Wildflower meadow walks in the South East

We look after many meadows in the South East from the rare chalk grassland landscapes on the Isle of Wight, to the butterfly-rich meadow clearings at Maidenhead Thicket. We even create meadows in our gardens to encourage wildlife to thrive at our places.

These grassland habitats are home to myriad wildflowers, grasses and pollinators who all rely on this increasingly rare terrain to survive.

Why not mark National Meadows Day with a walk and a picnic this weekend at one of these beautiful meadows near you.

Welcome back sign in field — Plan and book your visit

Walking with us

This article was created before the coronavirus crisis, and may not reflect the current situation. There may be restrictions in place on some of these walks. Please make sure you check web pages for individual places before you travel for booking details and the most up to date information about visiting

Green Hairstreak Butterfly — Green Hairstreak

Butterfly walk with a ranger at Maidenhead Thicket

On this woodland walk with a ranger we hope to spot lots of butterflies including silver-washed fritillary, speckled wood, comma, ringlet, meadow brown, skippers and whites. Learn more about their lifecycle, habitats and identification as well as the importance of other insects on this woodland ecosystem.

Butterfly walk with a ranger at Maidenhead Thicket

A black metal fingerpost sign posting the way to the old Haslemere well, which used ot supply the local area and charged a ha'penny per bucket — The town well supplied the local area, charging a penny ha'penny per bucket

Swan Barn Farm Surrey

Swan Barn Farm well, woodland and meadow walk

Starting and ending in the historic market town of Haslemere, this walk goes from the medieval dipping well past a traditional orchard grazed by sheep, through a network of meadows, streams and woodland.

Well, woodland and meadow walk

Basildon Park Berkshire

The meadows and woodlands of Streatley

This is a 3 mile circular walk around the meadows and woodlands that form the backdrop to the village of Streatley on the west side of the Goring Gap in West Berkshire. You will visit one of Britain’s largest areas of rare and endangered chalk grassland as well as some woodland habitats. The walk offers panoramic views towards the Chiltern Hills, the North Wessex Downs and the Oxford Vale, along with glimpses of the River Thames as it passes through the Goring Gap.

Discover beautiful views on this three mile circular walk

Three walkers on Luccombe Down with fine views over Sandown Bay — The start of the descent down Nansen Hill to Luccombe

Ventnor Downs Isle of Wight

Down south: Luccombe and the Landslip walk

Admire autumn colours of heather and bracken on this invigorating walk in the south of the Island, with splendid far-reaching views to Culver Down in the east.

Time: 2 hours 15 minutes
Distance: 5.6 miles (9 km) Ascent/Descent: 1100' (333m)

Enjoy the dramatic views

Walking trail

Maidenhead and Cookham Commons

Discover oak trees, wildflower meadows fluttering with butterflies and meandering marshes on a walk around Maidenhead Thicket or Cookham Commons.

Find a walk

Morden Hall Park

As the summer arrives Morden Hall Park bursts in to life. Surrounded by meadows, trees and the gentle sounds of birdsong and running water, the park offers a rare sense of discovery and a chance to get away from it all.

Boardwalks and birdsong

A rare Duke of Burgundy butterfly at Harting Down

Harting Down West Sussex

Harting Down wildlife walk

This walk offers panoramic views over the Weald to the North Downs, before descending into secluded valleys of natural and historic interest full of rare wildlife and plants.

Follow our wildlife trail

A silver washed fritillary butterfly — Butterflies like the silver washed fritillary love the sunny glades created by coppicing

Walking trail

Selborne common

Magnificent beech woodlands and flower-filled meadows attract a host of butterflies in summer. Look out for silver-washed fritillaries and orange tips flitting across the glades. You may even spot a purple emperor as you stroll up the zig-zag hill.

Discover summer butterflies