ACTIVITIES AND EXPERIENCES

Fishing

The Lower Lake is stocked with Carp, Perch, Tench & Rudd. Suited to both newcomers and seasoned anglers alike, you may fish independently or with a guide (by appointment), enjoying time by the water and the calm that comes with casting a line.

Guided experience available from April - September. 

Boating on the Lower Lake

Enjoy a gentle row across the lake, taking in the tranquillity of the Estate from the water. A peaceful way to spend time together outdoors.

Available from May - August. 

Bird Watching

Join our wildlife warden for a peaceful walk through the woods to
discover the birds and wildlife that have made this gently wilding estate
their home.

Available throughout the year. 

Falconry

Behold the majesty of these Birds of Prey. Under the supervision of our professional falconer, guests are invited to handle and fly these magnificent birds. It is an unforgettable moment when a hawk swoops out of the sky and lands on your gloved fist.

Available throughout the year. 

Home Farm Flower Arranging Workshop

Join Heckfield Place’s resident florist to create a beautiful bowl arrangement using fresh, seasonal flowers from Heckfield Home Farm. Visit our biodynamic Market Garden, which provides up to 5,000 stems a week for the House, to be guided in selecting, cutting and conditioning your own blooms. You’ll then return to the Glass House in the Upper Walled Gardens for expert guidance in creating your arrangement, with tea, coffee and cake alongside.

Available from June - September. 

Cold Water Immersion

A chance to offer yourself an experience to plunge into the benefits of cold water exposure, this guided session involves a short warm up and a paced walk or jog to our beautiful Lower Lake.

Please note that we advise against swimming in our Lower Lake alone, and all open water dips should be supervised by a member of our trained team. We recommend booking this as a guided experience.

All About Composting

Learn about how we use compost at Home Farm and how to make it, care for it and use it in your own garden.

Available throughout the year. 

JOURNEY OF A PLANT

Learn about the stages of a plant – from seed sowing to planting, weeding to watering and harvesting.

Available throughout the year. 

Bird Box Making

Learn to make a bird box with our Heckfield Estates team. The experience begins with a short talk from our wildlife warden on the importance of looking after our birds, followed by a hands-on tutorial using recycled materials to make a home for these important creatures. 

Available throughout the year. 

THE ART OF PRESERVATION

Explore the timeless craft of preservation, learning pickling, fermenting and preserving techniques rooted in our estate’s harvest, and leave with a seasonal creation to enjoy in the months ahead.

Available throughout the year. 

COCKTAIL MASTERCLASS

Join Heckfield Place’s cocktail-making maestros in learning how to create the best drinks fresh with ingredients often foraged from our 438-acre estate.

Available throughout the year. 

GIN GARDEN EXPERIENCE

Join one of our skilled bar team to explore the intricate world of gin, and craft your own with freshly foraged botanicals.
 
Sample three vastly different gins, including Heckfield’s own London Dry Gin, then be led on a guided walk to collect a variety of fresh botanicals from our Walled Gardens.

Available from May - August. 

WINE TASTING

Calling all oenophiles... A tutored tasting with our Senior Sommelier. We show a diverse and unusual selection of wines that can all fall into the ‘twists on the classics’ category.

Available throughout the year. 

CHEESE TASTING

Discover the art of British cheesemaking with a curated selection of cheeses, many crafted by our neighbours at Village Maid using milk from our own Guernsey herd.  Paired with complementing snacks and drinks, learn the stories behind each carefully aged wheel.

Available throughout the year. 

PICNICS

In the warmer months, head out to the lake or the woods or wherever takes your fancy for a relaxing afternoon.

Sauna Medicine

An immersive journey to an expansive self where time suspends, enveloping you in stillness. Expect gentle warmth as pure essential oils infuse the air and ready the senses for purification of mind and body. Heat slowly intensifies as our practitioners circulate the aroma and the rhythm builds.

Led by our sauna practitioners, the 90-minute ritual includes a natural steam scrub, aroma infusions and the traditional technique of leaf whisking.

Nature Therapy

Join our Resident Wellbeing and Nature Psychologist, Amy Steadman (MSc) in a mindful outdoor experience. Like a massage for your mind, these group walks combine positive psychology and eco-psychology to help you alleviate stress and find inner calm. The antidote to an ‘always-on’ indoor life, you’ll walk away from the session rooted with a deeper connection to nature and more importantly to yourself.

Amy also leads Nature Immersion sessions - a meditative walk through our estate. 

MOVEMENT AT THE BOTHY BY WILDSMITH

From yoga, meditation and breathwork to mat and reformer Pilates, gentle stretching and more, find calm through movement in the tranquillity
of The Bothy by Wildsmith. 

L E A R N  M O R E

MOVEMENT IN NATURE

Re-energise and refocus through moving your body in the Great Outdoors.
From our signature Woodland Movement to Forest Bathing, Cold Water Immersion and more. 

L E A R N  M O R E

Heckfield Tree Hunt

The Pleasure Grounds and the Estate are the biggest playground. Make sure you get straight out there and discover the natural treasures right on our doorstep.

Tricycles and Bikes

You'll find tricycles at the front of the House - just ask if you'd like to borrow one. For older children, we have bicycles to explore the estate as well. 

Go Skipping

Borrow one of our skipping ropes (made from Chatham Hemp and the handles are reclaimed cotton bobbins from a Cotton Mill in Yorkshire) and experience the benefits of skipping.

Heckfield Games

Immerse yourself in the Great Outdoors to try out Heckfield games. These games (suitable for children aged 5-1 I years) are fun, challenging and can be enjoyed by all the family.

Willow Workshop

Embrace your creativity and try your hand at willow weaving. Using Locally grown willow, make either a willow star or a willow bird feeder.

Wildlife Photography

Do you have an interest in photography and a curiosity in the world around you? Would you Like to grasp some fundamental principles and techniques in photography? This private tuition session, suitable for children aged 13 and above is aimed at doing just that and will lead to you feeling more inspired and confident in taking photos that you will love.

Market Garden and Home Farm Tour

Book a tour with one of our experts to visit our chickens, pigs, sheep and discover the dairy that produces all the milk used in the house. Or feel free to explore at your leisure with an adult.

Wellington Country Park - Nearby

We neighbour the Wellington Country Park, 350 acres of beautiful park land with myriad children’s play areas, nature trails, zip wires. Visit for an hour or a day and keep your small people very happy.
Age range 5-1 5 years

Guided Estate Tours

Embark on a guided tour to learn all about our 438-acres in every season. From learning about biodynamic principles at Home Farm to exploring the ancient woodlands with a member of our arborist team and more.

Available throughout the year. 

Wild Swimming

The Lower Lake is a wonderful spot to enjoy a dip in nature in the warmer months with the presence of a lifeguard. Head to the eastern end of the Lake where the water is deep and clear. Find our wooden pontoon and step ladder to ease your way in and out.

Available Friday to Sunday from May - June. Daily from July - August. 

WEEKLY FILMS IN THE SCREENING ROOM

Our beautiful 67-seater, Dolby Atmos Screening room is hidden underground at Heckfield and hosts regular screening of movies on Sundays and Tuesdays. 

U P C O M I N G  S C R E E N I N G S

BADMINTON, CROQUET & PETANQUE

Wander the grounds and find different garden games to join in with.

Badminton and croquet available from April - September.

CYCLING AND HIKING

Cycle or hike across the Estate and out into the little lanes to Farley Hill, or around the forestry tracks of Bramshill Forest to discover the peace and quiet of the Hampshire countryside.

We also offer guided bike tours at an additional cost.