River Hamble Country Park

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River Hamble Country Park
River Hamble - geograph.org.uk - 1375204.jpg
The River Hamble as seen from the Country Park
River Hamble Country Park
TypeLocal Nature Reserve
Location, Hampshire
OS grid SU 501 114
Area144.1 hectares (356 acres)
Managed byHampshire Countryside Service

River Hamble Country Park is a 144.1-hectare (356-acre) Local Nature Reserve which runs along the west bank of the River Hamble between the villages of Botley and Bursledon in Hampshire. It is owned by Hampshire County Council and managed by Hampshire Countryside Service. [1] [2] It is part of Solent and Southampton Water Ramsar site [3] and Special Protection Area, [4] and of Solent Maritime Special Area of Conservation. [5] Part of it is in Upper Hamble Estuary and Woods, which is a Site of Special Scientific Interest. [6]

Contents

History

The park first opened in 1979 as Upper Hamble Country Park and in 1984 the Manor Farm museum was opened to the north of the site as a Wartime museum. [7] The museum site was once at the heart of the village of Botley. [7] The ancient duckpond in Manor Farm and the neighbouring St Bartholomew's Church are mentioned in the Domesday book. There is evidence of a Roman road running through the site, [8] which would have been the route between the Roman settlements of Clausentum (Bitterne Manor) and Portus Adurni (Portchester). [9]

This park is on the site of the former Royal Navy shore establishment named HMS Cricket.

Once decommissioned in 1946, the buildings that were left behind by the Royal Navy were used to house citizens of Southampton who were displaced by bombing during World War II. The site was then known as "The Cricket Camp", until 1952 when it was no longer required for that purpose. [10]

Most of the wartime buildings have been demolished, but River Hamble Country Park retains a much smaller "Cricket Camp" which is used by Scouts.

Facilities

Barnfield Kiosk. Barnfield Kiosk - geograph.org.uk - 1376019.jpg
Barnfield Kiosk.

Outside of Manor Farm, which is located within the country park on its North West boundary, the country park's facilities are located around two main fields surrounded by wooded copses. The northern 'Toplands' field contains eight barbecue pitches and has a dog training field nearby for locals. [11] The southern 'Barnfield' site contains a kiosk selling refreshments and a play area and is the start of a number of way-marked walks around the park. [11]

In 2019 it was reported that Hampshire County Council would be investing £800,000 into the Country Park through the construction of a new visitor centre, replacement of play equipment and the improvement of wayfinding and walking routes across the site. [12]

The western extremity of the site, along the access road, includes the location of Cricket Camp Scout Activity Centre, used by Itchen South Scouts and the Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Activities Centre. [11]

Manor Farm

The ancient duckpond at Manor Farm. AncientDuckpondManorFarm.jpg
The ancient duckpond at Manor Farm.

Within the country park at the North East of the park lies Manor Farm, a farm attraction with its own opening hours and pricing policy. It opened in 1984 as the Manor Farm museum and has since developed into a family-focused visitor attraction within the setting of the historic farmyard run by Hampshire County Council. [13]

Manor Farm, Botley, Hampshire (2012) by Peter Trimming Manor Farm, Botley, Hampshire - geograph.org.uk - 3184911.jpg
Manor Farm, Botley, Hampshire (2012) by Peter Trimming

The site includes historic buildings that link to the heritage of the site and the original museum including a forge, wheelwrights, farmhouse and Victorian schoolhouse. [13] The ancient duckpond and the neighbouring St Bartholomew's Church also form part of the location.

Popular activities on offer at the farm include daily animal interactions and feeding, story time and Victorian school lessons. Other on-site facilities include a visitor centre and gift shop located in the 18th century threshing barn, [14] a large indoor children's play area - the Playbarn, a cafe for visitors [14] as well as amenities such as toilets and an education centre for visiting school groups. [13]

Manor Farm was the location for the historical documentary TV series Wartime Farm , broadcast by the BBC in 2012. [15]

The Manor Farm at this site is not to be confused with the Manor Farm, near Alton, where Alan Titchmarsh films his Love Your Weekend television show.

See also

Related Research Articles

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The River Hamble is located in south Hampshire, England. It rises near Bishop's Waltham and flows for 10.1 km (6.3 mi) through Botley, Bursledon, and Lower Swanwick before entering Southampton Water between Hamble Common and Warsash.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Botley, Hampshire</span> Human settlement in England

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hedge End</span> Human settlement in England

Hedge End is a town and civil parish in Hampshire, England. Situated to the east of the City of Southampton, it adjoins the districts of West End and Botley. Hedge End lies within the Borough of Eastleigh and is part of the Southampton Urban Area. The original hamlet developed on Botley Common after 1250 when it was granted to the men of Botley as common pasture. In 1267, royal charters allowed Botley to hold an annual fair and a weekly market on the common which eventually became a market town.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chessel Bay</span> Local Nature Reserve in Southampton, England

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lee-on-The Solent to Itchen Estuary</span>

Lee-on-The Solent to Itchen Estuary is a 585.9-hectare (1,448-acre) biological and geological Site of Special Scientific Interest which stretches along the coast between Southampton and Gosport in Hampshire. It is a Geological Conservation Review site. It is part of Solent and Southampton Water Ramsar site and Special Protection Area, and of Solent Maritime Special Area of Conservation. Three areas are Local Nature Reserves, Chessel Bay, Hook with Warsash and Mercury Marshes. One area is Hamble Common Camp, a Scheduled Monument.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lincegrove and Hackett's Marshes</span>

