| Status: | Active, open to new members |
| When: | Monthly on Wednesday mornings 10:00 am-12:00 pm 1st Wednesday morninng |
| Venue: | Springwood Community Centre, Waterlooville |
This group will start in May 2026
This group covers any aspects of the subject that the members decide they are interested in. There is a mixture of practical experiences where possible, together with expert speakers, videos and visits to sites and museums of interest.
| Status: | Active, open to new members |
| When: | Monthly on Friday mornings 11:15 am-12:15 pm 1st Friday morning |
| Venue: | Various places |
This group started in May 2012.
We meet monthly and invite ideas from the group members on outings which can be local places of interest, booking a lunch or an organised group tour of somewhere a bit further away. All members are expected to have transport.
Past outings have included the Royal Opera House in London, the Sculpture Park at Churt (near Farnham), the Hawk Conservancy at Andover and Portchester Working Omnibus Museum, to name just a few.
March, 2025 - Royal Opera House
We went to London by coach for a guided tour of the Royal Opera House. We were greeted by our enthusiastic guide Tom - an actor - who was a mine of information. We learnt about the two previous structures which were destroyed by fire and the subsequent building, which was renovated and raised in the 1990s. We saw models of sets, the theatre, the Royal Box (and Royal toilet!), costumes, including those worn by Rudolph Nureyev and Margot Fonteyn, well-worn ballet shoes and much more. There were also auditions happening for the Royal Ballet School. It was a great tour and we would recommend it to other members.
| Status: | Active, open to new members |
| When: | Monthly on Wednesday mornings 10:00 am-12:00 pm 4th Wednesday |
| Venue: | Various places |
This group first formed in February, 2008
We are a group of nearly 15 people and we take it in turns to arrange visits to places of interest that we have found out about. These are as diverse as the Law Courts in Portsmouth, back stage theatre tours, coach trips, etc. We do things that are both interesting and fun, which includes enjoying meals together. It is amazing how much there is to do and see in our local area.
Read about our visit to the Lord Mayor of Portsmouth
| Status: | Active, open to new members |
| When: | Monthly Variable meeting days/times |
| Venue: | Various places |
This group started in November, 2013.
Local History 3 is a very friendly group who meet roughly once a month. Our meeting days are flexible depending on the availability of the venue. We visit local places of historical interest within a 25 mile radius of Waterlooville. These frequently include a guided tour and talk. Most are morning or afternoon visits and we always get together afterwards for tea and cake.
| Status: | Active, open to new members |
| When: | Monthly on Sunday afternoons 12:30 pm 2nd Sunday lunchtime |
| Venue: | Various places |
Who doesn't enjoy a Roast on a Sunday so why not come along and eat one with us? We meet at 12.30pm every 2nd Sunday of the month at restaurants north of the city which either incorporate a Sunday lunch or a carvery.
Previous outings have included :
Coach & Horses
Toby Carvery
Churchillian
Harvester
Langbrooke Farm
Golden Hind
| Status: | Active, open to new members |
| When: | Monthly on Monday afternoons 2:00 pm-4:00 pm 1st Monday afternoon |
| Venue: | Springwood Community Centre, Waterlooville |
This group started in April, 2019.
Can you identify rocks? What are fossils? What is Plate Tectonics?
We have fun learning about these topics and many more in a friendly, relaxed atmosphere. Amongst other things, we have studied Minerals, Igneous Rocks and Sedimentary Environments.
Topics we looked at in 2024 :
Earthquakes
Geology of the Isle of Wight (field trip)
Kimmeridge and Etches Museum
Geology of Chichester Harbour
Fossils
Dinosaurs
Geology of North York Moors
Geology snippets
Mineral extravaganza!
Snowball Earth
2024 Isle of Wight field trip
December 2019 Kimmeridge field trip
On a dry sunny winter's day 14 of us visited the Etches Fossil Collection at Kimmeridge in Dorset. Fossils collected locally over a lifetime by Steve Etches are beautifully preserved here and provide a deeper understanding of the Jurassic environment over 100 million years ago. After lunch in the local restaurant we then tried our own fossil collecting finding plenty of ammonites in the soft clays at Kimmeridge Bay.
