Discover Shedfield

St John the Baptist Church in Shedfield is the Anglican parish church for Shedfield, Shirrell Heath and Waltham Chase in Hampshire. Its parish role connects the three villages through the church and gives Shedfield a specific cultural connection. The churchyard and Shedfield Common offer two different connections with nature; the architectural history of New Place is linked to Shirrell Heath. When looking for hotels in Shedfield, you can weigh up the themes of culture, nature and architectural history.

Churchyard: Nature and a Walking Route

The churchyard lies within a Site of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINC). A well-used public footpath crosses it; visitors are welcome to walk or linger there. The churchyard thus combines a route through the grounds with the opportunity to stay awhile. Its wildlife includes numerous birds, reptiles, small mammals and insects; there are also fungi, lichens and plants that flower throughout the year. The year-round flowering plants give the nature theme an aspect that spans the seasons.

Shedfield Common: Conservation and History

Shedfield Common is also a Site of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINC). At the same time, the Common was once part of the Forest of Bere. Different perspectives meet here: the SINC designation is a nature conservation classification, while its former association establishes a historical landscape connection. The difference in time is important: the designation indicates its nature conservation status, while the phrase “was once part of” places the Forest of Bere explicitly in Shedfield Common’s past. This gives the Common both a natural and a historical connection.

New Place and Architectural History

New Place in Shirrell Heath offers an architectural theme with a distinct local connection. The centrepiece of the New Place Hotel is a Grade I-listed manor house designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens. The magnificent interior of a 17th-century manor house in Bristol has also been incorporated into the estate. These details refer to different things: Grade I and Lutyens relate to the manor house; Bristol and the 17th century relate to the interior. For those interested in architecture, the design of the house and the origins of its furnishings can therefore be considered separately. Bristol is the origin of the interior, while Shirrell Heath is where New Place is located.

More Leisure Activities

Paintball Southampton offers scenarios featuring a village, attack and defence, and a castle; the activity takes place in a rural setting. This is a different type of activity from the public footpath in the churchyard, where visitors are welcome to walk or linger. The scenarios offer different game themes: the village and castle are settings, while attack and defence provide another variation in gameplay. When comparing leisure activities, you can choose between a nature-focused walk and scenario-based paintball as different options.

Discover more destinations: Abbotts Ann, Lyndhurst, Hartley Wintney, Kilmeston, Sarisbury Green, Damerham, Hythe, Rockbourne

For the broader travel overview: Hampshire.