​COULTERS DEAN FARM

Petersfield is one hour from London Waterloo and 30 minutes from Portsmouth Harbour by train. From Portsmouth ferries run to the Isle of Wight and to France and Spain. Road connections are excellent. There are good bus links to local towns, villages and into the South Downs. The A3 bypasses the town and connects with the M25 just 35 miles away. Historic  Winchester is 18 miles to the west and the old Roman city of Chichester , with its superb cathedral and Festival Theatre, is 18 miles to the south east. The route into Chichester passes Goodwood racecourse.

Petersfield is a market town with a market held every Wednesday. Occasionally markets are held here by French stallholders who bring their wares from Brittany and Normandy to sell in the Market Square. The town was founded by Robert, Earl of Gloucester , in the early 12th century, at a crossing point of important trade routes. The town has its own 'blue plaque' trail and museum.

At the back of the High Street, set in an ancient walled burgage plot behind 16 HIgh Street, is the Physic Garden. The garden is just over a quarter of an acre. It has been planted in a style familiar to John Goodyer, the distinguished 17th century botanist, who lived in Petersfield. Set out in a formal geometric pattern, typical of 17th century physic gardens, you will find features such as a topiary walk, an orchard area, a rose bower, a sundial and many plants that would have been grown in the 17th century.

The town has its own Lake and Heath. This is a beautiful, unique space for people and wildlife and a sacred landscape that reconnects us with our earlier ancestors. The Heath, which covers over 900 acres, has been used by man since ancient times and is the site of a cluster of 21 Bronze Age barrows. Over 3000 years ago Bronze Age people buried their dead in circular burial mounds known as burrows. Some stand proud, crowned by noble trees, others lurk secretly in woodland, keeping watch over the cricket pitch. It is said that many of these mounds look to Barrow Hill, aligned to the sunset and sunrise of May Day and the summer and winter solstices. As you wander the Heath you are walking in the footsteps of our ancient forefathers. The Bronze Age people buried their dead with a pottery vessel containing mead or beer, with a joint of meat, then built a barrow over the top of the grave. During the Middle Ages the Heath was grazed as common land and grazing continued until the late 1920s. The Heath is at the tip of the Serpents Trail, a 64 mile long path that starts in Haslemere and ‘snakes’ through some of the finest heathland in the South Downs National Park. Lowland heath is rarer than rainforest. Around 80% of this valuable habitat has been lost in the UK since the early 1800s, often through neglect. The Heath is home to species such as the common lizard and sand wasp.People have enjoyed Petersfield Heath for 1000s of years. From the hunter gatherers of the Stone Age through to the picnicking families of today.
 
The Lake is home to 29 different species of bird including Canada Goose, Mallard, Mute Swan, Sand Martin, Moorhen, Great Crested Grebe and Kingfisher. It is also home to rowing boats and kayaks.