Parks, Play Areas and Gardens

Carvers is a large, popular, park located in the heart of Ringwood in Southampton Road. There is a cricket pitch and pavilion, a bowling club and green, as well as a play area and of course the Skate Park.

Carvers Play Area is designed for use by children up to the age of 14, with not one but two slides! One slide is double width so mum or dad can go with toddlers or children can slide in pairs. You will also find swings, climbing frames and rockers here

Carvers Clubhouse is a purpose built Youth & Community Centre which was officially opened by the Leader of Hampshire County Council, Cllr Roy Perry, in February 2016. Carvers Clubhouse is situated adjacent to the skate park at Carvers Recreation Ground, Southampton Road, Ringwood, BH24 1JD. 

This is a small play area, opposite Poulner Junior School, is so named because it is located adjacent to the road where the annual toad crossing patrol is carried out by volunteers. The play area is designed for use by children up to the age of 8 and has a climbing frame, swings, seesaw and rocker.

Designed for children up to the age of 10, the refurbished Ash Grove Play Area was opened on 15 March 2012. As it is in a semi-rural location, off Eastfield Lane, the area has been designed to have a rustic feel, with plenty of grassy areas, lots of seating, big tree stumps for jumping across, as well as slides, swings, a rocker and climbing frames. The project was made possible by a grant of £20,000 from The Veolia Environmental Trust through the Landfill Communities Fund, the release of £20,000 from Developers’ Contributions and funding from Ringwood Town Council of £20,000.

The War Memorial Ground was created to commemorate those who have lost their lives in the service of their country. It is a popular park, located not far from the town centre, between Christchurch Road and The Close.

This is a small park just off The Sweep, close to the town centre. It is popular with local dog walkers.

Although it is situated very close to the A31 dual carriageway, the Jubilee Gardens is an attractive place to visit. The river runs close alongside and perhaps it is this that deflects the noise of the traffic and creates a reflective atmosphere. For people working in the Town’s Market Place, it is a handy park for a sandwich at lunchtime. 

In 2010, part of the Bickerley, known as Pocket Park, was given a major ‘makeover’ and renamed Danny Cracknell Pocket Park, in memory of former Councillor and Town Mayor the late Danny Cracknell. This park now provides access to the picturesque Mill Stream, overlooking an area of special scientific interest, with views across the meadows to the south. This fulfils one of the ‘wishes of residents’ identified in the Town Plan consultations in 2008. The park has a user-friendly footpath leading down to the water’s edge for access for the disabled in wheelchairs.  The bank of the Mill Stream was strengthened with revetments and reed beds to make the area safer for young children.

Previously part of extensive gravel workings to the north of the town, Poulner Lakes now provides a much valued public open space. It is an ideal site for walks and/or picnics, providing a natural habitat of wildlife and meadow flowers. There are links to footpaths into the New Forest.

The Mount is located at Narrow Lane, Poulner. It is a grassy hilltop open space, with spectacular views, much enjoyed by local residents for dog walking and by children for playing.

The green space known locally as simply ‘the Bickerley’ was created as a Village Green on 19 December 1990. This involved the combination of 468 sq. metres of land, formerly part of Maybridge Farm, and the original Bickerley Common, 311 sq. metres of land. A Village Green is a highly protected area, for the benefit of local people. It is maintained and managed by the Council and sometimes plays host to fun fairs and festival events. Please contact the office for more information. 

The late Raymond Brown, Founder of the Raymond Brown Group of Ringwood, always took a great interest in the natural habitats of birds and wild animals.  During his lifetime he quietly supported many voluntary projects within Ringwood. To mark his contribution to the Town and his love of wildlife, Raymond’s family funded the creation of a Nature Reserve on Town Council land between the Castleman Trail Way and the Bickerley Millstream. Access to the Nature Reserve is from the County Council’s Castleman Trailway.

Opening Times: Because of the sensitive nature of the Reserve, and in order to protect ground-nesting birds during the late Spring/early Summer and the overwintering birds during the Winter period, the Reserve will only be open for public access during the months of July, August and September.