Portsmouth families are being urged to explore the city’s green spaces as the popular Stomp for Stamps treasure hunt returns for summer 2025, offering free outdoor activities for primary school children.
The annual initiative, supported by Portsmouth City Council’s Pompey Monsters programme, encourages youngsters to discover the city through walking, wheeling, cycling or scooting. Running from Wednesday 23 July to Monday 1 September 2025, the challenge aims to promote active lifestyles whilst improving air quality across Portsmouth.
Primary school children and their families can participate by collecting complimentary map booklets and pencil packs from Portsmouth libraries. Five different routes each showcase a friendly Pompey Monster alongside hidden plaques featuring animal or insect designs. Young explorers can create colourful rubbings of these plaques and earn library stickers for each completed route.
New decoder challenge introduced
This year introduces an exciting decoder challenge where participants hunt for symbols along routes to uncover a secret phrase. Those who successfully crack the code will enter a prize draw to win a brand-new telescope.
Children completing at least three routes will receive a special reward – a reusable Pompey Monsters metal water bottle, distributed by schools when the new term commences.
Cllr Peter Candlish, Cabinet Member for Transport at Portsmouth City Council, commented: “I’m delighted to see Stomp for Stamps return for 2025 – this represents a brilliant and affordable method to keep children active and entertained during summer holidays, exploring the city’s green spaces together, learning new skills, and creating memories – all whilst helping to create cleaner air for Portsmouth. With exciting new prizes and accessible routes, this year’s challenge promises to be the finest yet.”
Accessible routes for all
The majority of routes are designed to accommodate wheelchairs and pushchairs, ensuring inclusive participation. Throughout their journey, children will develop map-reading confidence, engage in creative activities, and discover new areas of the city through healthy, sustainable travel methods.
How to participate
Families can begin by visiting their local library to collect free materials. The challenge includes five routes spanning different areas of Portsmouth:
- Southsea: Features Stomper, alongside a mute swan, butterfly and crab
- Baffins: Showcases Breezy, with a black-headed gull, mole and dragonfly
- Old Portsmouth: Includes Scoot, plus a wood pigeon, ladybird and fox
- Mountbatten: Presents Wheels, accompanied by a bumble-bee, newt and grey squirrel
- Paulsgrove: Displays Chatter Natter, with a greater horseshoe bat, frog and red squirrel
Safety guidelines
Organisers emphasise that children must always be accompanied by an adult over 18 years old. Participants are advised to stay hydrated, dress appropriately for weather conditions, and wear suitable footwear.
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After completing routes and collecting rubbings, families should return to libraries to exchange them for stickers. Those completing at least three routes (or two for wheelchair users) can claim their prize by submitting the completed form to any Portsmouth library by Monday 1 September 2025.
The initiative offers an educational and environmentally-friendly adventure that combines physical activity with learning about sustainable travel options throughout Portsmouth’s green spaces.
