Urban Wild Southampton 2026

Connect with the natural world and celebrate local sustainability as the acclaimed Urban Wild Festival 2026 returns to Southampton from Saturday 23 May to Sunday 31 May 2026. Coordinated by the Southampton National Park City initiative, this vibrant, city-wide movement operates under the inspiring theme of “Reimagining Southampton.” Over nine action-packed days, the festival brings together an incredible grassroots calendar of guided ecology walks, hands-on creative workshops, environmental discussions, and family-focused outdoor adventures. Spreading across local woodlands, neighborhood high streets, hospital rooftops, and historic waterways, it is a brilliant, community-led celebration designed to foster environmental stewardship while showcasing how our urban spaces can be made greener, healthier, and wilder for everyone.

The Comprehensive Urban Wild Festival Schedule

The Urban Wild Festival 2026 brings together an incredible grassroots calendar of neighborhood-led workshops, ecology walks, and community greening sessions. To help you plan your week, here is the complete breakdown of every event across the city:

St Denys Arts Festival

This festive neighborhood gathering celebrates local river heritage and creative spirit through community art, local photography exhibitions, and weekday music and dance sessions.

• Date & Time: Saturday 23 May to Friday 29 May, running from 12:00 to 15:00 BST.
• Venue: St Denys Parish Church, Dundee Road, St Denys, SO17 2ND.
• Tickets & Cost: Completely free to attend on a drop-in basis; no advance registration is required.
• Important Info: This event is part of the broader St Denys Carnival and features continuous displays from independent local artists reflecting on what the river means to the community.

From Waste to Wild!

This hands-on, interactive experience invites children to design a greener city by getting their hands dirty with practical planting and eco-craft activities.

• Date & Time: Tuesday 26 May, from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm BST.
• Venue: Solent Community Food Garden, East Park Terrace, SO14 0YN (located to the left of the main sports building).
• Tickets & Cost: Free admission on a drop-in basis; no pre-booking needed.
• Important Info: Children can plant seeds using recycled materials, build bug hotels to take home, and contribute drawings to a collaborative dream-city gallery. The ground surface may be slightly unstable for wheelchair users. For specific queries, contact [email protected].

Himalayan Balsam Bash!

A hands-on outdoor conservation session where volunteers can learn how to protect local waterways by identifying and removing an invasive plant species.

• Date & Time: Tuesday 26 May, from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm BST.
• Venue: Octavia Road Playground, Monks Way, SO18 2LS (meeting point is directly at the playground).
• Tickets & Cost: Free community event; no tickets required.
• Important Info: Full personal protective equipment (PPE) and refreshments are provided for all volunteers. Due to the natural terrain, this site is unfortunately not wheelchair accessible and is unsuitable for individuals with limited mobility.

Captured by the Sun – A Solar-Powered Creative Workshop

An inspiring, camera-less photography session that teaches participants how to use natural sunlight and chemistry to create beautiful, organic art prints.

• Date & Time: Tuesday 26 May, from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm BST.
• Venue: The Spark (Classroom TS001), Southampton Solent University, East Park Terrace, SO14 0YN.
• Tickets & Cost: Free to attend, but advance booking is mandatory as spaces are strictly limited to 8 participants.
• Important Info: Led by Creative Media Production Lecturer Frankie Murdoch. The workshop is suitable for ages 8 and over (children must be accompanied by an adult), requires absolutely no prior experience, and is fully wheelchair accessible.

Family Morning at Aldermoor Community Farm

A relaxed, half-term outdoor morning where families can enjoy nature-themed crafts and experience the daily rhythm of a working community farm.

• Date & Time: Wednesday 27 May, from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm BST.
• Venue: Aldermoor Community Farm, Aldermoor Road, SO16 5NN.
• Tickets & Cost: Free nature-based activities; no booking required.
• Important Info: Families can participate in multiple craft setups, feed the farm’s chickens, buy refreshments like fresh coffee and cake, and explore the unique on-site Emporium shop.

Flower Power Trail and Pond Dipping

An interactive outdoor discovery day combined with a unique community art installation focused on environmental kindness.

