Green Spaces

You'll be amazed by how much green and open space there is in Portsmouth. You may be in a city, but there are plenty of open spaces waiting to be explored! There's plenty of room to feel the wind in your hair and blow the cob webs away!

Please remember to respect the countryside - don't pick wild flowers or disturb nesting places. Stick to the paths and please use doggy bins if you are walking you dog!

Take a picnic and enjoy one of the many varied picnic areas: for fantastic views over the city, picnic on Portsdown Hill  or Fort Nelson Downland and watch the City unfold beneath you, whilst enjoying the natural flora, fauna and wildlife. As a chalk hill, the area is home to a variety of wildflowers and no less than 29 different species of spiders have been recorded!

On the northern edge of the city, Hilsea Lines provides eighty hectares of open space including an ancient monument, woodland, meadows and brackish lakes. After your picnic why not enjoy one of the self-guided trails. The Ranger service also provide pre-organised guided walks and talks to enrich even further your knowledge of the area.

For a City based picnic and relaxtion, look no further than Victoria Park - a 15 acre haven of green tucked away behind the Guildhall. Beautifully tended flower beds, an array of trees (many with their own fascinating story) plus a small pets corner make this a lovely place to break away from the hustle and bustle of the city centre.

For young children who love feeding the ducks, take a stroll around Baffins Pond, a local home to wildfowl. There is also a sand pit and play area with accessible play equipment. Grain for duck feeding can be purchased in nearby shops.

Along the seafront on Southsea Esplanade, discover Canoe Lake. A great place to spend a few hours hiring a pedal boat! It's also a swan nursery, as it is one of the Mute Swan's chosen sites and large numbers of young swans can be found there during the winter.

Eastney Beach, on the south eastern end of the seafront, offers a different type of natural seafront habitat - it is covered in plant life, which includes a number of naturally rare species including Sea Holly and Yellow Horned Poppy. For a more detailed look at the species found on Eastney Beach click on the link here. The area of beach adjoining Eastney Lake is also a valuable roosting and feeding site for a variety of birds.

Twitchers should make their way to Farlington Marshes, Portsmouth's Local Nature Reserve, Site of  Special Scientific Interest and Special Protection Area. It is a haven for wildlife and an internationally important site for migratory birds, particularly dark-bellied Brent Geese. It is also a site for ongoing bird research projects.

Southsea Common provides a vast expanse of green from South Parade Pier to Clarence Pier. It's a perfect place to picninc, fly a kite, run around and let off steam, or just relax and enjoy the views across The Solent to the Isle of Wight.

As you can see Portsmouth has a surprising amount of  green space. You're sure to feel refreshed after taking in all of that fresh sea air!

For a map of  Portsmouth's open spaces click here.

Portsmouth City Council also offer a range of Healthy Walks at a selection of locations around the city. Click here on Healthy Walks to find out more.

Read up on the latest Green News from Portsmouth City Coucil.