This tranquil oasis is a 9-acre wildlife reserve featuring a serene hatchet-shaped pond surrounded by lush vegetation and walking trails. The enclosure provides a safe haven for various bird species, including waterfowl, and is also home to a variety of fish, amphibians, and insects. Visitors can explore the area via a network of accessible pathways, taking in the sights and sounds of nature.
Lovely area a little bit wet in the winter months but one of the best areas to see the ponies and donkeys. Need to drive carefully as many are walking down the roads or on the side eating the grass. A lovely spot to relax. This car park or the one just up the road are almost identical so just take your pick.
Went there for a picnic with family and the kids loved it seeing horses and donkeys up close where they can touch them. It is so beautiful there and peaceful.
Lovely place to walk the dog and take in the beauty of this ancient pond near Old Beaulieu Airfield. Large car park with toilets (Edit: Toilets now permanently removed and plans to downscale the car park due to excessive use)and ice cream van is usually there on sunny days. Budding photographers should visit at sunset for spectacular shots across the pond.
Beautiful body of water warm enough for a little paddle and a gorgeous walk any time of the year. Large parking area so you will always find a space even on the busiest of days. From the signage I believe you can buy a permit to fish here although I am unsure if they are referring to a day permit or just the usual coarse angling licence. No BBQs or overnight parking allowed. There are plenty of benches dotted around to sit and appreciate the view or soak up the rays when the sun is out.
Hatchet pond is lovely, but the big 'but' is that it is right next to a very busy road at all times of the day. Now if the road noise doesn't bother you, you can predictably watch the crows feeding their babies, the black headed gulls stropping at one another, ducks and geese and the commoners cows, ponies and donkeys coming to get a drink. You do occasionally get waders and martins etc but less reliable. There is often an icecream van here and there's plenty of parking which means lots of families. In some ways that's lovely ofcourse, but as its often overrun with those unused to coexisting with wildlife there's lots of animal bothering in spite of the signs and people do let their kids swim even though asked not to. I'm not at all anti kids, I would just suggest balmer lawn or puttles bridge are better choices with children. Trust me, you'll relax more!
Amazing Free parking at the Pond Enclosure or the Moor Enclosure just round the corner. Scenic pathways through the heathland to explore, around a vast pond. No swimming in the pond. No BBQs. Beware of the free roaming ponies. Dogs allowed.
Wheelchair-accessible car park
Wheelchair-accessible entrance
Hiking
Good for kids
Kid-friendly hikes
Dogs allowed
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Lovely area a little bit wet in the winter months but one of the best areas to see the ponies and donkeys. Need to drive carefully as many are walking down the roads or on the side eating the grass. A lovely spot to relax. This car park or the one just up the road are almost identical so just take your pick.
Went there for a picnic with family and the kids loved it seeing horses and donkeys up close where they can touch them. It is so beautiful there and peaceful.
Lovely place to walk the dog and take in the beauty of this ancient pond near Old Beaulieu Airfield. Large car park with toilets (Edit: Toilets now permanently removed and plans to downscale the car park due to excessive use)and ice cream van is usually there on sunny days. Budding photographers should visit at sunset for spectacular shots across the pond.
Beautiful body of water warm enough for a little paddle and a gorgeous walk any time of the year. Large parking area so you will always find a space even on the busiest of days. From the signage I believe you can buy a permit to fish here although I am unsure if they are referring to a day permit or just the usual coarse angling licence. No BBQs or overnight parking allowed. There are plenty of benches dotted around to sit and appreciate the view or soak up the rays when the sun is out.
Hatchet pond is lovely, but the big 'but' is that it is right next to a very busy road at all times of the day. Now if the road noise doesn't bother you, you can predictably watch the crows feeding their babies, the black headed gulls stropping at one another, ducks and geese and the commoners cows, ponies and donkeys coming to get a drink. You do occasionally get waders and martins etc but less reliable. There is often an icecream van here and there's plenty of parking which means lots of families. In some ways that's lovely ofcourse, but as its often overrun with those unused to coexisting with wildlife there's lots of animal bothering in spite of the signs and people do let their kids swim even though asked not to. I'm not at all anti kids, I would just suggest balmer lawn or puttles bridge are better choices with children. Trust me, you'll relax more!
Amazing Free parking at the Pond Enclosure or the Moor Enclosure just round the corner. Scenic pathways through the heathland to explore, around a vast pond. No swimming in the pond. No BBQs. Beware of the free roaming ponies. Dogs allowed.
