Parks, Playgrounds & Nature Reserves in Horndean

Parks and play areas in Horndean parish

Horndean Parish Council says it owns and maintains six play facilities across the parish, all described on its Parish Play Areas page as regularly inspected and maintained so they are safe and fully functional. For opening hours or dog rules, ring the council on 02392 597766 or email contact@horndeanpc-hants.gov.uk, the details shown on its home page.

The Recreation Ground is on Five Heads Road. The council lists it for toddlers to teens, with cradle swings, flat swings, a toddler multiplay unit, a roundabout, a teen shelter, a basketball hoop, a wooden adventure play course and open grassland with football pitches.

Downs Park is off First Avenue in North Horndean, also listed for toddlers to teens. The equipment includes a tyre swing, flat swings, multi units with slides, a rope climbing frame, a city spinner and a large grassed area.

Jubilee Field Play Area is on Catherington Lane and Crouch Lane. It has cradle and flat swings, a tyre swing, a multiplay unit with a slide, a springer, a zip wire, a basketball court, an outdoor gym, large grassed areas, a junior football pitch and a hall for hire. The council's home page gives the Jubilee Park address as Crouch Lane, Horndean, PO8 9SU, and says the park is getting major upgrades in 2026, including a dedicated multi-use games arena (MUGA). Check with the council for how far that work has got before you take the children.

The Jubilee Outdoor Gym sits at the same Catherington Lane and Crouch Lane site. The council lists it for ages 12 and over through to adults, with some equipment accessible to disabled users.

Lychgate Drive Play Area is off Catherington Lane and is the smallest on the list, with a swing and a see-saw. Deep Dell Play Area, at Hazleton Way and Deep Dell, is listed for toddlers up to twelve, with cradle and flat swings, a multiplay unit, a roundabout, a slide, springers and a large grassed area.

Local nature reserves and wildlife sites in Horndean

The parish council also runs a set of conservation sites, described on its Conservation Areas page. Look for signs on site, or ask the parish council, for parking and dog rules.

Hazleton Common Local Nature Reserve covers about 40 acres of lowland heathland with copses, between the A3(M) and the Hazleton housing estate. The council names common lizards, adders, grass snakes and slow worms among its wildlife, along with dragonflies, stonechats and green woodpeckers. Entrances are at Hillview and Hollybank Close, both reached from Greenfield Crescent, and there is also a bridleway from the Hazleton interchange.

Yoell's Copse Local Nature Reserve is 12 acres of what the council calls semi-natural ancient woodland, south of the parish between Yoell's Lane and Coldhill Lane. The main entrance is on Loxwood Road, off Yoell's Lane. The council mentions cow wheat and butcher's broom among its flowers.

Catherington Lith Local Nature Reserve is about 30 acres of ancient woodland with remnants of chalk grassland, between the A3(M) and Catherington Lane. You can get in from Lith Lane, up the hill by the motorway bridge on London Road, and from Mundays Row or Down Road. The council says footpaths also lead in from The Farmer Inn, All Saints Church and Five Heads Road, and that an annual Living Woodland Fair is held there in May.

Dell Piece West is about 16 acres of open grassland and mire with fragments of woodland, off Lakesmere Road opposite Morrisons. The council says the Monarch Way long-distance footpath passes directly by, with gates on Lakesmere Road and Portsmouth Road. Wildflowers it lists include southern marsh orchid and marsh marigold.

Parsonage Field is a three-acre flower-rich meadow near Catherington Infant School, with its own car park opposite the school on Catherington Lane. Beside the school on Catherington Lane there is also Catherington Pond, which the council says has purpose-built platforms for pond dipping. St Giles Churchyard, at the top of Blendworth Lane, is run as a wildlife garden with one ancient yew.

Catherington Down

Catherington Down is a 32-acre Site of Special Scientific Interest of chalk grassland with remnants of ancient woodland, according to the same parish council page. It lies west of Parsonage Field and east of Lovedean Lane. You can reach it through Parsonage Field from the Catherington car park, or from three lay-bys in Lovedean Lane. The council lists round-headed rampion, pyramidal orchid and wild thyme among its plants.

For grazing notices, dog guidance or any visitor rules, check the signs at the gate or ask the parish council. For routes that link several of these sites, see our walking routes from Horndean and the parish's Catherington trail leaflet.

Clanfield and Rowlands Castle recreation grounds

For play areas and parks in Clanfield, check Clanfield Parish Council's website for facilities, addresses and hours, or see our Clanfield area page.

For Rowlands Castle, check the parish council's own website for recreation ground details, or see our Rowlands Castle village guide and area page.

Quick answers

Where is the nearest play area in Horndean? Horndean Parish Council lists six, at the Recreation Ground (Five Heads Road), Downs Park (off First Avenue), Jubilee Field (Catherington Lane and Crouch Lane), Lychgate Drive, Deep Dell and the Jubilee outdoor gym.

Where is Hazleton Common? Between the A3(M) and the Hazleton housing estate, with entrances at Hillview and Hollybank Close off Greenfield Crescent.

Is there parking for Catherington Down? The parish council says you can reach it from the Catherington car park via Parsonage Field, or from three lay-bys in Lovedean Lane.

Who looks after these sites? Horndean Parish Council, for the play areas and the conservation sites listed on its website. Contact it on 02392 597766.