• Date & Time: Wednesday 27 May, grounds open from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm BST (John Hansard drop-in session runs 10:00 am to 12:00 pm).
• Venue: Hawthorns Urban Wildlife Centre, Southampton Common, The Avenue, SO15 7NN.
• Tickets & Cost: Free family event; drop-in attendance with no advance booking needed.
• Important Info: Features family pond dipping and a flower power trail. During the morning, the John Hansard Gallery team will help visitors craft paper feathers for a community installation devised by book artist Tracey Bush, reflecting on how we care for our surroundings.

Reimagination Station with Tribe Alternative Stage School

A fast-paced creative workshop designed specifically for teens to voice their passions for the natural world using multimedia, drama games, and creative writing.

• Date & Time: Wednesday 27 May, from 10:30 am to 12:00 pm BST.
• Venue: Southampton Central Library, Commercial Road, SO14 7LW.
• Tickets & Cost: Places cost £3.00 each, and advanced booking is essential as the session is strictly limited to 15 spaces.
• Important Info: Tailored for teenagers aged 11 to 18 years old. Parents or guardians do not need to stay for the session, but emergency contact details must be provided at drop-off.

Crafting for River Itchen Rising during St Denys Festival!

A fun and collaborative craft workshop focused on making colorful banners, streamers, and props for the upcoming festival river march.

• Date & Time: Wednesday 27 May, from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm BST.
• Venue: St Denys Church (Main Building), Dundee Road, SO17 2ND.
• Tickets & Cost: Free to attend, but registration via the official Eventbrite page is required so organizers can manage material numbers.
• Important Info: Organized by Southampton National Park City. Children must attend with a parent or guardian (please book tickets for all adults and kids). Teenagers aged 16+ can attend alone; young people aged 13–15 can attend unaccompanied provided a parent gives consent and a contact number. The historic building has level access, a disabled toilet in the community hall, and a gravel car park. Email queries to [email protected].

Make a Willow Dragonfly – Evening Workshop

An intimate evening craft session where participants learn the historic art of willow weaving to create beautiful garden sculptures.

• Date & Time: Wednesday 27 May, from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm BST.
• Venue: St Denys Community Centre, Priory Road, St Denys, SO17 2JZ.
• Tickets & Cost: Standard tickets are £35.00. There are 5 heavily discounted spaces available at £25.00 for residents in receipt of Council Tax Support or Universal Credit. Advance booking online is required.
• Important Info: Hosted by Willow and Crafts. Participants will learn a traditional corn dollie weave technique to craft two custom willow dragonflies or a dragonfly and butterfly combination to take home.

Tour of Princess Anne Roof Garden

An exclusive tour of a cutting-edge hospital rooftop green space that showcases how modern architecture can build thriving habitats for urban wildlife.

• Date & Time: Thursday 28 May, from 10:00 am to 11:00 am BST.
• Venue: Level G, Princess Anne Hospital, Coxford Road, SO16 5YA.
• Tickets & Cost: Free educational tour, but advance booking online is required to secure a viewing place.
• Important Info: This innovative space was funded by the sale of a Banksy artwork (‘Game Changer’) donated to the hospital in 2020. The garden features native trees, seating areas with dock views, and a sustainable blue/green rainwater storage system that feeds an automated irrigation network. Lighting is carefully dimmed and warmed to protect local nocturnal wildlife.

Introduction to Plant ID & Drawing Walk at Southampton Old Cemetery

A mindful, artistic walking tour through a historic woodland cemetery to discover the medicinal secrets and beauty of common wild plants.

• Date & Time: Thursday 28 May, from 12:45 pm to 2:30 pm BST.
• Venue: Departs from the Design Chapel, Cemetery Road, SO15 7AF.
• Tickets & Cost: Free community walk; drop-in attendance welcome.
• Important Info: Led by artist and plant enthusiast Lucie Smith. The session focuses on looking closely at common plants and “weeds” rather than artistic perfection. All walkers are provided with a free pocket sketchbook and drawing tools to record notes, sketches, and photos along the route.

Building With Nature

An evening panel discussion bringing together urban development professionals and climate experts to highlight successful green architecture across the South Coast.

• Date & Time: Thursday 28 May, from 5:30 pm to 8:00 pm BST.
• Venue: Sir James Matthews Building (University of Southampton), 157-187 Above Bar Street, SO14 7FQ.
• Tickets & Cost: Free admission, but advance booking is essential to secure a seat in the auditorium.
• Important Info: Presented by RSA Southampton with support from Savills Urban Design Studio. The evening features brief, inspiring talks on living walls, green roofs, and biodiverse courtyards, followed by an open group discussion on the future planning vision for Southampton. To submit a local project case study, contact Rebecca Kinge at the Southampton Collective.