Lincegrove and Hackett's Marshes is a 37.8-hectare (93-acre) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest on the west bank of the River Hamble between Southampton and Fareham in Hampshire. It is part of Solent and Southampton Water Ramsar site and Special Protection Area, and of Solent Maritime Special Area of Conservation. Hackett's Marsh is a 20.4 hectares Local Nature Reserve.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Titchfield Haven</span>

Titchfield Haven is a 134.5-hectare (332-acre) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest north-west of Gosport in Hampshire. Most of it is a local nature reserve and a national nature reserve. It is part of Solent and Southampton Water Ramsar site and Special Protection Area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Upper Hamble Estuary and Woods</span>

Upper Hamble Estuary and Woods is a 151.2-hectare (374-acre) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest east of Southampton in Hampshire. It is part of Solent and Southampton Water Ramsar site and Special Protection Area, and of Solent Maritime Special Area of Conservation. Part of the site is in Manor Farm Country Park, which is a Local Nature Reserve.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boldre Foreshore</span> Nature reserve in Lymington, Hampshire, UK

Boldre Foreshore is a 193.3-hectare (478-acre) Local Nature Reserve east of Lymington in Hampshire. It is owned by New Forest District Council and managed by the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust. It is part of Solent and Southampton Water Ramsar site and Special Protection Area, Solent Maritime Special Area of Conservation, Hurst Castle and Lymington River Estuary Site of Special Scientific Interest and Lymington and Keyhaven Marshes, a nature reserve managed by the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Calshot Marshes</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hook with Warsash</span>

Hook with Warsash is a 251.6-hectare (622-acre) Local Nature Reserve west of Fareham in Hampshire. It is owned by Hampshire County Council and managed by Hampshire Countryside Service. It is part of Solent and Southampton Water Ramsar site and Special Protection Area, of Solent Maritime Special Area of Conservation, and of Lee-on-The Solent to Itchen Estuary Site of Special Scientific Interest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lymington and Keyhaven Marshes</span> Hampshire nature reserve

Lymington and Keyhaven Marshes is a 738-hectare (1,820-acre) nature reserve which stretches from Keyhaven along the south coast across the Lymington River in Hampshire. It is managed by the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust. It is part of Solent and Southampton Water Ramsar site and Special Protection Area. Some areas are part of two Special Areas of Conservation, Solent and Isle of Wight Lagoons and Solent Maritime and Solent. It is also part of Hurst Castle and Lymington River Estuary, which is a Site of Special Scientific Interest, and of North Solent Marshes Nature Conservation Review site, Grade 2. Two areas are Geological Conservation Review sites, and two are Local Nature Reserves, Boldre Foreshore and Lymington-Keyhaven Marshes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mercury Marshes</span>

Mercury Marshes is a 6.4-hectare (16-acre) Local Nature Reserve in Hamble-le-Rice in Hampshire. It is owned by Hampshire County Council and managed by Hampshire Countryside Service. It is part of Solent and Southampton Water Ramsar site and Special Protection Area, of Solent Maritime Special Area of Conservation, and of Lee-on-The Solent to Itchen Estuary, which is a Site of Special Scientific Interest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sturt Pond</span>

Sturt Pond is a 10.9-hectare (27-acre) Local Nature Reserve in Milford on Sea in Hampshire. It is owned and managed by Milford On Sea Parish Council. It is part of Solent and Southampton Water Ramsar site and Special Protection Area, of Solent Maritime Special Area of Conservation and of Hurst Castle and Lymington River Estuary, which is a Site of Special Scientific Interest.

References

  1. ↑ "Manor Farm". Local Nature Reserves. Natural England. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  2. ↑ "Map of Manor Farm". Local Nature Reserves. Natural England. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  3. ↑ "Designated Sites View: Solent and Southampton Water". Ramsar Site. Natural England. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  4. ↑ "Designated Sites View: Solent and Southampton Water". Special Protection Areas. Natural England. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  5. ↑ "Designated Sites View: Solent Maritime". Special Areas of Conservation. Natural England. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  6. ↑ "Designated Sites View: Upper Hamble Estuary and Woods". Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
  7. 1 2 "Manor Farm Country Park (Upper Hamble Country Park)". Hampshire Gardens Trust. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
  8. ↑ Ordnance Survey
  9. ↑ Blyth, Joyce B., The Changing Face of Hedge End, 1979, ASIN : B0018LRNT6
  10. ↑ Local Heritage Initiative website
  11. 1 2 3 "Explore River Hamble Country Park". River Hamble Country Park. Hampshire County Council. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
  12. ↑ Cotterill, Tom (2 March 2019). "River Hamble Country Park set to be boosted by £800k investment". The News. IPI Media. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
  13. 1 2 3 "Manor Farm - Case Study". Roundhouse Building Solutions Ltd. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
  14. 1 2 "Plan your visit". Manor Farm. Hampshire County Council. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
  15. ↑ "Wartime Farm official website". Wartimefarm.co.uk. Archived from the original on 19 October 2012. Retrieved 6 November 2018.

50°53′56″N1°17′20″W / 50.899°N 1.289°W / 50.899; -1.289

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