Supporter groups in Hampshire

An image of a person pushing a wheelbarrow and another person holding a spade — Find a supporter group in Hampshire | © National Trust Images/John Millar

Would you like to find more ways to get involved in your local National Trust places? There are several supporter groups located throughout Hampshire, and their members have access to a range of benefits including special interest talks, volunteering opportunities, fun social events and organised day trips to properties around the country. Read on to find your nearest group or click on a Supporter Group’s name in the menu to jump to their details.

Why join a supporter group?

Getting together with other National Trust enthusiasts, members and volunteers who feel passionate about the same things is priceless. Sharing unique experiences and finding out more about the places you care about is what being part of a local National Trust supporter group is all about.

From listening to expert talks and going on behind-the-scenes tours to taking relaxing holidays or restoring natural habitats in the great outdoors, you’ll be part of something amazing. Supporter groups promote and assist the National Trust’s work within their local area and raise money for conservation and development projects through all kinds of events.

Friends of Ludshott and Passfield Commons

Volunteers are welcome and carry out a variety of important tasks, including cutting and clearing scrub, surveying wildlife and plant and helping in the office.

An annual membership fee of £5 goes towards supporting the upkeep of Ludshott and several, lesser-known adjoining areas of heath, wood pasture, ancient woodland and the beauty spot at Waggoners Wells.

North Hampshire Centre

The North Hampshire Centre was founded in 1985 and current membership numbers are approaching 300. Its aim is to encourage membership of the National Trust, to arrange a programme of events for the enjoyment of our members and to raise funds for the Trust's local and national appeals.

The Vyne is the Centre’s closest National Trust place, and it has benefitted in a number of ways from members’ efforts, including the purchase of an electric golf buggy, funds to help the restoration of the estate’s historic ram pump and providing shelves for the recently installed glasshouse.

Some members volunteer as guides or help with conservation and maintenance projects at other National Trust places.

Man emptying net full of fish into a bucket with lake in background — Transferring fish from the lake to increase biodiversity, at the Vyne, Hampshire | © National Trust Images/Karen Legg

Portsmouth and District Centre

The Portsmouth and District Centre was founded in 1982. Its objectives are to promote the National Trust locally and nationally, raise funds in its support and arrange a programme of events and activities to make membership of the National Trust more enjoyable. Among the properties the Centre supports are Uppark, Hinton Ampner and Mottisfont.

The annual membership fee is £6 per person, effective from 01.01.2024, and all National Trust members and volunteers are welcome to join. Regular newsletters are sent out to every member, providing updates and information on upcoming trips and events.

Monthly meetings are held on the second Thursday of each month except August (small charge) at St George's Church Hall, Waterlooville PO7 7EH. Starting at 7.30 p.m.

Diary of events June to December 2024

Date	Event
November 14th	Thursday Lecture Meeting – Joe Marsden - The Eyes and Ears of the Coastguard.
November 21st	Lunch at the Lysses Hotel Fareham - noon
December 7th	Saturday Walk – Creech Wood, Denmead.
December 12th	Thursday Lecture Meeting - A Solent Cruise Part 2 - David Allport.
2025
January 9th	Thursday Lecture Meeting - Susan Howe - All Things British, Eccentrics, Heroes and Tea.
February 1st	Saturday Walk – 10 a.m. start - Details to be advised.
February 13th	Thursday Lecture Meeting – EGM followed by Alan Key - Artic Adventure around Spitzbergen.
March 13th	AGM followed by Lecture about Developments at Petworh House by NT staff.
March 27th	Lunch at the Lyssess Hotel, Fareham - noon.

** Please note: December Walk rearranged for Saturday 14th

South Hampshire National Trust Volunteers Group

There is probably one interest common to all those in the South Hampshire NTV group, and that's a love of the countryside. Members come from all walks of life and the present age range is from 10 to 80+.

As the name implies, the group’s work sites are primarily in South Hampshire. It regards Mottisfont as its home property, but also regularly carries out work in the New Forest and on Stockbridge Down.

Work parties are held about twice a month throughout the year, usually on a Sunday, and members come when they can spare the time. Most events are attended by about 12 to 16 people.

The work the group does varies with the seasons. For example, much of the autumn and winter tasks involve 'scrub bashing' and tree planting. In summer months, there is mulching, ragwort and Himalayan balsam pulling and estate maintenance to be done.

Three women in winter clothes walking between bushes in the garden at Mottisfont — Visitors in the garden at Mottisfont | © National Trust Images/James Dobson

Winchester Association

The Winchester Association of National Trust Members particularly supports the National Trust locations in and around Winchester: the Winchester City Mill, Mottisfont Abbey, and Hinton Ampner.