Things to Do

Pushchair Friendly Walks in Basingstoke

Posted by Louise NorthHantsMum on in Basingstoke, Walks 0 Comment

If you are itching to get outside and get some fresh air this weekend, the weather looks like it’s going to be glorious. So I’m republishing a post which has details about walks in Basingstoke, including walks which are suitable for pushchairs. I always find the heat is easier when I’m moving, it’s sitting still which makes it worse! Don’t forget those hats and sunscreen!

This is a brilliant website with details of local parks in the area, including many of the ones mentioned below.

PUSHCHAIR WALKS

Basing lime pits

  • Has the coolest train climbing frame ever!
  • Massive slides
  • BBQ facilities
  • Ampitheatre for rounders, baseball, etc.

Crabtree

  • Olivers fish and chips over the road
  • Lovely (!!) view of Basingstoke
  • Great for flying kites
  • Has a fantastic new play area for children aged 8-14 years at the bottom, including a low zip wire and wooden climbing frame
  • A couple of park benches dotted around

Eastrop Park

  • Has toilets on site
  • Boating Lake
  • Fishing lake
  • Swimming pool in summer for little people
  • Assault Course
  • The perfect bridge for pooh sticks!

War Memorial Park

  • Parking is a bit of a nightmare so recommend parking for free at Eastrop or in a town centre carpark
  • Bird Aviary is quite interesting for little people

OTHER WALKS

Carpenters Down

  • Parking is next to Popley Spotlight Centre
  • Used to be National Trust Land
  • Big Hill to Climb to get into most walks
  • Excellent Blackberry picking
  • See my review of Basing Wood from 2013

Basingstoke Common

Otherside of Crabtree

Blackdam Pond

  • Has a play area for children
  • Nice pond to feed the ducks and swans
  • Has a short walk around the park but connects through to Crabtree

Great Picnic Spots near Basingstoke

Posted by Louise NorthHantsMum on in Berkshire, Hampshire, Picnic's 0 Comment

I LOVE a good picnic. It’s the simple things that count. A good location, yummy food and nice weather and you have a perfect day ahead of you. It helps that the weather for this week is predicted to be sunny…at last!

You don’t even need to spend much, just grab whatever is in the fridge or cupboard that can be used as finger food and stick it in a lunchbox or rucksack.

It’s a known fact that food eaten outside always tastes so much better than when it’s eaten indoors.

Grab a blanket, pack some suncream, make sure you don’t forget hats or drinks for your children and head off somewhere new. Most of the places below are suitable for pushchairs.

Also check out this post about Great picnic spots in Basingstoke HERE.

Let me know if you enjoy these picnic spots too.

Great Picnic Spots near Basingstoke

Frensham Common, Frensham Great Pond Farnham, Surrey (love it here, but you need an offroad pushchair as a lot of the paths are sandy)
Greenham and Crookham Common, Newbury (love it here too. The cows gave my little one something to laugh at!)
Padworth Common, West Berkshire
Wokefield Common,  Wokefield, Berkshire
Yately Common, Yateley
Hartley Wintney Cricket Ground,  Hartley Wintney
Elvetham Heath pond, Elvetham Heath
Hosehill Lake nature, Reading
California Country Park, Wokingham
Horseshoe Lake, Bracknell
King’s Pond, Alton
Bucklebury Common, Berkshire
Thatcham Reedbeds, Thatcham
Forbury Gardens, Reading
Abbey Ruins, Reading
Heathlake, Wokingham
Christchurch Meadows, Reading
Alice Holt Forest, Nr Alton. See a review on NHM about Alice Holt
Lavell’s Lake, Wokingham
Aldermoors Local Nature Reserve, Wokingham

May 2013: I’ve just found a new picnic spot, which is fab! It’s over in Herriard, about 10 minutes drive from Basingstoke to Alton on the A339.

You pass the sign to Herriard and then take a left signed  to Upton Grey/Weston Patrick. The park and meadow are just on the right.

There are three play areas and a huge meadow which my toddler loved running around. It’s great for a picnic as there are a few trees so you can get some shade in the sun.

Are there any other great picnic spots in the area that you would like to share?

