Hampshire

Best British Days Out (The Times, June 2007)

VILLAGE CRICKET @ Hambledon
Decent pint + thwack of farm labourers hitting commuting accountants for six: village cricket thriving. All have own favourites, but for pedigree, got to be Hambledon, where modern game born in 1760s. Original ground Broadhalfpenny Down still in use, local side Brigands play most Sunday PMs. Afterwards, players/spectators to original Bat & Ball pub, where rules formulated. Visit www.broadhalfpennydown.com ford irs/fixtures

BUTTERFLY MEADOW @ Martin Down
Bronze Age bastion of Bokerley Dyke surges along border between Hampshire/Dorset, remnant of mighty tribal conflicts. Now sleepiest place imaginable, summer stronghold for orchids/butterflies. Park on A354, just n of Woodyates, ramble s across grassy escarpment. All aflutter July, marbled whites + chalkhill blues among 36 species. Martin Down national nature reserve; 01980 620485

STREET FESTIVAL @ Winchester Hat Fair
A weekend of wit and wizardry. Sixty acts will put on 250 performances, from street-corner comedy and magic to drama and dance ? with a hip-hop circus, children's theatre and a huge picnic on Sunday. And it's all free: just chuck what you can afford into the titular hats. June 29-July 1; www.hatfair.co.uk

International Kite Festival, Portsmouth
If your last try at kiteflying left you with tangled strings and a short temper, come and see how the experts do it. Dozens of odd flying objects will stud the sky over Southsea Common from August 25 to 27 ? last year, 50,000 people saw lobsters, monkeys, jesters, biplanes, octopuses, 30ft champagne bottles and spinning spider webs. Britain's top fliers will give stunt-kite demonstrations (especially impressive when they "dance" to a Beatles soundtrack). Free; for information, visit www.thekitesociety.org.uk