September 2019 fossil hunting
We went to Bracklesham Bay where there are deposits that are 45 million years old. We managed, between the showers, to find quite a hoard!
| Status: | Active, open to new members |
| When: | Monthly on Monday afternoons 2:00 pm-4:00 pm 2nd Monday afternoon |
| Venue: | Members' Homes and Out'n'About |
This group started in March, 2009.
Have you ever wondered how the amazing scenery of our country came about?
Can you identify rocks?
What are fossils?
What is Plate Tectonics?
Our geology group has fun learning about these topics and many more, including gem stones, in a friendly, relaxed atmosphere.
2025 Shropshire
Days out along river banks, hills, disused quarries and a disused lead mine
2024 Leicestershire
A day in the amazing Bradgate Park, including the Information Centre video of geology, a visit to the NGS headquarters and Leicester Museum to see the famous Charnia fossil.
2023 Somerset
Minehead to East Quantoxhead. We were fortunate to have a retired geologist take us to the beach at Watchet where we saw an ammonite fossil only exposed a few months before. .
2022 Cornwall
St. Ives, Lands End and the Lizard. Included a visit to a tin mine.
Post-Covid
We enjoyed a day trip to Kimmeridge Museum to see, among other fossils, the skull of the pliosaur removed from the cliff nearby
A day trip to Chichester Harbour with a guide.
| Status: | Active, open to new members |
| When: | On Friday mornings 10:15 am-1:00 pm Alternate Friday mornings |
| Venue: | Out 'n' About |
Striders Walking 3 is for people who like to stretch their legs on a lengthy/strenuous walk in the country with a chat in good company.
Walks are held on alternate Friday mornings, we meet at a pre-arranged parking place and manage about a two hour walk before going for an optional lunch.
Some of the walks are old favourites but we also include some exciting new ones. Our walks are around 4-5 miles long, enabling group members to experience the beauty of our local area. Some ground is more rugged than others when it can take a little longer to complete the walk.
It is very important that stout footwear is worn. Proper walking boots or strong trainers that you don’t mind getting muddy. We do not walk if the weather is really bad, but always check with the leader before the walk, usually Thursday evening.
All walks are led by members of the group and it is expected that everyone takes a turn (support is available if wanted).
Please note : from a safeguarding perspective, dogs are not allowed on our organised walks.
| Status: | Active, open to new members |
| When: | On Friday mornings 10:30 am-1:00 pm Alternate Friday mornings |
| Venue: | Various places |
Strollers 3 is for people who want a steady walk. The distance is usually 2.5 to 3 miles on mainly flat terrain, but occasionally there may be an incline which each person tackles at a pace that suits them. We have a range of walks in different locations which include getting ourselves out into the countryside and the sea shore. There are often things of interest to look at - churches, old houses and even new interesting buildings.
Our walks would not be complete without our lunch breaks. This is optional as it is not always possible for people to stay but, for those who do, we have found some very enjoyable eating places - those who do not come up to standard are not visited again!
All the walks are decided in advanced with three programmes a year - Winter/Spring, Summer and Autumn. Group members are involved with the decision making with some volunteering to lead a walk if they feel able.
Please note : from a safeguarding perspective, dogs are not allowed on our organised walks.
We only stopped a moment - to pay our respects
Are you coming?
Deer near Stoughton
Just in case you want to exert more energy.
2018 - the bluebells at Clanfield
If it's your turn to buy the tea - then we will let you know.
Towards the end of a walk at Wickham packed with visual treasures.
If you have a favourite walk that you would like to share - then apply to become a walk leader.
| Status: | Active, open to new members |
| When: | Monthly on Tuesday mornings 10:00 am-12:00 pm 3rd Tuesday morning |
| Venue: | Various places |
This Strollers group was formed in August 2021 for those who like a more leisurely walk and easier terrain than those undertaken by the Striders but more strenuous than the Stragglers.
Walks are roughly 3-4½ miles and wherever possible on reasonable terrain with a minimum of obstacles such as stiles.
The group meet once a month with the walk taking approximately 1½-2 hours.
Details of the walk and where to meet are circulated in advance to group members. The walk usually finishes where there are facilities for refreshments.
We appreciate any group member volunteering to lead a walk and are open to suggestions for future walks.
Any member of Waterlooville u3a is welcome to join, non-members can join a walk as a “taster” session, thereafter they would need to join to be covered by u3a insurance.