 

Caterpillar Music 2012

Posted by Louise NorthHantsMum on in Classes, Guest Posts, Local Mum Businesses 0 Comment

Jasmine contacted me asking me to publicise the details about her new new baby and toddler music class which is coming to Basingstoke this Autumn.

Jasmine is a qualified music teacher and Mum to young children so she understands how important it is to engage and stimulate our children. Each Caterpillar Music class is a unique session which will include amazing puppets, exciting instruments as well as innovative props, all of which will help your child learn through play and song.

The sessions will take place on Tuesday’s at ChristChurch in Chineham from 9.40am until 11.10am and are suitable from birth to 4 years of age.

If you are interested and would like to attend a class Jasmine is offering free trial classes for anyone who mentions NorthHantsMum. You can find more details about the classes:

Thanks Jasmine! Best of luck with the new business!

Local Parks and Open Spaces

Posted by Louise NorthHantsMum on in Basingstoke, Exercise, Outings, Picnic's, Walks, Wellbeing 1 Comment

I stumbled across this website whilst I was researching this weeks “things to do” post. As the weather was so fabulous this weekend I was researching things to do outside and this website popped up with a list of Local Parks and Open spaces in Basingstoke.

I learnt of a few new places, such as Beggardwood Park which has a maze and ampitheatre, that I didn’t know about that I’m hoping to be able to investigate when Spring really kicks in. Hope you find useful.

Local Parks and Open Spaces

Related Posts

Pushchair Friendly Walks in Basingstoke

Pushchair Friendly Walks near Basingstoke

14 Things you don’t want to forget for Christmas

Posted by Louise NorthHantsMum on in Shopping 1 Comment

I’ve been thinking of all those things you don’t want to run out of at Christmas. You might want to double up on these items beforehand so you don’t have to make a special trip to the shops during Christmas with little ones in tow.

This is what I’ve come up with so far:

  1. Tin Foil
  2. Batteries for all of those new Toys
  3. Greaseproof paper
  4. Toilet Rolls
  5. Dishwasher Tablets (if you are blessed to have a dishwasher) or washing up liquid
  6. Bin liners
  7. Lightbulbs
  8. Nappies (if your children are using them still)
  9. Wetwipes and Nappy Sacks (If your children are using them still)
  10. Pet Food
  11. Matches (you never know when you will need them!)
  12. Formula (if using)
  13. Washing powder
  14. Alcohol 😀

PS: Have I missed anything?

Ballet/Dance classes for 2 year olds (Nov 2011)

Posted by Louise NorthHantsMum on in Babies, Classes, Exercise, Things to Do, Toddlers 1 Comment

Baby & Toddler Dance classes in North Hampshire Vicky asked the question on NorthHants Mum on Facebook: can anyone recommend ballet/dance classes for 2yr olds? I’m not able to recommend any specific classes but I’ve done some research about what is available at the moment. Details are below. If you have any recommendations, please don’t hesitate to add them. Vicky – thanks for your question, hope this is what you were looking for.

Ballet Classes

Basingstoke Academy of Dancing One of the more professional dance schools in Basingstoke.  They hold Mother and Toddler Classes – 18 mnths – 3yrs, Monday morning 9.30am to 10.30am

J.L.D. School of Dancing

They say: Being easily accessed from anywhere in Basingstoke & Deane, J.L.D. School of Dancing has 50 scheduled classes per week and offers dancing lessons for boys and girls from 2 – 18 years of age. Dance classes for children aged 2 – 5 years are lively and fun, exploring music, movement and mime.

Lynden School of Dance

I couldn’t find the timetable online for this dance school but I know they do Ka Motion classes at Basingstoke Sports Centre for little people and I’m sure they will have classes for under four’s. To find details you can contact them through their website.

Chandelle Stage School

I don’t have any further details about this apart from that it’s based in the Sycamore centre in Winklebury.

Stage School’s

There is also a stage school in Basingstoke: http://www.basingstokestageschool.co.uk/ Please add a comment if you know of more dance classes for toddlers in or near Basingstoke. Thanks!  

