• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Chandler's Ford Today

  • Home
  • About
    • About Chandler’s Ford
    • Chandler’s Ford War Memorial Research
  • Blog
    • Blogging Tips
  • Event
    • Upcoming Events
  • Community
    • Groups
    • Churches
    • Schools
    • GP Surgeries
    • Leisure
    • Library
    • Charities
    • Eastleigh Basics Bank
    • Community Food Larder at Chandler’s Ford Methodist Church
  • Contact
    • Subscribe
  • Site Policies
You are here: Home / Community / Days Out: Blashford Lakes

Days Out: Blashford Lakes

February 8, 2015 By chippy minton 5 Comments

For my latest suggestion of places to go for a day out I’m going to turn to what I call the New Forest’s best kept secret – mainly because I’d never heard of it until a couple of years ago.

Blashford Lakes, near Ringwood, is a set of former gravel quarries that have been flooded and turned into a nature reserve. It is run by the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust.

Blashford Lakes - Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust. Image: Chippy Minton.
Blashford Lakes – Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust. Image: Chippy Minton.

The lakes provide a number of habitats for birds, and the six hides (one in woodland and five overlooking different parts of the lakes) provide perfect spots for observing the wildlife – or just enjoying the tranquil views.

The hides are connected by well-maintained parks (8 km of them if you are planning to walk round the entire site) and there is open space suitable for picnics.

Blashford Lakes - Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust. Images by Chippy Minton.
Blashford Lakes – Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust. Image: Chippy Minton.

Don’t worry if you know nothing about birds

Blashford Lakes - Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust. Image: Chippy Minton.
Blashford Lakes – Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust. Image: Chippy Minton.

Don’t worry if you know nothing about birds – there are usually friendly and helpful birds-watchers who are happy to explain what you are seeing.

They may not even giggle (not out loud, anyway) if you ask “that one that looks like an emu – is that the heron?”, as my sister did. Though she did have a point – it was and it did.

Blashford Lakes - Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust. Image: Chippy Minton.
Blashford Lakes – Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust. Image: Chippy Minton.

Take your binoculars; take your camera; take the time to sit and wait, and see how many different birds (and other wildlife) you can spot.

You will find yourself immensely relaxed by the experience.

Blashford Lakes - Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust. Image: Chippy Minton.
Blashford Lakes – Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust. Image: Chippy Minton.
Blashford Lakes - Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust. Image: Chippy Minton.
Blashford Lakes – Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust. Image: Chippy Minton.

Vital Statistics:

Address: Ellingham Drove, Ringwood, BH24 3PJ

Distance (approx.): 25 miles; 30 minutes

Opening Times: Every day except Christmas day 9:00 to 4:30

Admission Price: Free entry (but this doesn’t meant that it is free to run. Please be generous with your donations)

Visit Time: as long as you like. You could spend one hour and visit only one or two hides, or several hours and visit all the hides.

Website: Blashford Lakes

Disclaimer: these details are (probably) correct at time of writing. Please check website before visiting for variations in opening times and for information on facilities provided.

Never miss out on another blog post. Subscribe here:

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Google
  • Email

Related posts:

Explore Hut Wood off ChilworthDelightful Hut Wood – Have You Been Yet? Hidden Hampshire: The Monarch’s Way In Praise of Royal Victoria and Itchen Valley Country Parks Wild Food Conference Days Out: Pendon Museum
Tags: charity, days out, history, hobby, nature, recommendations, review, travel, wildlife, Wildlife Trust

About chippy minton

I've lived in Chandler's Ford and Eastleigh for most of my working life, having been brought up in the south Midlands, and schooled in the Home Counties.

I work in IT, and my hobbies include bell ringing, walking, cycling and running.

I enjoy live theatre and music, and try to watch many of the shows that are performed in the Eastleigh area.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Janet Williams says

    February 8, 2015 at 10:56 pm

    How many different birds did your sister spot? Did you win?

