Badshot Lea

At the heart of Badshot Lea is a fine church, an active infants’ school and several individual shops. The village boasts a large garden centre with a popular cafe, a community centre and a village pond.

Badshot Lea has an active community association led by volunteers. Badshot Lea Bloomers is a sub-group of the Association and they help with the upkeep of the village by organising litter picks, working parties at the pond and helping to look after the church and school grounds.

For anglers, Farnham Angling Society provides some wonderful fishing opportunities at Badshot Lea big and small ponds.

Tice’s Meadow is an award-winning nature reserve on the site of a former quarry. It is considered to be one of the best inland sites to watch birds in the south east of England. The site is managed by Tice’s Meadow Bird Group.

The Bourne

The Bourne is the link between the protected picturesque countryside south of the town and the town centre. For many centuries the Bourne was the common for the Manor of Farnham before squatters gradually set up residence in turf huts.

The Bourne is bordered by woodland and common land, with footpaths along The Bourne Valley which provide an important network of corridors for both residents and wildlife alike.

Today, the Bourne is well served by community groups, sports clubs and activities for younger people. It has a large village green which plays host to the annual Bourne Show.

St Thomas-on-the-Bourne is a lively church at the heart of the community and Langham’s Recreation Ground has a popular children’s playground. Bourne Woods are owned by the Forestry Commission and have featured in several blockbuster movies.

Hale and Heath End

North of the town centre, where Mesolithic settlements have been found, is the area of Hale. With a successful annual carnival held on the first Saturday in July on the recreation ground, this green space is a focal point for the village. There is also a scout hut, the Hale Institute Village Hall and a Working Men’s Club. The History of Hale Project holds regular coffee mornings on the last Saturday of the month (with exception of December) in Hale Village Hall, 10am-12 noon and all are welcome. Opposite, The Ball and Wicket public house is a traditional village pub, and the nearby Alfred pub holds an annual beer festival. Hale also benefits from easy access to Farnham Park. As the Army expanded in neighbouring Aldershot, the village of Heath End was formed. The Rowhill Nature Reserve makes a natural boundary between the two towns: this ancient site is good for walking and provides a precious haven for wildlife and flora. The area is also home to Farnham Rugby Union Club plus pitches for the Aldershot and Farnham Hockey Club on Monkton Lane. For anyone walking around the village you might spot a baker’s plaque on Vyne Cottage, 75 Heath Lane. The cottage was once used by servants from the Old Manor House further up Heath Lane.

Rowledge

To the south of Farnham, on the county border of Surrey with Hampshire, the village of Rowledge has gradually developed from the original open fields to an attractive settlement with a thriving centre made up of a butcher, post office and convenience store, newsagent, hairdresser, garage, and two public houses (one straddling the county border where Surrey meets Hampshire). The village green hosts a very popular fayre on the second bank holiday in May. Rowledge Village Hall hosts a range of regular events including the very popular Friday morning Coffee Spot

This lovely village borders the fantastic Alice Holt Woodland and trails, and Birdworld is also nearby to enjoy.

Weybourne

Located to the east of Farnham, Weybourne was once home to John Henry Knight, inventor, engineer and local landowner. He is famous for building the first petroleum carriage for two people made in England in1895.

Wrecclesham

On the southern fringes of Farnham, the village of Wrecclesham has a recreation ground which hosts the annual village fair, held in late June, plus cricket, football, rugby and tennis clubs. The village also offers country pubs and Wrecclesham Community Centre which is a focal point for local clubs and activities.

The village of Wrecclesham is best known for its pottery. To this day it is home to one of the best preserved examples of a working Victorian country pottery left in England. Farnham Buildings Preservation Trust bought the site in 1998 and Farnham Pottery have their own group of potters, West Street Potters, producing pottery there today.

See the Wrecclesham History Project for interesting stories about what the village was like.

For local residents and organisations, the Isabella Schroder Trust can assist those in need.