Farm Shops in Basingstoke/North Hampshire

Posted by Louise NorthHantsMum on in Basingstoke, Food, Health, North Hampshire, Shopping 0 Comment

Farm Shops are great places to look for organic/local produce for your children to eat. Several shops sell weaning boxes at reasonable prices. April 2013 Post: Pick Your Own Farm’s in North Hampshire and Berkshire September 2013 Post: Review: NorthDown Orchard Deliveries

Local Farm Shops

Manydown Farm Shop – Worting Road, Basingstoke Family run award winning butcher, pie and sausage maker and farm shop.

  • Scrapps Hill Farm, 550 Worting Road, Basingstoke, Hampshire
  • Tel: 01256 460 068

Newlyns Farm Shop – North Warnborough, Hook Newlyns Farm is an award winning farm shop located in North Warnborough and Andover, both in North Hampshire.

  • Lodge Farm, Hook Road, North Warnborough, Hook
  • Tel: 01256 704 128

Portland Farm Shop (no website) – North Waltham Farm shop selling free range eggs, seasonal local vegetables,fruit, honey and preserves. Some PYO when fruit is ready.

  • Portland Farm, Popham Lane, North Waltham, Basingstoke, Hampshire
  • 01256 398593
  • The Wellington Farm Shop – Hook Offering the highest quality locally sourced fresh meat, cheese and produce, Wellington Farm Shop provides discerning rural residents a shopping experience synonymous with the fine food stores of London.
  • Park Corner Farm, Welsh Lane, Hook, Hampshire, RG27 0LJ
  • Tel: 0118 932 6132

Mill Farm Organic Shop – Alton We are a small traditional family run farm, farming to Soil Association Organic Standards. We have had our full organic status for 6 years now. We have two farm trails/walks open throughout the year on and around the farm.

  • Mill Farm, Isington, Alton, Hampshire, GU34 4PN
  • Tel: 01420 22331

Luxury Afternoon Tea in Basingstoke

Posted by Louise NorthHantsMum on in Food, Gifts, Outings, Restaurants 1 Comment

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For those days when you really need spoiling! These are some ideas for Luxury Afternoon Tea in and around Basingstoke.

Audley’s Wood Hotel

Alton Road, Basingstoke, Alton, Hampshire RG25 2JT

At Audleys Wood Hotel we delight guests with our traditional afternoon tea in Hampshire. What better place to enjoy this fine tradition than in the grand drawing room of this historic country house. Gaze out the ceiling high windows whilst savouring each of our carefully prepared cakes, dainty sandwiches and the finest leaf tea, served to perfection.

  • Full Afternoon Tea costs £15.50 per person and Cream Tea costs £8.50 per person.
  • Upgrade to a Royal Afternoon Tea and enjoy a glass of Champagne for £24.50 per person.

Tel: 01256 817555

The Four Seasons Hotel

Dogmersfield Park, Chalky Lane, Dogmersfield, Hook, Hampshire, RG27 8TD

Located in the Manor House, The Library has been restored to its former glory as an elegant, beautifully appointed residents’ lounge. Decorated in warm earth tones, The Library boasts an abundance of lush armchairs, supple sofas and coffee tables for relaxation and luxury.

  • Traditional afternoon tea, The Library’s speciality, is served daily from 3-5pm.

Tel: 01252 853000

Tylney Hall

 Rotherwick, Hook, Hampshire, England, United Kingdom, RG27 9AZ

Cream tea £15.00 per person –  Scones, preserves and tea (available Monday to Friday)

  • Full tea £22.00 per person – Sandwiches, cakes and scone (available Monday to Sunday)
  • Champagne tea£30.00 per person – Sandwiches, cakes, scones and a glass of Canard Duchene (available Monday to Sunday)

Afternoon tea is served from 3.30pm until 5pm from Monday to Saturday and from 4.00pm – 5.00pm on Sundays.

Tel: 01256 764881

Oakley Hall

Rectory Road, Oakley, Basingstoke, Hampshire, RG23 7EL

Afternoon Tea served between 2pm and 5pm, seven days a week, either on the Garden Terrace or in the Library.

  • Afternoon tea is priced at £17.95 per adult and £8.95 for children.
  • Full Afternoon Tea with a glass of Reynier Champagne £26.95 per person.

To Book please contact reception on +44(0)1256 783350 or reception@oakleyhall-park.com

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