    Apart from bird spotting, could you identify the birds by the sounds they make? I bet you understand bird’s speech.

    Reply
    • chippy says

      February 9, 2015 at 6:55 pm

      I’m very limited in the birds I can identify by sound (and not much better at those I can identify by sight).

      Reply
  2. Mark Braggins says

    February 9, 2015 at 5:06 am

    Great post, and lovely photos, Chippy. I’ve walked past Blashford Lakes a couple of times whilst doing the trek from Salisbury to Christchurch. Each time I’ve only had time to pause briefly, and I’ve thought I should return to spend a decent amount of time exploring. Your post has swung it for me – I’ll make it my destination next time, not just part of the route.

    Reply
  3. Hazel Bateman says

    February 9, 2015 at 11:59 am

    Blashford is one of my favourite bird watching places. The parking is very good and the information Centre has a loo. However, please be aware that the area where dogs are allowed is very limited (not at all on the north side where the main hides are). The second hide up on the north side of the site offers the best experience for viewing sand martins (during June and July) that I have seen anywhere – you feel that you are right in amongst them.

    Reply
    • chippy says

      February 9, 2015 at 6:56 pm

      Not having a dog, this wasn’t a restriction I’d noticed. However, I will bear it in mind for future “places to go” posts.

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Search

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to Chandler's Ford Today blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Archives

Top Posts & Pages

Why Write Fiction

Categories

Tags

am writing arts and crafts books Chandler's Ford Chandler's Ford Today Chandler’s Ford community charity Christianity Christmas church community creative writing culture Eastleigh Eastleigh Borough Council education entertainment event family fundraising gardening gardening tips good neighbours Hiltingbury Hiltingbury Road history hobby how-to Joan Adamson Joan Adelaide Goater local businesses local interest memory Methodist Church music nature news reading review social storytelling theatre travel Winchester Road writing

Recent Comments

  • C. Klingler on Gladly, the Cross-eyed Bear and Other Mondegreens
  • Robbie Sprague on VE Day – Thursday 8th May 1945
  • Mike Sedgwick on VE Day – Thursday 8th May 1945
  • Chippy on VE Day – Thursday 8th May 1945
  • Allison Symes on Review – The Chameleons – Sudden Death at Thornbury Manor
  • Janet Williams on Review – The Chameleons – Sudden Death at Thornbury Manor

Regular Writers and Contributors

Janet Williams Allison Symes Mike Sedgwick Rick Goater Doug Clews chippy minton Martin Napier Roger White Andy Vining Gopi Chandroth Nicola Slade Wellie Roger Clark Ray Fishman Hazel Bateman SO53 News

Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal by Joan Adelaide Goater

Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal by Joan Adelaide Goater

Growing up in Chandler’s Ford: 1950s – 1960s by Martin Napier

Growing up in Chandler’s Ford: 1950s – 1960s by Martin Napier

My Memories of the War Years in Chandler’s Ford 1939 – 1945 by Doug Clews

My Memories of the War Years in Chandler’s Ford 1939 – 1945 by Doug Clews

Chandler’s Ford War Memorial Research by Margaret Doores

Chandler’s Ford War Memorial Research by Margaret Doores

History of Hiltonbury Farmhouse by Andy Vining

History of Hiltonbury Farmhouse by Andy Vining

My Family History in Chandler’s Ford and Hursley by Roger White

My Family History in Chandler’s Ford and Hursley by Roger White

Do You Remember The Hutments? By Nick John

Do You Remember The Hutments? By Nick John

Memory of Peter Green by Wendy Green

Memory of Peter Green by Wendy Green

History of Vickers Armstrongs (Supermarine) Hursley Park by Dave Key

History of Vickers Armstrongs (Supermarine) Hursley Park by Dave Key

Reviews of local performances and places

Reviews of local performances and places

Copyright © 2025 Chandler's Ford Today. WordPress. Log in

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.