see how we can make our own festive decorations that are great for hanging on a tree or around the house. Lottie showed us three different types of decoration to make using log discs.
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Attract animals to your garden with your own log pile
Log piles are the perfect hiding place for many bugs and insects, providing a feast for animals such as hedgehogs and frogs. They’re easy to build and are perfect for gardens, especially if you want to see more wildlife around your home.
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Five simple ways you can help the environment today
Here is our list of five simple changes to make today to start living a more environmentally friendly lifestyle.
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Top tips for going on a seashore safari
Here in Hampshire, we’re lucky to have some incredible coastline to explore. A seashore safari is a great opportunity to explore your local shoreline, spot some amazing wildlife and connect with nature. It’s very simple to get involved – all you need is a container, some waterproof shoes and a spotter guide of some kind.
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Top tips for perfect plants from Sir Harold Hillier Gardens
Adding some plants to your garden is not only a great way to brighten up your home but also a fantastic way to support our pollinators.
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Video tutorial: How to build your own garden pond
A fantastic way to attract all sorts of wildlife to your garden is to build your own pond.
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5 common UK pollinators and tips on how to attract them
There are over 1,500 species of insect pollinators in the UK. Here are five common pollinators you’re likely to spot in your garden this summer:
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Four tips to make your garden more wildlife friendly
Are you keen to encourage more nature into your garden or outdoor space? These outside spots can be a haven for wildlife – and you can make a difference in whatever patch you have available. (A plant pot on your driveway, balcony or windowsill would work!)
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Top Tips on How to Make Your Own Bug Hotel
In this video, Education Ranger Lottie shows us how to make a bug hotel. They can be made at any time of year using materials you can find outside in a forest or woodland.
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Urban Wildlife Photography Competition winners announced
We are delighted to announce the winners from our photography competition. We had many fantastic entries all across social media, with some stunning images submitted from adults and under-16s alike.
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Five simple ways to eat more sustainably
Agriculture and food production, for example, is an industry with considerable global impact so it’s worth changing the way we consume and think about food. Here are some of our top tips for eating more sustainably
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How to connect with nature in your local area this winter
This winter, we’re likely to all be staying local when it comes to getting outdoors. When you know an area well, it can be easy to take it for granted but often there’s plenty to uncover if you take a moment to do so.
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Your Countryside Wrapped: Hampshire Countryside Service Highlights 2020
This year, our green spaces have become more important than ever as we have all looked for ways to continue to enjoy the countryside. Here are some of our highlights…
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Three ways to bring nature into the home this Christmas
As the days get darker and the weather gets colder, we can often head into hibernation mode and keep hidden away from the outside world until it begins to warm up
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Let there be light: how to fight the winter slump by getting outside
Getting out into the great outdoors is sometimes easier said than done. Especially as the winter months draw in and the days get shorter, it can be hard to find the time – or even the inclination – to get outside
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Video: Build your own hedgehog home!
As we head deeper into autumn we may feel like hibernating. However, getting out in the colder weather has many benefits to our mental health. Some species do have to hide away until the spring though and one of those are hedgehogs
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Top spots for walks in Hampshire this autumn
A brisk walk in the crisp autumnal air is a great way to make the most of the transition into winter
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Six super fun ways to enjoy Hampshire’s countryside this summer
This summer marks a great opportunity to explore and appreciate our nearby surroundings. Think of it as a mini staycation, as local as you can get!
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Nature Journalling: What it is and how can you get involved
Throughout July, we’re encouraging our readers to enjoy the countryside as a temporary refuge from our everyday lives. One way to fully embrace nature is through keeping a nature journal. So, for this month’s blog post we hand over to one of our community and events officers, Janet, to find out more
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We’ve got a new podcast!
Just a quick one from us today, as we’d like to share our new podcast with you
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Video: Top tips for growing your own veg
It’s incredibly satisfying to grow something from scratch. The sense of achievement that you’ve nursed a tiny seed or food scrap into a fully-fledged, flowering plant. And it’s a real bonus when these plants provide delicious food for you to enjoy, which is great for both the environment and your mealtimes!
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Finding comfort in the great outdoors (Advice from Solent Mind)
One of the biggest challenges of the Coronavirus pandemic is the uncertainty and worry that it has created in our lives. When uncertainty causes us to worry and become stressed, it can have a significant impact on our mental health. We may find it hard to sleep, become irritable or find it difficult to concentrate.
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Public rights of way and their history
Now more than ever people are exploring their local area and discovering pathways and trails they never knew existed
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Get a sense of nature this spring
Now the clocks have moved forwards, spring is well and truly here to stay. And while we may not be able to get outside and enjoy this new season as much as we’d like to, we can still be inspired by the outdoors
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4 new ways to enjoy the great outdoors
As the saying goes, ‘variety is the spice of life’! And as we wave goodbye to the colder, darker, winter months it’s a great time to think of new ways to put a spring in your step
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Your guide to forest bathing
You’ve probably heard of forest bathing – it’s a hot topic right now – and if you haven’t then you’re about to!
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How to keep fit in the countryside
The New Year inspires lots of us to make positive changes in our lives. A new or improved exercise regime is a popular resolution and so is the plan to spend more time outside connecting with nature
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Video tutorial: How to make beeswax wraps
Did you know there’s an alternative to cling film that’s reusable and much kinder to the environment?
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Your 5-step guide to pollination
This year all us rangers at the Hampshire Countryside Service are each making a pledge to do something to help our pollinators
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Make a pledge to save our pollinators
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10 top tips for cutting your single-use plastic
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The easy way to attract pollinators all year round
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Our podcasts
Hampshire Countryside’s Looking After Nature podcast brings you closer to nature with conversations in the countryside. Each episode sees us chatting to a different guest about wildlife, conservation and the countryside. From rangers talking about wildlife to conservation experts giving their top tips for protecting natural habitats, we’ll bring you to the heart of what we do.