Urban Space Supper Club – Reimagining Southampton

An intimate, plant-based dining experience designed to showcase how circular economy principles and local farming can shape a low-carbon food future.

• Date & Time: Thursday 28 May, from 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm BST.
• Venue: Happy Bean Coffee Bar, 66 Bedford Place, SO15 2DS.
• Tickets & Cost: Tickets cost £35.00 per person plus standard online booking fees. Advance ticket purchase is required.
• Important Info: Hosted by Fatima Zaman, community advocate and founder of the award-winning artisan startup Zaman Condiments and Sauces. The alcohol-free evening features a three-plate Indian-fusion tasting menu utilizing sustainable ingredients sourced from independent producers across Hampshire and the Solent, held in a venue dressed in lush greenery.

Sholing Valleys – Conservation Session

A practical, outdoor volunteering day that gives residents a chance to protect local biodiversity through hands-on habitat maintenance.

• Date & Time: Friday 29 May, from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm BST.
• Venue: Sholing Valleys Study Centre, Station Road, Sholing, SO19 8FP.
• Tickets & Cost: Completely free to attend; drop-in volunteers are highly welcome.
• Important Info: This session forms part of the group’s regular monthly task days held on the final Friday of every month. No prior conservation experience is required, as on-site team leaders provide full guidance on how to use tools and manage the nature reserve space. Full details are hosted on the Sholing Valleys Facebook event page.

Lordsdale Greenway LNR Celebration

A festive family open day organized to celebrate the official designation of Southampton’s newest protected Local Nature Reserve.

• Date & Time: Friday 29 May, from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm BST.
• Venue: Shirley Pond Park, Shirley, SO16 6BA (all activities are held directly next to Shirley Pond).
• Tickets & Cost: Free community celebration; open to all on a drop-in basis.
• Important Info: The day kicks off with a guided ranger walk around the new nature reserve at 11:00 am. From 12:30 pm onward, the Southampton Rangers and the Friends of Shirley Pond Park will host educational information stalls alongside free craft tables, a bug hunt at 1:00 pm, and family pond dipping at 2:00 pm. Email queries can be sent to [email protected].

Sholing Valley’s Bat Walk

An exceptionally popular evening nature trek that utilizes specialized equipment to track and identify native bat species hunting at dusk.

• Date & Time: Friday 29 May, from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm BST.
• Venue: Sholing Valleys Study Centre, Station Road, Sholing, SO19 8FP.
• Tickets & Cost: Free nature walk, but advance registration is highly recommended due to strict group safety limits.
• Important Info: Led by expert bat guide Surender, alongside University of Southampton Ecology Lecturer Veronica Zamora-Gutierrez and Senior Lighting Designer James Duffin. The walk teaches attendees how to use electronic bat detectors and provides actionable advice on how to make urban back gardens more supportive for nocturnal wildlife.

Cycle through the Parks!

A leisurely, social bicycle ride through a series of connected city parks, designed to highlight Southampton’s impressive network of urban green spaces.

• Date & Time: Saturday 30 May, assembling from 9:45 am with departure at 10:00 am; returning between 12:30 pm and 1:00 pm BST.
• Venue: Starts and finishes at the Hawthorns Urban Wildlife Centre, Southampton Common, SO15 7NN.
• Tickets & Cost: Free group ride organized by the Southampton Cycling Campaign; no advanced booking required.
• Important Info: The route is designed to be leisurely and flat, with the exception of a brief incline up and around Daisy Dip. It covers Daisy Dip, Riverside, Vespasian, Hoglands, Houndwell, Palmerston, Andrews (featuring a scheduled group refreshment stop at the Café in the Park), and Watts Park. Suitable for all adults and children aged 12 and over cycling with an adult. Full contact links are available on the Southampton Cycling Campaign website.

October Books Pop Up Green Space

A community-driven high street takeover that aims to inspire urban greening by building a temporary forest and garden directly on the pavement.

