Taste of Wickham: a free New Forest food day out

If you are after an easy autumn day trip from Southampton, the Taste of Wickham is hard to beat. It falls on Sunday 13 September, running from 11:00 to 16:00, and entry is free, which makes it an easy one to drop into without much planning. The whole thing is set in Wickham Square, in the village of Wickham, Hampshire, PO17 5JQ, and it is sponsored and supported by the Wickham Parish Council, Welborne Garden Village and TJ Waste.

The heart of the day is the market, with more than 75 to 80 unique local stalls selling handmade jewellery, homeware, plants and food, alongside street food and bars pouring real ale and cider. It is the kind of spread where you can pick up something for the home and something to eat in one go. Around the stalls, the entertainment keeps moving: local choirs and dance groups, family circus shows, the Force 10 Shanty Crew, the Spinnaker Brass and a fashion parade. There is a dedicated children's zone too, with circus skills, crafts, face painting and attractions for the younger ones, including The Bubbles Man and his giant bubble shows, so it is not just for the foodies.

Getting there is straightforward. A free park and ride service runs to the site, with parking costing £1 per car, which is a sensible way to avoid any village-centre congestion. For the full programme and more information, you can head to www.tasteofwickham.com or ring 07527 596701.

It is worth knowing a bit about where you are heading. Wickham sits in the valley of the Meon, in the rolling countryside of Hampshire, and has a history that goes back further than most people expect: it was a Roman military post and a Saxon settlement, mentioned in the Royal Charter of 826. The square itself is one of the largest medieval squares in England, surrounded by 15th-century houses and well-preserved Georgian ones. A short walk from the square are the Water Meadows, formed naturally and ideal for a stroll, a picnic or just sitting by the water. Wickham also marks the start of the Meon Valley Trail, a nine-mile route along the old Meon Valley railway line that runs north to West Meon. And if you spot the Chesapeake Mill, it is a Grade II listed building with a story of its own: it was once the village's main flour mill, and the timbers used to build it came from the American frigate Chesapeake, captured by the Royal Navy during the War of 1812.

Beyond the village, the New Forest is the wider backdrop. The National Park sits south of Southampton and covers 220 square miles of heathland, woodland and wildlife, with 20,000 different species, 5,000 New Forest ponies owned by Commoners, more than 600 listed buildings and 34,000 residents. Its food is a big part of the appeal, from venison, cider, sausages, honey, beef, pork, mushrooms, fresh crabs and sole to the New Forest Breakfast served in many hotels and B&Bs. At the top end, names like Chewton Glen, Carey's Manor and Lime Wood carry the region's gastronomy. So, whether you come for the stalls, the music or the New Forest food, a day at the Taste of Wickham is a gentle way to see the best of the area in one go.