• Date & Time: Saturday 30 May, from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm BST (plant drop-offs run 10:00 am to 11:00 am).
• Venue: October Books, 189 Portswood Road, SO17 2NF (hosted directly outside the shopfront).
• Tickets & Cost: Free public exhibition and screening; open to all.
• Important Info: High street visitors can watch rolling video screenings created by local landscape architect Richard Willmott of Strata Design showcasing an inspiring vision of a rewilded high street. How to participate: Residents are asked to bring along potted flowers, shrubs, or small trees on Saturday morning using eco-friendly transit (trolleys, trikes, or wheelbarrows). Alternatively, drop plants off on Friday 29 May, or email [email protected] to arrange a free cargo bike collection. Plants can be taken home at 5:00 pm or donated to the shop’s permanent rear garden.

River Itchen Rising!

A joyful, artistic community march along the riverbanks to celebrate local water ecology and explore modern frameworks regarding the environmental rights of rivers.

• Date & Time: Sunday 31 May, from 11:00 am to 1:30 pm BST.
• Venue: Meets at Mansbridge Bridge, at the very top of Riverside Park, Mansbridge Road, SO50 5AP (Exact location via what3words: ///foil.models.flute). The walk finishes downstream at Cobden Bridge.
• Tickets & Cost: Free family event; open to all on a walk-in basis.
• Important Info: Hosted by Southampton River Rights. Walkers are encouraged to bring the handmade streamers and flags constructed during the midweek craft sessions to make the public procession as colorful and visible as possible. More background information can be found on the official Southampton River Rights home portal or the dedicated Facebook event page.

How to get to the Primary Hubs

As the Urban Wild Festival champions local environmental sustainability, active travel and public transport routes are highly encouraged by the festival organizers:

• To Southampton Common & The Hawthorns: Situated centrally along The Avenue (A33). Multiple regional bus networks, including regular Bluestar links, drop passengers directly outside the main park boundary gates.
• To Solent University & The Spark: Located right in the city centre along East Park Terrace, leaving it an easy 10-minute walk from Southampton Central Railway Station or the main municipal bus drop-offs.
• To St Denys Church & Community Spaces: Positioned within a brief 5-minute stroll from St Denys Railway Station, providing quick access via the local coastal rail network.

Where to Park

There is no dedicated event parking at the majority of these grassroots community sites, and surrounding residential streets are heavily regulated with permit-only restrictions.

• For Common-Based Events: Limited public pay-and-display parking spaces are available running parallel to the parkland along Cemetery Road.
• For Central City & Solent Events: It is best to leave your vehicle at the Marlands or Westquay multi-storey car parks and enjoy a scenic walk through the central city parks to the venues.
• For Neighborhood Reserve Sites: Visitors heading down to Sholing Valleys or Shirley Pond Park should utilize legal on-street parking spaces several streets away to minimize congestion around the sensitive nature entries.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are the Urban Wild Festival events suitable for families and young children?

Yes, the vast majority of the schedule features a firm family focus. Activities such as the pond dipping at the Hawthorns Centre, the half-term morning at Aldermoor Community Farm, and the “From Waste to Wild” planting session are custom-built for children to explore nature alongside their parents.

Do I need to pay for tickets or book spaces in advance?

Nearly all events across the nine-day calendar are completely free of charge. However, select technical sessions (like the willow dragonfly workshop or the teen media lab) require a ticket fee or strict advance booking online due to highly limited spaces. Check the individual event listings above for specific requirements.

What should I wear or bring to the outdoor nature walks?

Since many events take place inside nature reserves, wetlands, or historic cemeteries, it is highly recommended to wear sturdy, closed-toe walking shoes or boots and bring appropriate wet-weather clothing. For conservation tasks like the Himalayan Balsam Bash, personal protective equipment (PPE) is provided on-site.

Are all of the festival venues fully wheelchair accessible?

Accessibility varies depending on the natural terrain of each site. While university classrooms, central libraries, and newer facilities offer full level access, certain outdoor sites—such as the Monks Way wetlands or the uneven terrain at the Solent Community Food Garden—are unfortunately not fully wheelchair accessible. Please review the notes under each specific event listing for full details.

Who coordinates the Urban Wild Festival?

The festival is a collaborative grassroots initiative coordinated by Southampton National Park City. It brings together independent community groups, wildlife trusts, local artists, and university sustainability teams to showcase practical climate action and environmental stewardship across the city.